The Indiana State sentinel., 1886-03-24
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Desperate Resistance ofa Murderer Against
His Pursuers.

OAKLAND, Neb., March 21.-At 10 o'clock
yesterday morning. Henry A. Stedman, a
farmer, residing three miles from here
quarreled with one of his men. Ed Johnson,
and was shot and killed. Johnson had been
paid and discharged, when he turned and
fred without provocation. Johnson then
jumped upon a horse and fled. The author
tiles at Lyons were aroused, and Constable
F. +. Parker organized a mounted posse,
which started in pursuit. Johnson had a
good start, but he travelled leisurely and was
overtsken twelve miles from the scene of
the shooting. He ran into barn on the
farm of Charles Johnson, and strongly in
trenched himself The chinks between
the boards afforded him excellent
loop holes for the use of
his weapons, which consisted of rifle and
a revolver The barn was surrounded by
the constable and his men, and fusilade of
shots was begun. The murderer returned
almost shot for shot. In rash moment he
exposed himself and was struck in the leg,
but he continued to fire and to keep his pur-
suers at bay. Finding their.weapons of too
light caliber a detachment was sent for
Winchesters as well as reinforcements, and
ten men fully equipped were sent from Oak
bring Johnson in dead or alive. In the
mean time Charles Johnson, the farmer, ven-
tuYed too near the barn and was shot down.
He will probably. die. Shortly afterward
Constable Parker's horse was shot from
under him, and another bullet ripped open
his coat sleeve. The re-enforcements arrived,
and they were distributed with view of
preventing Johnson from escaping in the
darkness. In the barn with him were ten
horses which madly screamed and plunged
in their fright. 1t is believed that several of
them have been wounded or killed. Johnson
has not yet been driven from his stronghold,
but when brought out he Will undoubtedly
be hanged. Mr.. Stedman was prominent
young Nebraska farmer of considerable
wealth. He owned several creameries and
had family.
Firing ceased for awhile, but shortly after
| o'clock it was renewed and continued 4 lin
| the midst of it Peter Johnson, brother of
| Charles Johnson, was mortally wounded.
| rush for the barn was made, but the man
| behind the barricade drove all back with
| well directed shots, some of WHICH wounded
| the horses. AT 10 o'clock last night he was
holding the barn and shouting derisively at
| his pursuers. Sheriff Skinner, of Burt
| County, where the shooting occurred, has
| arrived at Oakland, and with another band
of men has started for the scene, which is
| now described as a veritable battle.
This morning they opened fire again on the
Darn and the desperate responded. He shot
| through one mans hat, through another's
coat and so on but wounded no one, as they
exercised great caution. The desperate
| guarded every side of the barn aud no one
| dared to approach it to set fire to 1t as it
/ had been determined to do. This after
noon, he fired several shots through
| the farm dwelling house where
several men were stationed, but hit no one.
| A special train has been ordered to carry
| fifty armed men from Tekamal to the scene
| of the siege. AT last accounts IS o'clock this
| afternoon) the desperate still holds the
| fort 1t has been decided to set fire to the
barn in some way at the first opportunity.
To-nlght bright fire is seen southwest of
| Oakland in the direction of the barn eight
miles distant, and the report reached here
| is that the barn has been set on fire. The
Mexican murderer has killed three men and
had wounded several others and has shot
several horses The barn. which Is now
burning was, with its contents, valued at
| $1,000, and belonged toe. 2. johnson, one Of
| the killed,