Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-22
BLOODY WORK.
A Desperate in Nebraska Stands on
an Army OF Men, Kill
ing Four. -
a Special Train Sent Out with Fifty Men
to Surround and Burn Up His
Hiding Place.

OMAHA, NIB, March PHI. c. Stead
man, prominent farmer Of Burt county,
proprietor of two creamerles near the
village OF Lyons, yesterday fore.
noon DISCHARGED Edward john
u young man and a comparative
stranger In the vicinity. johnson
tint reupon picked quarrel with Stead
man and without giving warning
whipped out q revolver aud shot Stead
man in the bowels, causing death in a
short time. There was no provocation
for the deed. Amid the excitement
johnson secured Winchester life aud
large quantity of ammunition, and
mounting a horse started off Constable
Parker Immediately organized small
party armed with reyOlyers, and
mounting horses gave pursuit,
being ejoined from time to time
along the road They kept
gaining on him, and finally, twelve miles
out, near the farm of Chas. II. johnson,
a regular battle ensued. The murderer
turned and fired several shots in rapid
succession, shooting Peter johnson,
brother of Charles, in the head,
killing him instantly. He next
shot Charles z. johnson fatally in the
abdomen His next shot killed Constable
Parker's horse. This was followed by
other shots, iniuring some horses and
grazing some of the men. Meantime the
pursuers whose numbers had largely in
creased kept firing reviewers, but the
desperate was out Of range. 1t
was thought, however, that he
was insane, The crowd began
to close in ON him, when
he finally jumped from his horse, running
into Charles p. Johnson's large barn.
He opened lively fire through the cracks
ana openings, and held the entire crowd,
now numbering fully 100 men, at bay.
They finally cautiously surrounded the
barn, carefully guarding themselves
from fire, and barricaded the des-
perado. They continued to shoot
tnto the barn at frequent intervals
until dark. 1t was proposed TO burn him
out, but no one would volunteer TO fire
the building. The barn contained eigh-
| teen horses and mules, about one hun
dred chickens, plenty of grain and well,
| besides there We're three caves used for the
the storage of vegetables. The
barn and contents Were valued at
$4,000, and 1t was thought
advisable to await awhile before resort
ing to fire. 1t was concluded to guard
the barn carefully all night and resume
operation In the morning. During this
time the mules and horses neighed loudly
aud 1t was thought they had been
wounded, from time to time. Late last
night Sheriff Skinner of Tekamak arrived
with posse Of ten men armed with
Winchester rifles and this morning thew
opened fire again on the barn and the
desperate responded He Shot through
one mans hat, through another's coat, but
wounded no one, as they exercised great
caution. The desperate guarded every
side of the barn and no one dare appro ,ch
II TO set fire TO it. This afternoon he
tired several shots through the farm dwell. |
ling-house where several men were sta
toned but hit no one. A special train
mas been ordered to carry tltty men from
r'kamah to the scene of siege. At last
accounts, 8 O'Clock this afternoon, the
despelado still held the fort. 1t has been
decided to set fire to the barn in some
way at the first opportunity.