Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-06

The discovery of Gordon's body
was proof to the sheriff that the
officer had been on the right track.
He Immediately raided the house
with a posse and put the old man
and woman and Clara Blalock un-
der arrest. The boys were not at
home, but their hiding place was
soon discovered.
"John said they shot him; he
said they found him prowling about
the house," said Mrs. Blalock, when
questioned regarding the crime
She went on with the story in a
cool and deliberate manner, with
out a single indication of remorse
or emotion. She said that Billy
and John had been home a week or
ten days previous to the murder
They remained home during the
day and went out nights. She did
not know where they went on Fri.
day. The remainder of the family
went to bed as usual and slept
without being disturbed, when she
was aroused by a gun shot in front
of the house, and she asked what
the shooting meant. Soon after
John came in the house, and she
asked what the shooting meant
He said they saw some one prOwl.
ing around in front of the place
and killed him. John told her
that Bill said he was pretty sure it
was Dave Gordon. She then re.
/ proved him for the murder, and he
said: "Well, he would have killed
me, guess, if | hadn't killed him,
for I heard him cock his pistol and
called to me to halt"
"Bill then came into the house"
continued the woman, "and asked
for some money he had left fer me
to take care of. 1t was $15 and l
gave it to him. The two boys
changed their clothing and left the
house."
After leaving the house John
and Bill mounted their horses and
headed for the schOOlhouSe, six
miles east of town, and when they
arrived there turned loose their
horses and allowed them to go
back home. they then converted
the garrett Of the schoolhouse into
a garrison and made trap door in
the roof with a pocket knife. They
remained there two days, but we're
detected by young man, who in
formed the sheriff Monday morn
ing. The latter, with consider.
able force surrounded the school
house and called upon the men to
surrender.
"Well we might as we'll give in,'
SAID John. His brother insisted
on firing upon the posse, as the
garret was fortified, but Sheriff
Babb declared that he would burn
the schoolhouse, and the boys open
ed the improvised trap.dOOr, and
the undaunted leader OF the gang
declared 81 guess you have got
us cornered, but unless you prom
Use on your honor to defend us
against the mob you will have to
take us dead instead OF alive."-
The sheriff promised and the men
then came down from the roof.
At the Gordon inquest Ped Fry,
who had also been arrested, sub.
stantiated all that Gordon had pre-.
viously discovered by making a
clean breast of the gangs history
Subsequently a blind trap was
found in the Blalock house, IN a
lean.to, near the roof, which upon
being opened disposed the garret
of the house filled with all manner
of goods and plunder, consisting
largely of merchandise, harness,
clothing, books, encyclopedias, a
United States mail sack with the
Lowell, Kansas, tag upon it, sacks
from the Lowell mills filled with
clothing, boots and shoes, extra
amount of jewelry and box con-
tanning a vast amount ofcorrespon-
dence which completely proved
that this gang was connected with
other "socletiesp In at least three
different territories and states
south of Kansas. The letters we've
addressed to Miss Clara BlalOck,
and were so worded that her con,
nection with the criminals in the
capacity of leader could not be de-
MED.
To say that the excitement was
intense when it was learned that
Clara Blalock, the beautiful and
admired schoolteacher, was in
league with her unholy relatives
would be the exact truth. 1t deep
ened when the young woman was
put on the stand, and when she
finally confessed to being implIcat-
ed in the many crimes perpetTated
by her relatives. Much of her testi-
mony was kept secret, as it impli-
Gated several persons who are not
under arrest. She told about the
horse.stealing expeditions and the
various robberles in a calm and un.
concerned manner. She admitted
that her correspondent was in tact
her brother John. She denied a
knowledge of anything at all at
first, but was finally compelled to
admit everything. Her testimony
| ancountad for fha hloWinO omen of