Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-02
A MEMORABLE NIGHT.
Recalled by the Release of Peni
tertiary Birds.



fall, each of whom had served twent
years sentcnce--the former for murde
and the latter two for burglary-re
calls an attempt to carry out one Of tn
most horribly conceived plots. as well al
the most desperate struggle OF II gallan
and fearless police officer, that has eve
been koown to police annals.
Fourteen years ago there lived in Rura
township an aged couple, Henry Marshal
and wife. The old people lived by them
selves, were pretty well fixed in thl
worlds goods, and being on the shad,
side of life-the old gentleman seventy
seven and his wife seventy nine -wer,
spending their declining years in peace
and happiness. About this time stran
ger dropped in upon them in the person
of Ed Westfall, who came from Wes
Virginia, and representing himself to be-
a nephew fell into the good graces of the
cid couple and was induced to bring his
family out and make his home with them
He needed no urging and for some time,
lived with the old folks, but finally a
quarrel occurred, and the Westfalls lett
and went to live near Orion.
| During his stay in the Marshall home,
Westfall had satisfied hin self of the fact
that the old couple had money-thcy had
it concealed somewhere, but where, he
was unable to learn. So he and his son
Isaac, and fellow named Valentine,
| murder and arson. AS stated above, the
| plot WAS one of the most tiendish and
villainous imaginable. Maj G. W.
Halves, the present postmaster, was city
marshal. and the most yigilant chief of
police the city ever had, and he mans
| aged to secure an inklng of the plot.
He devoted his unceasing energies to it
Tor fully two months, and was almost dis
couraged when Valentine made confess
sion to States Attorney Parmenter, re-
vealing all the plans for the devilsh
deed Mr.. Parmenter took Valentine to
Marshal Halves, aud to that officer Valen.
tine told the story of the plot Briefly
stated it was this; Upon certain night,
the two Wcstfalls, Valentine and Jack
Current. II Missouri desperate who had
been imported to do the murderous work,
were to enter the house of the Marshalls
in Rural, compel the aged couple at the
point of revolvers to reveal the location
of their money. then chloroform the help
less people, set the house on fire and de>
part Thus, they expected to leave the
Impression that the house had taken fire,
and the couple being old and feeble, had
failed to help themselves and had perish
ed in the flames
Being in possession of these facts and
learning from Valentine the exact
evening for the carrying into exe>
cuton of the plot-August H. 1876
Marshal Halves engaged the services
of Deputy Sheriff Ankrum and August
Herkert who, up to that time had gained
reputation as brave member of the
Moline police force, and on the night in
question the three started for the scene of
the planned tragedy. The house where
the Marshalls lived was a little frame, one
story structure, situated by itself in the
midst slmost,of thickly grown orchard.
and remote from any other dwelling
house. 1t was a summer night, and fright
fully dark. Marshal Halves. after advis>
ing the old people of the plot, placed his
men, took his own position and awaited
the arrival of the villains. He located
Ankrum about one hundred yards from
the house, where he learned one of the
men was to wait, with instructions to
take this outside guard as soon as his pals
had entered the house. Herkert was sta
toned Just outside of the house and be-
bind bunch of lilaCs, while Maj. llawes
took position in a small room near the
go on their way into the room beyond,
where the old couple were in the habit of |
sleeping. Mr.. and Mrs. Marshau, how
ever, had taken refuge in the cellar after |
learning of 1.-The danger they were in, but
the house was entirely dark and Marshal |
Halves was satisfied that he could capture |
his men without much difficulty.
Darkness settled over the scene; it was |
a dismal night. As Major Halves after
ward said, the darkness was so dense is1
could almost be cut with a knife. II was
nearly midnight when Maj Halves de-
tected footsteps outsde-the robbers |
were coming. He listened-the men |
came boldly up the walk, opened the
front door and entered. They |
halted a moment when one said in a |
whisper straight ahead, go straight |
ahead" Two passed back into the room |
be sleeping. and the third, whom Mar
shall HAYES recognized from his place of |
hiding as Current, stopped in front of |
the door to the marshals apartment and |
pressed against the door. This caused |
the officers club to rattle against the door
and Currents suspicious being aroused, he |
gave the door a more forcible push, when |
Mai. Halves, seeing that conceslment was
no longer possible, let the door go open
and presenting "a cooked revolver, ex-
claimed, "Jac Current, surrender or you
are dead mani" Quick as an instant
Current struck Maj, Halves over
the arm with the handle of an immense
Colts revolver and then dealt him a
well directed blow on the head, stunning