Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-07
TWO HOG THIEVES RIDDLED.
A Terrible Tragedy on the Iowa
Bottoms Near Hamburg.
ONE OF THEM INSTANTLY KILLED.
After Offering Fcrvent Prayers at a
Revival Meeting They Attempt
to Steal a Neighboring
farmers Porkers.
Pork Thieves Perforated.

NEBRASKA CRY, Neb, Feb. 6-TSpecial
Telegram to the BEE. Particulars of a
rather tragic affair which occurred on the
bottoms near Hamburg, Ia, late Saturday
night or rather early Sunday morning,
reached this city to-day. For some time
past farmers in the vicinity of Hamburg,
especially those living north on the river
bottoms, have been losing hogs by thieving.
The thieves would go into the pens, slaughter
the hogs and carry off the meat. In num-
ber of cases the thieves were so considerate
as to divide the hog and leave half for the
owner. The farmers have kept sharp look
out for the thieves, but until Saturday night
have been unable to catch them. A farmer
named Tieson particularly suffered from
these depredations, which were generally
committed on stormy nights. Saturday night
young Tieson, with uble-barrelled shot
gun and revolver, was on watch for the
thieves, and was rewarded some time after
midnight by discovering the approach Of a
team and two men. One carried q hatchet,
and the other had a butcher knife. They
hitched to the fence, went direct to the hog
pen, struck large hog on the head with the
hatchet, and proceeded to disembowel him.
Terson waited until they had finished their
work, when he arose and, with the shotgun
pointed toward them, told them to throw up
their hands. They did not obey his COM
mand, but made move as if they, too, were
armed. Tieson then fired both barrels, the
bullets striking man named Holt on the
left side of the head, killing him instantly.
His partner, man named Rampo, started to
run, and Tierson called to him to halt,
but he would not, so fire was
opened on him with a revolver Rampo
was shot twice, one bullet taking effect in
the arm and the other passing through the
stomach. Rampo did not stop running until
he became entangled in barb wire fence,
and then surrendered.
Up to this time Tieson did not know
whether he had shot the first man or not, but
after securing his prisoner went into the pen
and found Holt lying dead close to the hog he
had just killed. The body was cared for.
Rampo was put into wagon and taken TO
Hamburg. fleson accompanied him and
surrendered to an officer, telling what he
had done. The officer told him to go home
and when he was wanted he would send after
him.
The coroner held an inquest yesterday aft
ernoOn and TiesOn was completely exon
Grated. He is an honest hard d-Working young
| man and his way of dealing with the two
thieves is endorsed by the community al
large. One thing sure, he has the law on his
side.
Holt and Rampo were both residents of
| Hamburg and each has family. They were
| engaged in no business, worked but little anG
| since their tragic end it is thought they stole
| for a livlihood. Saturday night both mer
| were present at the revival meeting and eacl
| offered a fervant prayer and those present
| say none could yell louder than these two
After the meeting they hitched up their team
and went on their stealing expedition. Tht
| latest report says RampO cannot possibly
| live Both men have wives and several
| small children.