The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-09
TRAIN ROBBERS KILLED.
American Bandits Hunted to
their Death in Mexico.
Riddled with Bullets as They At
tempted to Escape,

Captain Burns has returned to San Fran
cisco from hunting the STEMS Pass train
robbers in Mexico. From Sheriff Paul he
heard the details of the deaths of the despera-
does Sheehan, Hart and johnson. While
the United States Marshal Of Arizona
and his deputies were locked up in
Sonora jail for crossing the frontier
without permission Sheriff Paul ap-
peared before the Governor Of Chihuahua
and asked for extradition papers to hunt the
robbers in Mexico. Paul and Deputy Price
went to Chihuahua and learned that the
robbers had fitted out at that point johnson
had been arrested before on suspicion Of train
robbing, but was released for lack Of evil
dence. He swore to get even with the
American authorities. In pursuance OF his
plan he. went to Chihuahua and induced
Hart and Sheehan to join him in the robbery.
They bought rifles aud horses and struck out
in q northwesterly direction to the Southern
Pacific. The distance from Chihuahua to
STEMS Pass is 400 miles.
Sheriff Paul suspected the robbers would
return by the same route ana decided to meet
them. The Mexican authorities detailed q
sergeant and four soldiers to assist the Sheriff.
About one hundred and twenty-five miles
from Chihuahua they learned that the rob-
De[S QaO D6cu seen pdSSiuR VI duu uo uotCI-
mined to await their return. He posted men
In the brush near a ranch and waited. At
dusk Mexican reported that the three rob-
bers were eating supper in the house. The
Mexican offered to secure their rifles. He
found two and brought them out; then he
returned for the third. He found it on q
shelf, and just as he took it the robbers en-
tered and asked what he was doing with the
rifle. He made some excuse but the robbers
,%orll l. Nd 0f az 1oo oxya
the room The Sheriff, alarmed at the Mexi-
cams long absence, approached with his men
and stationed them so as to command all the
doors. The sergeant saw the robbers and
rushed to the door as they closed 1t. He
pushed it open and was shot through the
heart. The robbers dragged the body inside
and barred the door.
Sheriff Paul ordered tho men not to fire In
the house, fearing to kill the friendly
Mexican, and thereby arouse the hostility
of the neighborhood. Placing his men on
guard he sent for the Alcalde Of the district,
who arrived with armed men When
the Alcalde learned that soldier had been
killed he ordered the robbers to be
shot on sight. With reinforcements brought
by the Alealde the Sheriff surrounded the
house during tho night He stationed
soldiers ten feet apart and then went upon
the roof with Price to prevent tho escape Of
the prisoners in that direction. The rooms
we're full of women and children and the
Alcalde had hole dug under the wall. -.
At daylight the Sheriff called to the out
laws to come out, and received a defiant re-
ply. Then he scraped adobe from the roof
and fired tho woodwork. As he did this the
Alcalde got twenty one women and children
ont through hole in the wall When the
fire became hot the desperadoes attempted to
break for liberty. Sheehan appeared at the
door and was riddled with bullets.
The soldiers kept up constant
fire through the doors and killed Hart. John.
son suddenly threw open the door and rushed
out with q revolver in each hand, to be met
with % volley from the Sheriff and guards
johnson fell upon his face, but raised him
self onhis elbows and fired both pistols In
an instant he was pierced with bullets. Sher-
iff Paul searched Johnson's body and found
$500 and some jewelry. The Mexican soldiers
looted Harris BODY.