Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-12-12
SUPPOSED TRAIN ROBBERS.


BarDers kilieo.
There has been considerable train
robber news in the past week. First
two men were arrested at Chetopa and
Parsons and later on another was
killed by the marshals near Saline
court house. The latter occurrence is
announced through a dispatch from
Tahlequah, dated last Saturday, and is
as follows:
"John Barbe alias Geo. Wright, was
shot through the heart by deputy mar
shals near hero to-day. Barber was a
notorious Texas desperate, who COM
mitted several murders in Bell county
and Tom Green county, Texa1. He
was implicated in the receht Missouri,
Kansas & TIE ias 'cs5ory. The deputy |
a reward Of $1,000 offered for his cap
ture and $1,000 for his body dead or
alive. The deputy marshals have |
been on his track for several days. |
About one year ago he eluded about |
thirty live men who tried to capture |
him at Dog Greek, T. This morD-
ing Deputy Marshals Connolly, White,
Petty and Rutherford and posse en-
countered him near Saline court house,
on Spring creek, about twenty-five
miles from Tahlequah. Barber was
riding when discovered. lie immedi-
ately began firing his Winchester. In
dian fashion crouching be hind his po-
ny after each shot, but was shot through
the heart after City shots had been ex-
changed. Eis body was brought here
tonight. Some time ago steel breast
plato was found where a robbery had
been committed. To-day Barber's
brother recognized it as belonging to
the dead desperate, who had been ac-
customed to wear it. The marshals
believe that the other Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas robbers will
be captured in few days"
From a gentleman who was at Table
quah when the remains were brought
into that town, the following particu-
lars we're obtained and doubtless they
are more accurate than the above:
The officers had learned that Barber
was being harbored at the home OF his
brother.in-law, a man named Palmer,
whose sister he (Barber) had married
in Arkansas last fail. Before day Sat
urday morning they accordingly took
their stand in the neighborhood of the
house and awaited developments.
Presently Deputy Connolly heard a
horse "nicker" down in the corn field
and turned his face in that direction.
About twenty minutes later he saw a
man riding up corn row. The officer
was standing behind a sapling and
when the man h ad advanced to within
fifteen steps he gave the command to
"throw up" A Winchester cracked
in a second and then Connolly leveled
ed his gun and fred. AS he did so the
horse turned and ran, and its rider
poured a streak of hre after him from
his weapon. When he had covered
some 250 yards Connolly fired again
and the man fell, but il was the first
shot that had done the work. Palmer
told the officers that the man they had
killed was Barber and a number of
persons at Tahlequah identified him
positively. The horse he was riding
had been stolen from a man named
Smith, living near Cincinnati, Ark,
and Zeke Proctor, who was authorized
to do so, paid the reward and took it
home.
We believe there is no direct proof
that Barber was connected with the late
robbery, but his name has been fire.
quently associated with the crime.
lie is, however, charged with the Yer
digris bridge robbery of last year and
the officers held writs issued on ac-
count OF that transaction.
The Kansas arrests are thus report
ed by the Chetopa Democrat;
Last Monday two men were arrest
ed on suspicion Of being implicated in
tie NJ, X. & I. train robbery at Pry-
or creek one week ago last Sunday.
For several weeks four men have been
stopping a portion of the time with a
widow in the south part OF town.
They were seldom seen away from the
house during the day time, and as
there was SO much petty thieving and
buIglarizing going on in the city, their
actions aroused the suspicion Of our
citizens, and they were closely watched.
There were four OF them, snd they
we're all known to have left town on
Friday and Saturday before the rob.
berry on Sunday night. and nothing
more was seen Of them until Thursday
OF last week, when two or three of
them returned, followed by their COM
panions. Shortly after their return
couple OF them came up town and
bought some clothing and a trunk.
During all this time they were closely
watched, and on sunday last 1t was
decided TO arrest them, but upon in
vestigation II was found that only one
or two Of them were in the city, aud 1t
was decided TO wait until more Of them
could be captured. Monday morning,
however, " Was decided that II would
not do 10 walt longer, aud s. Is. sloane
and |. h. Highleyman made descent
on the house where they were stop
ping, but only found one OF tho par
ties. lie was arrested and taken TO
tho Oswego Jail. lie gave bis name as
Chas. Francis Felken. Mr.. sloane
then took tae train and went 10 Par.
sons. where he found and placed un-
der arrest another OF ihe gang, who
gave his name as A. I. Erlenbah. lie