The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-12
LONG CHASE AFTER ROBBERS.
Arizona officers Capture Four Express Thieves
in Country Filled with Desperadoes.

SALT LAKE CITY, u. T., April 1.-THE
four Arizona officers, who arrived her yes
terday with the four train robbers in GUS
tody, tell an interesting story of the long
chase. On March 21 an Atlantic & Pacific
train was stopped at Canon Diablo, Yava-
pal county, Arizona Territory. for orders,
when the men boarded the engine and per-
suaded the fremGn-with revolvers-to
order the express messenger to open his
car. This was done. The robbers then
broke open the strong box, and after secur-
ing all the money In it, struck south to-
ward the Jonto basin. and proceeded as far
in that direction as Sunset mountain, when
they headed for Utah. Sheriff O'Neil. of
Yavapai county, was at once notified, and,
with special agent Holton, deputy Sheriff
James L. Black and Ed st. Clair, started in
pursuit. The trailed the robbers nearly 800
miles north from the line of the road,
through as wild and desolate O country as
can be found in the West. 1t was q dan
gerous trip. too. for the region is infested
with desperadoes whose sympathies were all
with with the ,.r% pursued party sod At last, last
Colorado. aud over high mountains
and parched plains, during which the
officers suffered many privations. the rob-
bers were sighted on April 1. nearly two
week, weeks after the robbery in Wahwee canon
u. L. The officers called on the men to
surrender. and were answered with q vol
ley from the revolvers with which they
We're all armed. hecountry being heavily
A battle ensued, during which one of the
robbers had his cartridge box shot from his
belt, another had bullet-hole put through
his hat, and one of their horses was killed.
After about nifty shots had beenexchanged,
the robbers concluded it was getting too
warm for them, and, leaving their horses,
they beat hasty retreat on foot. The
country Is covered with dense growth of
underbrush, which made pursuit very diff
cult, but the officers persisted and soon
overhauled Bill Stineau. noted desperate,
probably the leader of the gang. Next day
Charles Clark and John Smith were capt
ured, and on April Apr James Ounce was
gathered IN: The officers had now sue
Guilty presented itself To return with
their prisoners over the road they had come
would be no small undertaking. and. after
consideration; 1T was decided to press
and take the Santa Fe road to Prescott. AAf It
is not known even by the officers Just how
much money was stolen, but that found on
counted for, amounts to over $1,000. On
the way up one of the prisoners made q
full confession, so that there is not the
slightest doubt that the right parties have
been captured.
A funny incident is related in connection
with an attempt made by the citizens of
Canonville to arrest the men. Shortly be-
fore the arrival of the officers, eight armed
men, with small army of followers. un-
dertook this job. The robbers waited qui-
city until the citizens were near enough.
when they suddenly covered them with
their guns and made them stack their arms
and depart.
All of the prisoners are well educated.
and smith claims TO be the son of Baptist
minister Officer Holton says he formerly
knew Stineau in New Mexico, where he
trained with a hard gang and was general
ly considered bad. All the robbers are un-
der officers charge. They were quite jolly
when 1rst arrested, but are beginning to
realize their position now. and show signs
of dropping. Train-robbing was made a
capital ofiense by the last Arizona Legis-
lature, and. as eourt convenes on May /.
they are In a fair way to reach the reward
which their vilIainy merits. The party
Loft for Denver last evening.