Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-27
NO GUILTY NAN ESCAPES.
Several Good Captures by Barton County
Officers An Exciting Chase
After Horse Thieves


and his deputies, of this county,
in capturing various thieves and
putting them behind the bars. In
the first place Sheriff Wilson received
telegram asking him to look out for one
O'Brein who was wanted in Russell
county for stealing wheat. He and
Deputy Sheriff Tom Mallory started out
Immediately, and before tthe close of
day had got scent of O'Brien, run him
to cover, and put him safely in the
court house dOnjOn.
Next, telegram was received from
the sheriff of Dickinson county telling
the officers here to look out for one
Robert WhittOn, who was wanted there
for stealing cattle. By acting quickly
the officers got trace of the thief.
and soon had him in custody. Wilson
and Mallory making the capture.
Right on the heels Of this capture,
telegram was received from the sheriff
oflMcPherson county asking the sheriff
to look out for fellow from that
county who was running away with
mortgaged horse. OF course they got
him, too; Deputy w. III. Zutayern max
ing the latter capture.
This was not enough work for the
boys, they had just got their hands in,
as it were, and so started out to cap
ture couple of horse thieves from
Osborne county, a telegram from the
sheriff of that county warning them
that the miscreants were coming this
way. Upon receiving the latter tele-
gram Sheriff Wilson, who was busy in
court, put Tom Mallory on the case.
Tom got trace of the fellows a few
hours afterward. While out in the
county he had passed the two thieves
with four horses, near HOiSingtOn. and
he Immediately telegraphed over there
to have a man start out and see if they
came this way, in the meantime pre-
pairing TO start in pursuit. He found
they had come straight south, and had
crossed the Arkansas river about two
miles west of town. He drove all that
day and ,heard of them again about
three miles northeast of st. John. AT
the latter place he was joined by D. II.
Landis, treasurer of. Stafford county.
Mr.. Lands had at one time been a
detective and willingly Joined in the
pursuit. The two took fresh team at
St. John and followed the fugitives most
all that night, keeping trace of them in
the moonlight by the tracks of the
stolen horses which Mallory had become
familiar with in the daytime. They
thus kept up the pursuit for thirtyfve
| miles or more, when the moon went
down and they had to wait for daylight.
| At Preston they got another fresh team
in the morning and starting out again
| soon found where the two men had
camped for the night. AT about eight
| O'Clock that morning they came in sight
of the outfit they were after, and fol
lowed some four miles behind them foI
several hours, gaining ON the thieves
perceptab!y all the time.
At last they came up to within about
400 yards of the fleeing men. They
noticed but one man in the wagon for
some time, but when they got so close
they saw one Of them crawl up on the
seat from the bed of the wagon. hold
ing in readiness Il Winchester rifle
Tom said he knew the fellows meant
'busineSS" then and would make &
hard fight for liberty. He says theil
horses were about played out and knew
they would soon change their tactics
The thieves Stacked up aud the pursu
ers, not wishing to precipitate a fgh
just then, drove up and past their prey
leaving the impression that they Were
not Intentionally following the fellows
i After Mallory and Lands had got
half a mile or SO ahead, the thieve!
changed their course. This Wal
what was looked for, and th
officers drove ahead until the
passed over ridge, and thel
turned and drove rapidly IN direction
parallel with that taken by the fugi
tives. Soon they came to another ris
in the prairie, when they found the
had headed off the thieves. AS soon
however, as the latter .saw the ney
move of their pursuers they halted an,
began unhitching couple of tn
horses, preparatory to fleeing on horse
back. Seeing this. Tom and his compan
ion whipped up and swooped down ont
their prey. The robbers soon mounted
, Mallory opened fire on them with hi
Winchester. This was instantl
returned. For a number of miles
running fire was kept up. the bullet
whistling uncomfortably near tn
officers quite frequently.
Presently the robbers disappeare
, over rise in the prairie. The pursu
, ers had noticed it ahead OF them, an,
, saw that on the other side was quite
, ravine. They shrewdly judged that tn
r fleeing men would take advantage @
their being mounted and make a breal
down the ravine. Turning before the
came to the hill the DurSuerS drOy