Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-05
TIE Robber ca1o Broken Up.

Along the line vi eho
river, skirting sthe Baltimore anu
Ohio Railroad, gang OF robbers mas
been operating for nearly a year
They not only stole from the COM
panv. but held up foot passengers
who came their way. When booty
was scarce they broke into country
stores All efforts on the part OF the
railroad people to capture them mao
until last week proved unavalling'
Detectives were placed along the line
and stationed on cars, but in some
way the highwaymen were always
warned of their coming and got out
OF the way. The Baltimore and
Ohio detectives who had worked on
the case knew the robbers. but
could not get at them. They had es-
tablished headquarters on a little Is
land in the middle Of the Monocacy
river, where, provided with ooats'
they easily made their escape when-
ever an attack was threatened
Within the past month they have be-
come more daring than ever, ana
some of their escapades rival those OF
the train robbers on the Pacific slope
On October 5th they held up William
H. Williams. of Harper's Ferry, near
Ellicott City, and took all OF his
money, his watch and chain, and
even all his clothes except one shirt
and a pair of trousers. George ii.
Marshall, said to be from Hagers-
town. was the next victim. After 60
ing through him they kicked him of
q train while it was passing Lans-
downe. Marshall spent several
weeks at the Maryland University
Hospital recovering from injuries re-
ceiyed by being thrown from the
train.
On Friday night, Nov. 2lst, the
band robbed car at Frederick
Junction of enough goods TO start a
store. and on the following night
they robbed the store OF Capt. James
Billmyer of 5000 worth OF goods. 1t
was then that Policeman Short OF the
Southern district, one of the Quickest
men on the Baltimore police force,
WAS detailed to assist the Baltimore
and Ohio detective force in running
down the gang. He Unexpectedly
came up with them on Monday morn
ing on the railroad, near the Wash
ington road They passed in coal
hopper train, and, when some little
distance off, they left the train and
began to fire at Short. There were
five in the gang. and, though they es-
capped at that time, the officers came
no with them again last Saturday on
the banks Of the river. They were
taken unawares, and when ordered
to surrender three OF them, Michael
Worth, Michael Cunningham, and
Harry Duvall obeyed, but the other
two plunged into the river and
struck out for the other shore. The
three men caught were unarmed, but
wore stolen clothing and had a
quantity of stolen goods on them.
The two fleeing men each had 81
calibre Smith & Wesson revolvers
and plenty of ammunition The de
tectives could not get across the
river, and SO deputized Farmer Best
who mounted a horse and followed
the fugitives. He was armed with
32-calibre pistol and had only few
bullets.
As he assembled the hill on the other
side OF the river the men saw him,
and, turning quickly, opened fire
upon him. Mr.. Best returned their
fire, and for time Ithere was lively
fusillade. About twenty-five shots
were exchanged, when the men
dashed into the woods and disap-
peared. The three men who were
captured were taken to Frederick
and committed to Jail to await a
hearing.
Last Saturday night Policeman
Short and Detective Hutchinson,
while going up the road on a Metro
politan branch train, saw a fire in
the woods near Washington Grove.
They left the train at Gaithersburg,
and, going back, caught Harry Hall
10
Archer Zepp, alias Woodberry, the
leader OF the gang, escaped to the
woods. He tried to hold up the
officers, and, as they would not have
it that way, he ran, and several shots
were fired after him. Mailman, or
Flick, was taken to Baltimore and
locked up in the Southern police sta
ton. He is 1S years old, and was
formerly an inmate OF the House OF
Refuge. He talked with little con
Germ about the deeds Of the gang
and showed himself a hardened
Young rascal. He said he had on
three suits Of Undertaking which he
had taken in the Nanclevesville rob
berry. The others were older than
he. All were well armed, and he
said two pistols were held at Will
liamss head when they robbed him.
Mailman told of numerous other rob
berries committed by the gang.
Circuit Court.
The following cases have been dis
posed OF in the Circuit Court since