Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-07-24
RESCUE OF A DESPERATE.
PROMlSCGOTS SHOOTING IN A
WYOMING COURT ROOM.
Fivc Men killed and Many Wounded.

one Of the most desperate and bloody az
l trays which has ever occurred in Wyoming.
| which {, noted for it, desperate men. hap
| penrd At the sitting Of the court at Buffalo
| last week. and resulted in the escape from
| custody Of Joe Liddle. better known as
"Rark joe one of the most daring des-
| peraiocs known in the West.
lie Is a cousin Of the famous Dick Lidde,
who was a member OF the James gang in
Missouri several Years ago. lie Is a much
/ Drawer and more i sperate man than his
cousin. His haunt> are the almost inaces-
/ sihle mountains which surround this place.
| FN years he has been terror to all
/ who travel over the mountains and through
the passes between Buffalo and
/ the Black Hills in Dakota.
| Large rewards have been standing for
his capture for several wears, and about =
month ago Sheriff Budd with the aid of
about dozen Cree lndlans, succeeded in
locating the outlaw, aud 10y patiently waiting
in ambush for three days, was able to effect
his capture by falling upon him while
asleep
Budd brought hi, prisoner 20 Buffalo. and
lac was not only closely confined to the Jail,
but WAS chained to a post in his cell, and
then to prevent his release by members of
his band, a heaYily-armed guard of >iN men
was constantly around the prisoner
BLACK Joe has about a dozen murders
laid at his door, and has gathered about him
a band OF the worst characters of the West.
These men he treats as equals on all OCca-
sions, except when work is to be done, and
then he rules them with a rod OF iron. The
result Of this treatment is that these men
will do anything for their chief. aud sheriff
Budd realized that if he would keep his man
he must take extra precautions.
Three times during his Incarceration were
attempts made to release him, and this was
only prevented by the perfect guard. When
at last the sheriff placed his man in the
court room before the judge. he felt as if a
load had been lifted from his shoulders.
Liddie was brought into court with man
aCles on his feet and hands, but his LAWYER
protested against going to trial with his
client in chains, contrary to the state law,
which forbils this.
The judge ordered the handouts and
chains removed, but told the sheriff to be
extra careful about the entrances to the
court room. The trial was one of great in
tercst, and brought people from all parts Of
the state, the crowd being so great in the
room that several people were pushed mo
the space behind the railing around the
LAWYERS tables.
When the court adjourned for dinner,
Sheriff Budd would not take the prJoncr
out, but sent deputy for meal for himself
and Liddle. The trial was resumed, and
most damaging testimony was produced.
During the exciting passages of the tcsti-
mony there was much confusion. Sud-
denly fight was started on one side OF the
room, and pistols were drawn and fired.
At the same instant five men, who had
crowded in and around the bench, Jumped
to the prisoners box, one Of them shooting
down the sheriff as he passed him. Two re-
4 "a hrp al, 70 I 81
men made dash through the crowd. shoot
Ing AS rapidly as they could pull triggers.
ON their way to the door they were Ioincd
by four more men, and then a most dcs-
pcratc battle ragged in the room. The
crowd had not been able to recover from
the sudden and desperate attack before
Liddc and seven of his men were out
side and on horseback. dashng away 10 the
mountains. Two of the band had held the
horses while the others went inside to effect
the rescue of their chief. When the excite.
mcnt quoted down it was found that Sheriff
Budd was shot through the lungs, and will
probably die.
Two of the robbers We're instantly Killed,
two deputies were killed, another died that
night, nine spectators received severe
wounds, one being probably fatal and
two received Slight flesh wounds,
1t Is not known whether any Of the other
outlaws were injured or not. but the crowd
was so dense that it was impossible to shoot
for fear Of killing innocent spectators, and il
is probable that they got away uuharIned.
quick chase was made after the fving
outlaws, but they were soon lost
in the darkness Of the mountains
This daring deed has had the effect of call
Ing out an especial proclamation from GOV.
Warren, offering a large reward FIR the cap.
ture, dead or awe. of Li'!dIc or any mem
Der OF his band. The result ofhi> proclama-
ton is that there will be systematic effort
made to hunt the men down.