The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-19
TWO DESPERATE TILLI4NS.
A Young Man I;obs His Grandfather-Pur-
suit of the Thieves.

suit of the Thieves.
FLOYD C. H.. Feb. 1s.--[Special. Late
Sunday evening last two men. one quite a
youth. rode quietly through the streets Of this
place and took the road leading to Christians
burg Nothing, Of course, was thought Of
this. About midnight some twelve Of fifteen
men also rode in town from tho direction
from whence the two men had come, and,
Quietly arousing few citizens. made inquiry
for two men who had committed bold and
cruel robbery in Mount Airy. \. &. Prom the
description given them Of the men who had
that evening passed through town, they were
satisfied they were close on their game. After
procuring a lantern. the night being cloudy
and dark they followed on the road the
robbers had taken. AT Mr.. c. f. SpanGcr's,
about two miles from this place. they learned
the two men had called at ms house about
dark and asked for supper and feed Tor their
horses Being refused they rode on. and the
pursuers again took the road, and after pass
ing and inqulriDg at several houses on the way
they arrived at Mr. John Howery's. about SIX
bic they found the two horses. They 81 once
proceeded 10 the yard, and AZ they were IN the
act Of surrounding the house one of the men
raised a back window III the second story
jumped to the ground and ran of. He was
fired on several times and pursued but made
good his escape. Some Of the party entered
the house aud found the other young man hid
under tho bed they had slept in. The
fugitive's hat. boots. coat and vest were found
in the room, which he did not have
time to don. so close wcrc his pnrsueTs on
him. The captured robber was brought back
10 this place by some Of the parties. The rest
accompanied by Mr. Howery and several of
his neighbors followed in hot pursuit Of the
fleeing one They arrived here with their
prisoners about 10 o'clock Monday morning,
and after having then horses fed and getting
dinner left for Mt Airy The robbers were a
man by the name If Midnight, a sortof travel
ing Snowman OF minstrel. whose home. II IS
said is in Roanoke county; the other, who Is
a youth not yet sevcnteeniyears old. Is named
Taylor. from West Virginia. Though young
in years and quite boyish looking, lac Is said
TO be desperate character. and 10 hear Inn
talk about his crime one would take him TO be
stepped and hardened in vice.
In Boosting, bragcadocia manner he de-
tailed the circumstances as follows: lie
said Midnight proposed 60 him 10 win some
money by robbery and asked him if he knew
where they could get any money IN that way.
lie told Midnight that his Grandfather Tny-
Tor had money in his safe at home. Last Fri
day night. while old Mr.. Taylor was absent
from home attending an oyster supper in
Town. they went to his house and found his
grandmother alone McNght seized the old
anu flbhtiR anu ptit iitl ~ iiA0tiolbllNl
took the key from her pocket. gave it 10 him
(young TAYLOR and he opened the safe and
took out Il 900 in gold and notes. and al once
they made their escape on foot. On Saturday
they bought two horses III Carroll county and
came Oh here Sunday. lie says they were
making their way to the Hatfield and Mccoy
country on the borders Of West Virginia and
Kentucky. When arrested lie took from his
vest pocket &c. and said that Mcknight had
stolen his share of the money TINT night while
he was asleep and carried it of. Upon his
arrival here 1901 more was found in one of his
pockets.
About l o'clock to-day Dr. Taylor. a son of
old Mr.. Taylor. whose money was stolen, and
who Is leading the pursuing party after Ne
Night. tclephoned from liasham, ten miles
from here. that they have the robber sur
rounded III an IVY clln. and wanted more men
TO assist IN the capture. A party of some
six or eight. headed by the sheriff. was soon
made up. and arming themselves FASTENED to
the scene of action. Young TAYLOR says Me
Night is armed with two pistols and large
knife
Late in the evening most of the persons re-
turned here, saying the pursuit had been IN
vain: some. however. have gone on TO differ
ent points on the Norfolk and Western rail-
road with the hope of iuterccptlng and cap
turing Midnight. There Is slight sus-
picion here from something let fall by some
OF the pursuers on their return, that they found
McNicht i'll the ivy elf, and that lie will never
be heard OF again.