The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-09-05
M'FADDEN HANGED.
One OF the Bank BObbers Left Dang
ling to u Thorn Tree.

"oS DSSh
mitted by the two men when they over
powered Cashier Groves and robbed the
Corder bank of a small sum of money-all
it had at that monochrome OF them has
paid the penalty, and has stood before the
bar of judgment higher than any earthly
courts OF justice, to answer not only for
this deed but every other done by him in
the flesh. Lon McFadden's body is but
food for worms, while the man lives only
in the memory of those with whom he
came in contact. His companion made
good his escape, n may enjoy for a time
the fruit of his %ill-gotten gain.
The story of the pursuit, capture and
execution of the more unfortunate robber
may be told succinctly, and in few words.
No touch of artists brush or scholars
pen can add much to its solemnity or vast
ly embellish the mental picture drawn OF
the affair.
MAD HIaHwAYMAN.
When the two men, with their pistols
pointed full at his head, had owe Cash
Ter Groves and compelled him to hand
over the banks accumulation, which had
been hastily dumped into a canvas bag
used for the transportation of silver
money-gold, silver, paper, nickels II
copper coins-they hurried from the build
ing, mounted their horses and galloped
down the street. One of them, McFadden,
fired right and left as he fed, shooting at
men in their shops, at their plows in the
n~eighboring fields, at anything in the
shape of man. One farmer at whom he
shot as he passed stopped his pillow, I'M
hitched his horse, armed himself and
started in pursuit. The two men rode
north, going in a gallop until a turn in
the road hid them from the sight of the
villagers, where, slowing their horses to a
canter, they divided the spoils, 1913 fall
ing to McFadden's lot, and there agreed
to separate and meet at a certain spot on
the Missouri river, where a skiff was in
waiting to convey them down stream and
out OF danger of capture. The second and
smaller of the two men is supposed to
have reached this tryst, and to have made
his escape that way.
POSSES IN PURSUIT.
The news of the robbery of the bank
was not long in spreading to every in
habitant Of the quiet little village, and
soon every man was preparing to aid in
the capture of the daring highwaymen.
Posses were organized at Corder and start
ed in the direction the men had taken
The telegraph and telephone were brought
into requisition, and soon searching par
ties, headed by Deputy Sheriff c. w. Jack
son, were on the way from Higginsville'
The word was passed along that the men
must be captured at all hazards, and turn
ed over to the officers of the law. There
was no whisper of summary punishment,
no breathing of the growing feeling OF
discomfort at the laws delay-only a de-
sire to capture the men, and, for some
time to come, put them beyond the temp
tation to rob and plumber their neighbor
oil the gain OF his hands. Headed and
directed as they were by a sworn officer,
il there was a thought in the breast of any
OF these men that should capture follow
pursuit, and execution capture, the thought
!, went unexpressed-was hidden deep in
| the bosom OF the r~esolute man who gave
, it birth. There was no audible calling
upon the stern and hasty god OF the mob
THE RoBBER o~vERTAKEN.
Inc rODDeTy ndu OCCuEEcu dC OCioch
) in the afternoon, and within an hour men
were securing the surrounding country
: seeking the robbers. 1t was known In
? which direction they had gone, and II
was surmised that their plan of ultimate
; escape was by way of the Missouri river,
whose sluggish waters leave no trace, no
, footprints on it's ripping surface. Thither
r went the two men; after them came the
scores who sought to check their mad
flight and land them behind the bars of a
l prison. When McFadden and his COM
: panion had passed a mile or two beyond
r the village, and divided their spoils, they
separated, and McFadden, who believed
2 he had the better horse, turned aside from
the beaten path and sought a new road to
the trysting place. The men o d on, and
were soon lost to the view OF each other
That separation probably caused the cap
ture and subsequent summary execution
/, Of Lon McFadden. When he had gone
eight or nine miles from Corder, he real
lied that he had lost his way, and was
riding in a circle around a farm. His
horse, too, was giving out from the exer-
ton OF the long and hard ride, and he
must go slower,
CAPTURED IN A CoRNFIELD.
, Coming to a steep incline in the road
leading by Asbury and Smiths farm, he
let his tired steed come to n slower pace,
Reaching the top Of the hill, raising him.
/, self in the saddle and looking backward,
he beheld a crowd OF men hardly half a
mile away. Realizing In a moment that
escape was impossible by flight he left his
horse and hurried into the high corn hid
ing himself among the stalks. Night was
coming, twilight was enveioping hill and
dale, but there was enough light left OF
the waning day to bring McFadden intd
plain view against the blue OF the clear
, sky to his eager followers. They saw
|, him dismount and hurry into the field
and at once surrounded him. There he
was, run down at last, with darkness his