The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02
CAPTURE OF A DESPERATE.
Thrilling Experience Of VI. S. BtYlnS' a
Virginia Detective.
he WILL GET THE GOVERNORS REWARD
slr Months spent In the wilds Of the south
west. and tho Dangers 10 VINO" .
lie was ExPoscd.

,t,o;r the reward Of $3.50 which the State
caar.d the arrest and conviction OF WI
liam Baisden. charged in connection with his
oousip John Henry Bsisden, Of the murder
Of Robert l.. Irons. in the home OF his fatheF-
in-law. Joseph Hibbitts, at Grundy, buchanan
county. Va. on the night Of January 81. 1890.
MIR Bevins was born in Kentucky just OF the
close of the war, and Is about rs wears Old he
is ~ slender built. with clear, hight Diue eyes,
and complexion tanned by exposure % the
weather. A slightmustache shades his upper
lip bis chin Is square and bis mouth denotes
6rmness aud determination. His untlring
pursuit of criminals has made him famous in
Virginia West Virginia and Kentucky, and
his capture of both John Henry and William
Baisden Is considered tho best piece OF detec-
tive work ever done among the desperate
characters who ipfest tho sparsely settled and
mountainous districts of Southwest Virginia.
HIS STORY.
Tnfrs reporter met Mr. Bevins at the
Capitol Yesterday. and after much solicitation
induced the naturally quiet and reserved man
10 tell the following story OF the crime ana 70
relate the circumstances Of the capture.
Robert L. Irons married the daughter OF
Joseph Hibbitts. clerk of the court Of Blu
chanan county. Mr.. Irons lived IN Smyth
county. and on one occasion had some DIM
Chilly VIII a DIOlIti VI bNAI iASAA1 i'tAtoL'a-'
On Friday night January 81, 1890. Mr.
lyons came from his home 10 visit MIR. Hub
bits at Grundy. John and William BaiSden
were in town. They knew OF the quarrel
between Mr.. Irons and the brother OF John
Harry Baisden Mr. Irons repaired 20 the
home of his father-in-law. and was seated at
the supper table. when, without word OF
warning, John BesGen fred two shots at him
through the window, and at the same moment
William threw open tho door and fred also at
thedying man. Allthree shots took effect, and
in q few moments Dir. Irons had passed be-
yond all human aid, and the TWO murdefers
were rapidly disappearing.
Three persons. though, had witnessed the
commission Of the deep, foul crime; and they
knew beyond doubt the souls which were
stained with taking Of human life.
Mrs Hibbitts John Stinson and James
Hammons had all caught gances in that mo-
ment Of time that marked two men rs muir
derers. They were glanees never TO be
forgotten. In the lamplight that
cleaned through the window they had seen
the scOwl on the hard face of John, as with
An outlaws unerring aim be sent the ruth
less bullet crashing, through his victims BRAN,
In the wide-Opon door they caught the face
and form Of William as in fendish fury no
leveled his revolver at the unarmed man who,
in the complaceDcy Of home, sat at his even
ing meal.
After their horrible crime was committed
they NlSltt0 tDb ONCE OF inc bltIiHs WHO WAS
their former friend. Then ordering their
horses they fed in the darkness of night
down the lonely river road. Before the echoes
OF their horses feet upon the frozenHgrOund
had left in silence the dreary night friends
came running TO tho sheriff, and half an hour
later n pOsse was in pursuit Only mile the
sheriff continued the chase and then recalled
the pursurers and returned 10 Grundy.
DESPERATE MEN.
John Henry and William had been despe-
rate men III Logan county, West Virginia,
and had been driven away on account OF their
disregard Of the law and their numerous
Oifenses.
They were soon after heard from in Floyd
county. Kentucky, and again at their old home
in Logan county West Virginia. The friends Of
DIR. Irons at once offered Il reward of $3.50
each, snd the Governor of Virginia 1850 more
for their arrest and conviction.
No effort was made by the authorities of
Buchanan county 20 effect their capture.
although they were known 10 be in Logan
county. The knowledge of their desperate
characters deferred any one from attempting
arrest.
In April, 1890, the authorities Of Logan
county authorized Mr.. Bevins 10 take them,
dead or alive. he then went out TO search
for them. They were found camped on
Pigeon creek and had been joined by two
brothers of William Baisden. They refused
to surrender and fight ensued in which the
two brothers OF William were killed outright.
John Baisden had two horses killed under
him-one was wounded four times and was
then captured. William escaped TO the woods.
John was placed in the Logan county Jail to
await a reQuisition from Virginia. On the re-
ceipt of this requisition Mr.. Beyns carried
HIM 70 Buchanan county. The jail at Grundy
being deemed unsafe, he carried the prisoner
TO Lebanon and lodged him il the Russell
county iaii TO await trial
This was on July 3, 1890. On the 18th Judge
Jones, of the Buchanan County Court or
dered the sheriff 10 bring the prisoner 10
Grundy for trial. Deputy Sheriff Reese Rife
and Constable David Honaker went to Leb-
anon and received the prisoner.
ROUGH ROAD.
The distance from Lebanon TO Grundy is
forty miles. and the road lies through rough.
wild and rugged country. AS the party was
returning on horseback, having trsversed
about half the distance, they were met on
the top of Fletcher Ridge by an armed body
of Baisden's friends Without 81 show of re-
sistance the officers allowed their prisoner 70
ride OF with his friends, and he has not been
retsken since.
Mr.. Beyins then turned his attention to the
capture of William Baisden who was still at
large ID the mountains of Logan county, near
the location where the capture of John had
been effected
All tuht summer mr.. BoVlQS followed tbs
murderer, sleeping foT weeks at time in the
mountain passes and living upon such scanty
food as he could procure The mountain
cabins nearly all contained friends or. at
least, acqualntances of Baisdens and they
feared 70 entertain or harbor Mr. Beyins. but
impaired always all the knowledge they conld
obtain 70 Baisden. who in this way managed
for months 10 escape him.
Mr. Beyins continued his pursuit with IN
tagging zeal. He had determined 10 capture
him alive, and although many times during
the chase he was within shooting distance and
could have easily brought him down with his
Winchester, he TefraiDed. as Basden had
bossted TO his mountain friends that he could
never be taken alive.
TO ST. LOUIS.
The pursuit finally became too hot for
Basden and he LETT tho mountains and went
TO st. Louis. TO this place Mr.. Bevins traced |
him and Al once took the train after him. At |
81. Louis he found that his man had left for |
Cincinnati. Again he followed in pursuit. but |
the culprlt learning of his approach. fed TO /
Floyd county, Ky.
After some weeks OF further investigation |
Mr. Beyins located Baisden In his latest |
hiding place and followed at once to FLOYD |
county.
Here the detective kept in secret hiding for
several weeks and finally discovered that
balsden was living in a small hut at the head |
OF Bull creek. On the 29th OF January. 1891. |
Just one year after the murder of Irons and |