Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-10
CHASING A MURDERER.
Hundreds of Men Still Out Hunting
the Ohio Desperate.
HE DAsHES AMONG HIS PURSUERS,
But Eludes Them Again and Buries Himself
in Dense Forest.
PLANNING TO SMOKE HIM OUT TO-DAY
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. ]

ESPECIAL TELECRAM TO The DISPATCH.l
LIMA, O., Aug. 9-The people of Co
lumbus Grove are still in a wild state of e1-
citement over the bank robbery and mur-
der Last night at o'clock, when the sun
went down, fully 1000 men were securing
through the corn fields, wheat fields and
meadows lying between Bluffton, Beaver
Dam, West Cairo and Columbus Grove, but
the robber was still at liberty. The closest
watch was kept up all night long, and
traces of the desperate were found at in
tervals.
William Vandermark, the good old
farmer who was the innocent victim of one
of the murderer's bullets, died at 3 o'clock
this morning at his home near Vaughan-
vile, five miles west of Columbus Grove.
He was surrounded by his family. 1t was
a very touching scene at his bedside. Hun
dreds of his neighbors and friends drove to
the family homestead to-day to condole
with the family. His death is deeply de-
pIored, and has had the effect of putting re-
newed vigor into the determined men who
are in pursuit of his murderer.
THE CASHIERS CONDITION.
Cashier Naples has rested comfortably all
day to-day and will speedily recover if not
set back. He received many messages from
outside friends to-day. He hopes to be able
to be at his desk in the bank tomorrow.
Officers Hugh Patton, Jack Stockton and
Charley Rooney returned home this even
ing. They say they never saw such an ex-
cited populaee. They declare there are
!, 800 men out after the murderer; that they
drove through cornfelds with buggies; tore
fences down and broke down wide rows Of
corn in their eagerness to overhaul the
robber. Sheriff Williamson, of Putnam,
was on the ground early with big force of
deputies, but from lack of organization the
pursuers are more like a mob than sensible
men.
The desperate is fleet runner. He stop
ped at George Baily's farmhouse to obtain
drink of water, and at several houses be-
tween Beaver Dam and Bluffton.
THE MURDERER's BOLDNESS.
At Frank Freet's house large posse Of
men was waiting for him. He dashed out
of corn field right among the crowd.
Freet leveled his gun, but he dashed into
the woods and was soon lost to view. He
was again surrounded in Tom Wilkinson's
woods, but his nerve did not fail him, and
he dashed out into the open country.
He ran across gang of men about nine
miles southeast of there employed by the
Standard Oil Company, in laying a new oil
line to pump oil from Finley to their re-
fnery in this city. These men had no
knowledge of the robbery. He asked for
something to eat and the men divided lunch
with him. He still wears the same clothes
that he had on at Columbus Grove. Pat
Boyle, the foreman of the gang, described
him exactly as Cashier Maple did. He
claimed he was on the road to Bluffton look
ing for work.
A FRIGHTENED FAMILY.
He called at the farm house owned by
Mrs Rippert, who was sick in bed. He
rushed into the house with his murderous
revolvers in each hand. Her two daughters
went into Mysteries and Mrs. Rippert had
an attack of heart trouble. 1t is feared she
will die from the shock. He stole q valu-
able blooded mare from the field on the
farm of David Grafton, about o'clock this
afternoon, and at o'clock tonight he was
seen going in the direction of Ada
1t is believed by many that he belongs to
the Marvin Kuhn gang of horse thieves,
and that he is trying to reach Prospect,
O., by way of Marion. The farm of Grafton
is located along a side track of the Lake
Erie and Western Railroad. 1t was sup
posed that by this time he is secreted in a
dense forest lying about halfway between
Ada and Bluffton. The last man who saw
him was Asa Battle, living southeast Of
Blufton.
WILL SMOKE HIM OUT.
William Maple, the brother of the cashier,
has large number of good men close on
his trail, but will be unable to smoke him
out before morning Maple declares he
will capture him dead or alive.
John T. Norris is anxious to engage in
the chase Norris theory is that he is an
escaped convict from Michigan City, Ind,
but the theory that he is one of Marvin
Kuhn's pals finds most believers.
Whoever he is, he has displayed wonder
full nerve and endurance and has made a
wonderful chapter in the criminal history
of Ohio The excitement increases as the
hours go by. Several officers leave here in
the morning at early sunrise.