The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-03-17

NlE1- -IlSNSA ALI O"o 'u'0ii' 'seHN'
that the faithful officer had been foully
shot by tramp while performing his duty.
Tamaqua was in an excited mood yester'
day, reminding one of the Molie Mcguire
times. The shooting of Officer Merget
was soon circulated and the indignation of
the citizens of that place knew no bounds.
The particulars of the affair as near as
/ we can learn are as follows:
| Atan early hour yesterday morning tele-
gram was received at Tsmaqus from Barnes
vile, station on the p. 81 r. Railroad,
four miles north of Tsmaqua, announcing
that tramps had committed depredations at
| Est Mshanoy Junction and Barnesvlle
ard were frightened off from the latter
lpl"ce and were then en- route for Tamsqua.
Officers Merget and Reinbold, of the
Coal & Iron Police, the former stationed
At the depot at that place, started towards
High Mines, about one-half mile out of
town, for the purpose of intercepting and
capturing the burglars if they came that
| way They surpr sed the tramps while at
tempting to break into a freight Car. Ehe
lodicer commanded them to surrender and
la bloody struggle ensued. Bolh parties
Uopaned a promiscuous fire, the tramps
shooting as they retreated with the plucky
officers al their heels. The police had dis
ielarged their last round when Mr. Merget
fell to the ground shot in the groin. His
llcompanion hastened to his assistance, not
before he had sent bullet into one of the
tIretrea,ing figures. Heinhold hastened for
lIhep and the wounded man was removed
TO his home near the P. & R. depot, where
he died about one o'clock. His wife was
| in Reading visiting a sick relative and she
arrived home in time to receive his dying
blessing. The family had no children.
When the news passed from lip to lip
that the brave officer had been mortally
wounded, the entire population of Tamsqua
few to arms and started in pursuit of the
tugitives. The town was thrown into
feverish excitement and threats of lynching
the desperate gang were freely INDUCED in
Men and boys armed with pistols and shot
guns formed into squads, each taking dil-
ferent directions until the country for a
radius OF thirty miles was completely
covered.
| The O. & police were called into SER
vice from every point and the chase for the
fugiLives became determined one. Capt
Warrington, of Company B, the town
militia sent squads TO various places and
led contingent as far south as New Phila-
delpbis.
| About 8 clock news was received that
the men had been captured at point about
miles northeast of the town and in no
time the depot was black with people
anxious for the arrival of the criminals.
At o. clock they were brough to town and
it was with great difficulty that the police
kept back the crowd and cries of Lynch
them" was frequently heard.
Con Boyer had vicious looking fellow
at his side who eyed the mob with steady
glance of his black eyes. Some one cried
"kaock Con down" but another said, ''let
us be more cool" The prisoner was taken
to the United States Hotel and vast crowd
pushed and surged in the street. The
police arrived with the other two men and
shortly after we're given hearing before
Squire Priser. District Attorney Koch
held the crowd back by making speech
and counseling moderation. This seemed
TO check them in their purposes and they
gradually fell back,
Captain Christian appeared as the prose-
euior and charged them with burglarly
and murder The squire made out a
commitment for each and they we're taken
to the station house. One of the men was
b d dy wounded in the leg and Dr. Gudin
DR. sseJ the wound. The man moaned with
pain and admitted that be fred the fatal
bullet that took the life of Merget He
subsided into 81 .ence after that and refused
10 say any more. The other two main
tanned dogged silence and one of them
frequently broke out in curses against the
Treatment he was subjected to.
The police and pursuing party captured
the fugitiyes in lonely defle of the moan
tain after stout resistance on the part of
the men. Each party opened fire, as soon
is they met, but the pursuers closed In on