The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-24
ASK YOUR GROCER FOR
FLOUR.
BRAVE DEPUTY MARSHAL.
George Barnes Enters Den of Dssreradoes
and Captures Noted Mo0nshiner.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Nov. 23.-A famous
desperate, Tap Sprouse. moonshiner. mur-
derer and leader of the dreaded San Mount
ain gang, after defying the authorities of
Georgia and Tennessee for months, has at
IasI been captured alive. and is now lying
in the Bradley county jail at Cleveland,
thirty miles from here. The man who
captured him is George Barnes, a detective
and United States deputy marshal, and he
gave the details of an encounter in which
one cool. Quick-eyed man not only faced
five outlaws, but carried off one of the num-
ber who was wanted for murder. A large
reward had been offered for the apprehen-
sion of Sprouse. The particular crime for
which Sprouse was wanted was the killing
of United States Marshal ID. s. jackson.
last winter, In the course of a fierce battle
between the officers and the band of moon
sinners which conducted it's operations on
the mountains near Attila, Ala, twenty miles
over the Tennessee line. The leaders of
this band were the Sprouse brothers. one
of whom. Bill Sprouse, was killed in the
engagement, as we'll as several others.
lap Sprouse, however. escaped. and as he
was known to have fred the shot which
killed the marshal, no efforts were spared
to effect his capture. Judge Key issued a
bench warrant for lis arrest. and detec-
fivts have been searching the mountains
for him for months. George Barn es tracked
the murderer, and 10 do 1t he was obliged,
of o desperate himself Sunday last after
weeks OF waiting. he decided that the time
had come to strike. He knew that Tap
Sprouse had gone to the shack" of his
brother John, nine miles back of Cleve-
land, on the mountain. HurryiDg back to
the town, he got buggy. drove within two
miles Of the "shack," left the conveyance
and went ahead.
"As / approached the shack" said Barnes,
Il saw two men leave it. | made up my
mind one of them was Tap Sprouse. but
was not sure. l went on to the house. and
asked a little girl where her uncle Top was.
He's just gone over to Hilderbrand's.' she
said. Hilderbrand was . neighbor. half q
milo distant. so l followed them there.
knocked, and found four men inside. Tap
was not one of them. / recognized his
brother John, and knew Tap was not far
away. told them what / wanted, and
they tried to give me the bluff, and said
thcs Tar was gone | said l would look,
and found Tapin the smoke house. hiding
under a lot of tan bark and rubbish. Then
l had 10 do some quick thinking.
There was a murderer before me.
just behind me. Fortunately the smoke.
house was as dark an oven. When
went in Tap was afraid to move. and when
got my hands on him his pals outside
could not see to shoot. So / stood there
with my Winchester ready in one hand and
holding Tap with the other / said: You
devils, throw up your hands or l1l kill you
and Tap. too You see i bad the drop on
them on account of the dark, and although
Then / walked Tap off and snapped the
handouts on him. The rest was easy, for
the buggy was ready and my nan spent
that night in the Cleveland jail"
The desperate passed through Chatta-
nooga this morning in charge of the
deputy marshsls, Barnes and Sorrcll The
prisoner was heavily ironed. He Is ty pical
mountaineer in dress aud appearance.