The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-26
They Had Killed One officer While At
tempting to Rob Train and Shot
Another in Their Flight.
SURROUNDED IN THE WOODS
And Forced to Surrender After
an Exchange of 100 Shots.
Saved from the Wrath of Infuriated
Citizens by the Police Who Leveled
ReyOIvers at the Mob.

l~the anu II. GOrIndn, VINO shot and
killed Patrick Owens. of the Chicago. Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroad, at Deerfield
last night, and few hours later shot and
probably fatally wounded officer McGrath
at Mayfair, were surrounded and captured
by police in the Elk grove woods near the
Desplaines river at noon to-day. Their
capture only effected after a six
hours chase and the exchange of fully
hundred shots. The desperadoes fought
off the blue coats and excited civilian par
ticipators in the man hunt until their am
munition exhausted and then, unable
longer to reply to the fire that was poured
in upon their retreat, the men sought
safety in flight. Bullets from the officers
revolvers brought both men to the earth
and when the police apprehended their
game the men were weak from loss of
blood Officers Mullaney, Ffnnegan, Hays,
Maisley and Lawson, who had been among
the first posse to start out after the flee
ing desperadoes, We're the officers who
forced the surrender Of the bandits.
As soon as the wounded men were taken
in charge by the police new danger arose.
The infuriated citizens who had learned
of the wanton murder of one officer and
the fatal shooting of another by the
desperadoes demanded that the wounded
men be Immediately deprived of their
lives. The officers were forced to draw
their revolvers to save the very men into
whom a few moments before they had
poured lead. The crowd made desperate
attempts to get the bandits from the po-
lice but each time they were repulsed
without bloodshed. Police Inspector
Setback took charge of the prisoners and
started at once for the West Chicago-ave-
nue. station with them.
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.
When the north-bound freight on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road stop
ped last night at Deerfeld two masked men
mounted the steps of the caboose. The
train stops at this station, which IS just
over the Cook county line in Lake county,
for water The brakemen were we'll toward
the engine, which was in charge of engi
neer Pritchard, and only conductor Sargent
and the road detective Patrick Owens,
were in the caboose. 1t was 1920 O'Clock.
The masked men entered the door and COW
cred the conductor and detective with re-
volvers. The detective sprang for his rife,
but before he could reach it one of the
robbers shot him through the breast The
conductor threw up his hands and the
robber who had done the shooting went
through his pockets. taking his watch and
a small amount of money. After search
ing the detectives clothes for valuables he
left the train just before the brakeman
who had heard the shot came running
back. No trace could be found of the ban
dts. They had fed.
After leaving Deerfield the robbers cut
across the country to Mayfair. The depot
at MAYFAIR Ma is on Hoic9mb axenue Sitting
cago & Northwest railroad policeman, who
had been 2Ppried Of the deed lee of violence
any suspicious characters. The watcher
saw the men approaching and started up
f% t ns n6 nav the end beSan
firing at the officer He dropped to the
ground. shot in the arm and side. After
this bit of bloody work the bandits hast
ened out Holcomb avenue to Lawrence ave-
nue. On the way they met a farmer in
wagon coming TO the city 1t was hut a mo
ment's work to throw, him out and take
possession of his vehicle. With a horse to
draw them the thieves made. better time
and were soon on their way through Law
this time that part of the country was in a
turmoil, boys and men on ponies and
horses, hastily saddled, were In the chase
after the desperadoes. Out Milwaukee
avenue galloped the robbers in the wagon,
while behind them clattered the horses of
the pursuers. Behind these again came
patrol wagon at full speed, IN which We're
four policemen: The pursued mel men finally
Desplaines river, south of the Higgins
road.
THE FIGHT IN THE WOODS.
By this time the wanton murder of Owens
and the brutal shooting of McGrath by
these disciples of Jesse James had stirred
up the entire community from Deerfeld to
the City Hall, and it was not long after
the report that McGrath had; been shot at
Mayfair came in that the unusual scene of
a genuine man-hunt was presented. Special
officers in the employ of the railroads. city
police and central detail detectives, armed
with revolvers and Wnchesters, hurried by
train to the place where the bandits were
supposed TO have taken to the woods, and
scouting parties followed every trail that
promised TO lead to the hiding place of the
murderous train robbers. The citizens in
the neighborhood of the Higgins woods
near Desplaines piloted bands of armed men
across the country. and determined officers
with countrymen for guides searched untir-
ingly until the capture OF the bandits was
effected.
The arrest was preceded by a vertable
battle. The robbers were well armed, and
when a call from a scouting party re-
vealed their whereabouts they made de-
termined stand. Cooking their revolvers,
the two men waited until their pursuers
was returned bv the Officers. and round
after round. volley after volley
changed, apparently without effect 1t is
probable that the men would never have
been taken alive had 1t not been that their
supply of ammunition ran out As their
desDeradoes shot more carefully and less
! frequently. but the officers kept themselves
| let's were exhausted. The officers called
upon them 10 surrender, but without
| noticing the command, the fugitves turned
| and began a frantic race for safety. The
| officers followed, firing as they ran. The
| chase continued until Lake, who was in
| the lead. struck by bullet Throw
| ing up mis- hands, he turned partially
| around and fell and a moment later his COM
panion dropped also wounded The pur-
| suers quickly closed in on the fallen men
! and handcuffed them. Within few mo-
ments the prisoners were carried towards
! the railroad station and were soon brought
into the city and locked up in the West
| Chica go-avenue police station
Gordon and Lake were landed in the
! police station about 1870 y. III. Lake, who
! Is about twenty-four years old, was shot
| in the neck. and his recovery is doubtful.
He admitted killing Owens and McGrath,
saying that he did the shooting in both
! cases. The conductors watch and other
stolen valuables were found upon the man
! Gordon, who is twenty-four years old. was
| not dangerously wounded, although two
| bullets had hit him. The men refused TO
| give any information regarding their iden-
4 tity, but their appearance indicated that
/ both We're tough characters. The police
/ were inclined 10 the opinion that both had
seen railroad service, but this the prisoners
denied.
The police this afternoon denied a story
| that the robbers had fatally shot special
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