The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-22
EMBRYO TRAIN ROBBERS.
THREE GEORGETOWN MEN IN
JAIL FOR CONSPIRACY.
Given Away by a Confederate and the
Intended Robbery Not Attempted
Because of a Misunderstand-
ing of Orders.
Special to The Statesman.

Special to The Statesman.
GEORGETOWN, Tex, March 49,
Tass Dever, Nath Dever and Van
Evans were arrested last night and
are now behind prison bars charged
with attempting to rob the Interna-
tional and Great Northern traia at
Palm Valley last Monday night. Billy
MayfieId, who got into their plans as
a conspirator, gave the whole scheme
away to the officers aud leut his as
sistance to the capture of his quondam
comrades at Palm Valley. 1t is al
ready known how and why the plans
of the officers to fleet the capture
of the guilty parties at Palm
Valley went to pieces because
of misunderstanding with the train
crew. Warrants for the arrest of the
accused parties were to be served to-
Gay. Au attempt was made last night
to as,assinate Mayfield. Deputy
Sheriff Purl with Officers Brady,
Secrest and landlord, hurried up the
matter and in few hours had the
three boys lodged in jail Evans was
visiting some ladies when arrested.
The Dever boys were at home and in
bed All the parties are we'll con-
nected. The completely of the ac~-,
cused parties depends upon the tasti-
mony of their CO conspirator, Billy
Msyfield
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
TAYLOR, Tex, March 16. - At
Temple last night Sheriff Brookshire
arrested Nathan Dever, Tas Dever and
Van Evans, charged with conspiracy
to rob the north bound International
IL Great Northern passenger train at
Palm Valley last Monday night. All
three OF the prisoners are residents of
Georgetown and are well connected by
family relations. Sheriff Brookshire
has had the trio under surviance for
two weeks past and set the trap to i,
catch them in the act of robbing the,
train at Palm Valley last Monday
night aud would have succeeded had
1t net been for misunderstanding
between himself aud the conductor
who, instead of stopping his train at
that place, which is only flag station,
as previously agreed, to permit con-
federate who had bought ticket at
Round Rock to alight, the
train sped by. The would be
robbers were there ready for action,
but the preconcet ted plans were frus-
trated by the train failing to stop.
Thorough information furnished the
officers by William Mayfield, the con-
federate, who purchased the ticket at
Round Rock and who was to alisht at
Palm Valley and join the robbers.
Sheriff Brookshire and four we'll
armed deputies were stationed in the
express car to effect a capture at the
time.
This robbery was planned several
weeks ago, and William Mayfeld,
young man of Georgetown. was let
into plot and asked to join the gang.
He consented and has since kept
Sheriff Brookshire pos ed as to their
movements. AS trains do lot stop at
Palm Valley unless signaled,
suspects to buy the tickets at Round
Rock for Palm Valley on the night
mentioned in order to cause the train
to stop SO that he might alight. The
immediate cause of the arrest last
night was that Mayfield was called out
from his house near Georgetown last.
night into the darkness and fred upon
by some unknown parties in ambush.
Fearing for the life and safety of May
field, his trusted witness, the parties
were arrested and Jailed by Sheriff
Brookshire, who says he has sufficient
evidence to convict.