Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-24
a HOT MAN HUNT.

a HOT MAN HUNT.
Tho Pursuit Of the Murderers of thu
Meeks Family In Northern Missouri
Seven Hundred Men Join tho Chase.
Assisted by Bl0odhounds, but the Efforts
of Both Have Been Bafaed by the
Mysterious Movements of the FuRitives'
LINNEUs. Mo-, May 1s.-The past
seven days have been spent in fruit
less chase of William P. and George
Taylor, wanted for the murder of the
Meeks family, near Browning, a week
ago last night.
Within twenty-four hours after the
commission of the crime 200 armed
farmers were in pursuit of the fugi-
tives, but SO mysterious has been their
movements since their first fight that
they have been enabled to battle not
only the armed posses which have been
tracking them night and day, but even
the packs of bloodhounds have failed
to lead the pursuers to their hiding
place.
They were first located on the farm
occupied by relative. but as it was in
the night, the pursuers were afraid to
attempt capture, knowing that the
very effort meant death for either the
hunted men or their hunters.
They were next heard from at the
farm house of their father. James Tay-
lor, three and a half miles east of
Browning.
The Taylors are armed with rifles
and revolvers, and have with them,
it is reliably stated, all the way from
$50, 900 to 100000, said to have been
taken from the Browning bank, of
which William was president, after the
murder was committed.
The country covering a circle of
seventy-five miles has been patroled
for the past three days. the number
OF armed searchers afoot and on horse
back having grown until it Is esti-
mated that fully 700 men are now in
pursuit of the two brothers.
A courier brought in a report Tues
day night that the Taylors were seen
going toward LaPlata, through the
Charlton hills. They had deserted
their horses in order to be better able
to elude their pursuers.
The rewards offered for their cap
ture now amount to about s., 800
While credible reports of the proba-
BILE whereabouts of the Tayiors have
been received, there is feeling among
officials in the county that false tips
have been given to the posses by the
friends of the Taylors to divert pursuit
from the right direction to enable the
fugitives to escape across the state line
into Iowa.
Whatever force there may be to this
claim, it is weakened by the report re-
ceived last night that the Taylors
were seen yesterday evening near
New Boston, eighteen miles west of
LaPlata, and that they are now hid in
Macon county.
This morning startling rumor was
current here to the effect that the fu-
gitives were willing to surrender if
they were guaranteed protection from
the fury of the outraged farmers who
have been hunting them as though
they were wild beasts.
John Taylor, brother, was here in
consultation with E. r. Stephens, who
was attorney for the Taylors in all
their trials, and this fact is the foun-
dalton for the report that terms for
their surrender were being effected.
Sheriff Barton has returned from his
hunt, and he said that detectives
would be employed at once, and the
homes of all persons supposed to be
protecting the Taylors closely guarded.
Yesterdays search developed the fact
that the household goods with which
been burned, it is believed, since the
escape of the Taylors.
Evidence of it was discovered in
thicket near the Taylor residence.
Portions of beitick and a remnant of
feathers were found in the ashes.
Sheriff Barton also showed this morn
ing the head of doll and other trim
kets which he took from the embers.
The sheriff says he cannot tell
whether the Taylors have escaped
from Linn county, but seems to believe
they are still concealed in the dense
forest of northwestern Linn.
James Taylor, father of the boys, is
almost crazed with grief and threat
ened to shoot any one who attempted
to search his house. The place has
since been searched, however.
George M. Leonard, brother-in-law
of w. P. Taylor, and man of unim-
peachable character, said he did not
doubt the guilt of the Taylors. He
said he had not seen them since the
and was totally ignorant as to
their whereabouts. He said they came,
during his absence, to his house on the
night after the murder and called for
horses, and were refused them by his
brother.
Mrs. w. P. Taylor was arrested near
Browning Monday, as she was sup
posed to be carrying money to her hus-
band.
Ex-Marshal Cornett, of this city,
with an army of men, is still hunting
the Taylors. More forces left here
again to-day.
The remaining friends of the Tay-
lors are few, and orders for the arrest
of persons supposed to be assisting
them have been issued.
In this case assistance will prove a
dangerous business. Milan, Browning
and Linneus are in constant communi-
cation and interest is undated.
Robert Gibson, whose implement
house William Taylor is accused of
having burned in Browning two years
ago. is here. He says the feeling in
Browning against them is growing
more intense as the enormity of the
crime becomes more fully realized.
he believes that iynehing is certain in
case of their arrest.
Charge of Attempted Bribery.
COLUMBUS, o., May 19.-Charges of
bribery were made in the house Thurs
day night against Senator Brice's
partner, Col. w. C. Lemert. During
the debate on the Sleeper bill, giving