Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-09-01
AN EXCITING CHASE.



train robbers, William Lake and II. r.
German, claiming to be recent arrivals
from the Pacific coast made brief,
but tragic attempt Friday night and
yesterday to emulate the bloody bandit
work of Jessie James and Bill Dalton.
One of their victims, Patrick Owens, a
detective in the employ of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, was
shot and killed at Deertield, near this
city, Friday night. Patrick McGrath,
another special officer for the St Paul
road, was shot twice yesterday and
seriously wounded, but will recoved.
The bandits had to be shot by police
officers sent from city stations before
they would surrender.
| Lake and German began their Grim
inal work by entering the caboose of a
freight train ON the st. Paul road Fri
day night at Deerfeld, when the train
stopped there for water. They found
| the only occupant of the car to be Con
ductor Sargent. He was at once re-
lieved of his gold watch by the masked
men, who flashed big revolvers in his
face.
Officer Owens, who was doing duty
on the train, entered the door of the
car at this time. He was ordered by
the robbers to throw up his hands,
and refusing. was shot dead. both men
firing at him. Then the desperadoes
escaped and boarded a south bound
freight train for Mayfair, suburb of
Chicago.
| Conductor Simmons detected the re-
semblance of lhe men to the slayers of
Owens, having been notified to keep a
lookout for them.
When the train stopped at Mayfair
shortly after ) o'clock yesterday morn
ing Simmons told Fred Marshall, the
night operator, of his discovery. Mar
shall went to the coal car where the
men were hiding and also recognized
the fellows. He shouted to Officer
McGrath, who was keeping ont Of sight
because of his uniform. to come on. No
sooner had the officer begun to
climb on the car to capture the
murderers than they pushed their
big revolvers, of which they had
two each, towards the brave McGrath,
firing to add another murder to their
crimes. Two bullets were fired in
rapid succession into the body of Nc
Grath. One entered his arm and the
other his side. The wounded man had
only time to shout for help to Marshall
before he fell unconscious on the track
Racing for their lives Lake and Cor
man ran on Milwaukee avenue until
they met Henry Eggerston. wheel
ing farmer driving to market. The
men ordered Eggerston from the wagon
with a flourish of their big pistols and
continued their flight along the Hig-
gins roaC in the wagon. The contents
of the wagon were soon scattered along
the roadside, but the owner made
haste to reach the Attrill police sta
tion, from which place officers in pa
troll wagon were quickly in pursuit
After thrce-milc furious drive in
Eggerston's wagon it broke down. and
from that time on the pursuing police
and citizens had the advantage,
A wagonload of police officers from
the Irving Park station Joined in the
chase and the whole neighborhood was
aroused for the purpose of hunting the
wretches. Through corntields they ran
and stopped at a farmhouse to get
breakfast at the muzzle of their
weapons They were seated in the
kitchen when a posse of policemen
galloped up. The bandits escaped by
the rear and were safely hidden in the
woods before the surprised officers
could bring their frearma into action.
Scores of bullets, however, were sent
in the direction OF he escaping
bandits.
When the news reached police head
quarters half dozen Central station
special tram armed with Winchesters
and instructed to kill. \ running
fight took place after all the police
reinforcements had reached the scene.
The pursuit was led by the police from
the jefferson station in patrol wagon
on the Higgins road, two miles from
Desplaines.
Both fugitivcs were mounted on an
old horse taken from farmer, but see
ing the police gaining, they ran across
pasture and hid in cornfield. The
officers left the wagon and gave chase.
The field was surrounded, but while
waiting for more officers the men got
awayunseen. A three hours search for
them followed. and their trail was
picked up on the Higgins road again.
Central station detectives caught sight
of them in clump of bushes.
The order to throw up their hands
was given when the police were within
thirty yards of the murderers, and was
answered by volley from their Colts
revolvers. Detective Mullaney emptied
his revolver at the fugitives. and every
shot was returned When all the
chambers had been emptied the mur
| derers ran. Mullaney fired and hit one
, of the men. Detective Finnigan winged
the other.
In a few minutes the men found
themselves face to face with two JEFF
ferson police officers who brought theil
| guns into action. The game was up
! and this was the last stand made by
I the desperadoes. They broke for cover
with bullets flying thick and fast
towards them. Before they coult
enter cornfeld they were making
for, they were surrounded and threw
up their hands and were secured.
The police learned last night thai
the murderer who gave the name O
German is Harry e. Griswold. who ha.
: been living at 10 South Courts street
and was formerly employed by The
! Rand-McNally company as press
Z. man.
, William Lake gave his right name
z His occupation is that of coffin trim
, mer, and an American Railway unior
q card was found in his pocket. lie is q
years old, and Griswold is %.
Griswold denied his identity at first
Both admitted to the police that they
r came from San Francisco two or three
I years ago, after ira 'eling in Mexic,
and the far west.
d Sir willinm Harcourts Eyes.
LONDON, Aug. 27-According to tn,
Il Sunday Times Sir William lIarcourt
e chancellor of the exchequer, has gon'
e to Wiesbaden for the purpose OF con
| 80 Il,