Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-07-05

and Mr.. South left for Little Rock with
them this morning, expecting to go
north from there tonight over the Iron
Mountain road, and will deliver the
men to the Linn county authorities to-
morrow afternoon. He will then claim
the big reward which has been offered
for their capture.
On the night of Friday, May IL, the
Taylors murdered Gus Meeks. of Sulli-
van county, Mo-, his wife and two little
daughters. Meeks and wife were each
about 40 years old, the children and 4
respectively. A third child, Sadie,
aged about z, was beaten into insensi-
bility and left for dead, but was provi-
dentially preserved that she might tes-
tify against the assassins.
In Little Rock.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, June 27.-The
Taylor brothers are snugly domicilcd
at the Gleason hotel. Jerry South,
their captor, wired the sheriff of Linn
county, Mo-, that he would leave with
his prisoners this evening for st. Louis.
THE ELDER TAYLoR's STORY.
The elder Taylor said: 1--WE left home on
May II. On that day my brother came to me at
Browning. was in the bank fixing to open up
from the little Carter boy-that there were some
dead people in his (my brother's) field. This
was the first intimation we had that there was
anything wrong. We afterward learned that
we were suspected of killing the family. We
also heard that there had been two arrests
made and that another banker OF the town
had left. When we were returning home
that night we learned that we were strongly
suspected, and that mobs were searching
for US. When we got that information we
made every effort to keep out Of the way. and
were advised by friends to leave for the time
being. We went to Springfield, Mo-, remain
ing there few days, thence going south. to
Chadwick, Mo. We came into Arkansas about
two weeks after being out, stopping at a hotel
in Buffalo City, Marion county. We met Mr.
South at the hotel about a week ago. We
learned that he was a nice fellow and a popu-
lar man. He asked us II we were not the Tay-
lor boys, and we told him yes, whereupon he
arrested us, and we consented to go with him
to Missouri.
THEIR THEORY OF THE CRIME.
sour theory Of the CRIME is that some one
killed the Meeks family and put the bodies on
our place for the purpose OF accusing US OF the
crime Our reason for thinking this is because
there were number Of prosecutions that have
divided the county into two factions
Some Of them were very bitter to-
wards us. We don't want it charged
that these people were personally responsible
think that somebody took advantage OF the ex-
listing circumstances to do the work. OF course,
he was some enemy Of ours. When we get
home we would like to be permitted to give
bond in some reasonable amount and go to
work and make living for our families II
we can't do that we expect TO submit to what
ever they demand of us. We feel confident Of
coming clear If we are given a fair trial
ave would not like to say who killed the
Meess family II we knew" he continued, init
mating that he might communicate some very
interesting news IL he felt SO disposed. I'VE
have heard some very important facts, or cir
cumstances, rather, since we left Browning.
We might have been in irons and in jail had
sheriff or ordinary criminal hunter arrested
us. But Mr. South has treated us handsomely,
and we will never forget 1t.
THE REWARD.
HE will accompany us and get the reward,
and am glad OF it. Sheriff Barton, Of Linn
county, Is q good man, too, and we will get
fair treatment at his HANDY There Is q zoo re-
ward for us, $500 Of viii n is offered by Gov.
Stone, and the balance by friends Of the Meeks-
The $500 Mr.. South Is SUI to get, but don't
Inaw sn oil about the remaiader