Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-02
RHODE ISLAND BAD MEN
They Are Burglars Who Shoot Like Western Desperadoes.
THEY PUT ooNsTABLEs TO FLIGHT.

Them, but When They Covered Their Men and the Latter Began to Shoot the Posse Scattered-It waa a Fierce Battle. PROVIDENCE, Aug. 2.-No such deeds of outlawry have been committed in the western part of Rhode Island as in the past two days. Burglars who made their l descent into the neighborhood of Rice City, Summit, Coventry and Washington, along the line of the New England rail- road, have been running things with a high hand with the help of revolvers, and the up country residents are thoroughly terroriZed.
 A desperate fight between three bur glars and a posse of constables and farm CTS occurred at Moose Neck hill in Vest Greenwich, Kent county. One of the bur glars was shot in the shoulder, and one member of the posse was hit in the arm.
 The burglars had been raiding along the western boundary. Farmers left their fields, and men deserted their shops in the villages along the New England railroad to search for the burglars, who escaped after the encounter.
 The trouble began last Tuesday night, and in all probability will be continued until the robbers are run down. It is as- sumed tlHat there will be bloodshed Since the Rice City tragedy, nearly year ago, no event has so thoroughly aroused the farmers of Eastern Coventry as has the robbery at the Scott farmhouse last Tues day.
 Soon after o'clock Tuesday night AL bert o. Scott and Mrs. Scott started for the village of Summit, little more than mile away, to get their mail. On their way home they met three strange men, who were apparently on their way toward Summit on foot. After passing the stran- gers they met James B. Williams on his bicycle. He told them he had seen three strange men who had come from the Scott farmhouse few minutes before
 Tracked by Bicyclist.
 Finding what had happened during his absence, Scott armed himself and made haste to join Williams. Word was sent in the meantime to the farmers in the neigh borhood. Williams followed the three strangers, keeping them in sight until he was joined by some of the neighbors.
 The robbers kept to the road until the approach of a carriage from the opposite direction alarmed them, and evidently fearing to be hcmmed in they left the highway and took to the woods.
 It was nearly dark when Scott and a dozen or more armed men overlook Will. Hams and the men who were on the track of the suspects. They were safely hidden in the woOdSs
 some of the more VentureSome men in the pursuing party, including Scott and Constable Nixon, went into the woods. but it was decided. that continuance of the search under conditions so unfavorable was useless.
 The posse followed the burglars south The constablcs were on bicycles, while many of the farmers hitched up their farm md f,,N ,o1, ely .,I. 4I-. roads, This was done to prevent the bur glars from 'doubllng." The tracks of the other men were closely followed by John son and Williams. Early in the evening they found that the tracks left the main road at Moose Neck hill.
 On the crest of this wild section resides Charles Barber. a farmer. The burglars stopped there and asked for something to eat. The old man, seeing that the trio were finely dressed took them to be ex- cursionists running through the state for fun. He furnished them with milk and pie.
 The COnstables Never Failed Them.
 While enjoying Mir Barbcr's hospitality the posse, headed by Charles Johnson and James Williams, arrived at the house. Johnson knocked at the door, and as it was opened Williams drew a couple of re- volvers and shouted at the burglars:
 ''Throw up your hands, or you die on the spot!' One of the burglars complied, but the otheE-twO leaped upon the officers Seizing them by the throat, desperate struggle cnsucd The burglars pulled re. volvcrs and began firing. The remainder of the posse made a break for shelter while Williams and Johnson were left alone to get out of the scrapc the best they could.
 The constablcs were deprived of their weapons, but the fight did not end with this. MT. Barber and his wife rctreated to the attic. The burglars emptied their pis- tOls, and the interior of the kitchen was in short time bcspattcred with blood and the furnishings destroyed.
 The two officers were left bleeding on the floor. One of the robbers who had been shot in the leg, was assisted by his companions, and all three left the house.
 Alfred Johnson, who so narrowly cs- capped being murdered, came to this city and asked Detective Parker for aid and also presented the case to the high sheriff. In the meantime the man hunt is contin- ued, and the farmers threaten to lynch the burglars if the latter are caught. Johnson says that all he wants is leader with plenty of 'sand.'' He says there are plen- ty of means in this section for all who de- sire to hunt the murderous burglars.
 Mrs. TulIinGhurst Dies In London.