The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-03-28

robberies. With two companions he rode
In the same coach with three Pinkerton
men, who were looking for him and to
whom he was pointed out by the conduct
or, but no attempt was made to arrest
him, though they rode together from st,
Joseph to Council Bluffs. The daring
that he exhibited was at times so great
that it was his best protector.
During his career in the west Wells nc.
quired the reputation of being a dead shot
with the rifle and revolver and was known
as the "boy shooter" He says that he has
killed great many Indians, but never
but one white man, and that was in self
defense; that he always aimed only to
wound in defending himself, and that the
reason he shot so many people was to keep
up his reputation. Nora, his wife, and AL
Warnica knew of his criminal acts and re.
peatedly urged him to abandon his wicked
life, but they loved him too much to be-
tray him into the hands of the officers,
though they were offered largo sums Of
money to do so. He says that many persons
bearing good regulations, both in Kansas
and Missouri, shielded him from the
clutches of the law. Wherever he has been
I'm trouble women have defended Wells
and on numerous occasions have saved
him from being captured.
Wells was finally captured by Sheriff
Dan Farrell and some others in 1881 in
Fremont county. In this fight he was
shot three times. He says that in all his
escapades with the Indians he received but
one wound a stroke from q tomahawk.
'But my white brothers have used me
pretty rough, " he says. 81 was hanged
twice during the war by Kansas jayhawk-
ers, was stabbed twice in the back by
Mexicans and from first to last have re-
ceived into my body 33 bullets, "a Of
which still remain with me-"
After his capture by Sheriff Farrell,
Wells was taken to Sidney, Ia, pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to ten years in
the pententiary for highway robbery
With two companions he made his escape
on May /, 1889, month after he reached
there. They ohloroformed the guard, Civ
ing him an overdose, from which he died
They escaped but short distance and
were unable to travel on account of the
wounds Of Wells. They hid in the barn
of farmer named Winterbottom, who
about noon came to the barn to satisfy his
wife that the escaped prisoners were not
there. He plunged his heavy hayfork into
the hay, and after having had the fork
thrust into the side of his head and neck
and breast Wells sprang out, took the
fork away from tho farmer and ran him
out of the barn. After several days Of
wandering about the neighborhood and
hiding in creek bottoms, in cold water
and mud, they were reoaptured and SEN
fenced to life imprisonment for the muir
der of the guard.
Wells has never used liquor or tobacco.
He claims that he adopted the career Of
crime in the hope and fullest expectation
Of being killed, because he had nothing to
live for. When alone, he prayed that his
life might cease, but when the officers
were in fair way to take 1t from him the
devil, he says, inspired him with the de-
termination not to let them have him.
Since be has been imprisoned Wells has
devoted himself to study, to religion and
20 hard work. He is model prisoner In
Syery respect the prison officers say.