Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-10
THEY'LL GET HIM IN TIME Ire Hunt for Railroad Bill" Is
 Kept Up. HE COULDN'T HOLD THE LEAD Ina. Wosld Be Poured In;o His Carcass if ''s .4e l1 Caught.
BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN Wo9NnE0
A Suspect Is Held Who 1.sllies in Some Re- srects With the Descriptian-A Goa
 tsadic ton of the Other Story slftsr of Assassination.

Rrew.on. July 9-tSpecial Staff Corre- spondence) Although week has elansed since the killing of Sheriff Ed S. McAIilIen at Bluff Springs. Fla. by the noted thief. murderer and outlaw ',Railroad Bill" yet it is as fresh in the minds of the Brewton people as if the sad and tragic affair had only occurred yesterday. There is m apparent picture of sadness on the face of every person you meet and the principal topic of con- versation on the streets is the shocking affair which laid to rest one of the bray est officers in Alabama and one of the Best citizens in IGscambia county. While the excitement to q certain extent has somewhat subsided, still it is plainly to be seen that there is q strong determina- tion on the part of every citizen of not only the town but the whole of Escam- ba and surrounding counties to avengc the death of the man who was so uni vefsally loved by all. There would only be short space of time betwecE life and eternity with Railroad Bill if only the people could get their hands on him. His carcass is not large enough to hold one-half of tie bullets that would be emptied into 1t by the enraged citizens of Brewton. There are no threats of violence to be heard. for they realize the fact that they must catch before hang ing"
 The search for Railroad Bil' has practically been abandoned by large number oi the citizens on account of not being able to remain away from their business longer. but the officers of the surrounding counties, together with great many detectives, are still keeping a sharp lookout for the desperado. and they are of the opinion that it is only matter of time when they will get him, and land him either in jail or in eternity It Is believed here that Railroad Bill" has reached the point of despera tion where he will never be taken alive, and that when he is found it will be a face to face battle. Railroad Bifl'S'' last bloody deed was committed at time and place where means of escape were all in his favor. In the first place the posse in pursuit, it seems were led into the out laws own trap by negro, who promised the sheriff to locate and show him the man he wanted. In the next place the swamps between Bluff Springs, Fla.,n and Bay Mnette, Baldwin county. Ala, were covered with water, thus affording the bloodthirsty william easy means of escape from the scene of the crime without leav- ing any tracks to be seen by his pursuers, or scented by the dogs And again he is well acquainted with every foot of ground in that section of the country and the officers were not. It is said that every negro hut in that section is being closely guarded by armed men, in the hope that they will get glimpse of him when he comes in from the swamps to get something to eat.
 Sheriff Irwin of Conecuh county ar rested negro at Evergreen yesterday who filled the description of "Railroad Bill" to the letter. with two exceptions. The negro gave his name as Jackson and said he was on his way to the Bir- mingham district in search of work. He ..,oc to identify bimSp1f give any satisfactory reference as to his iden- tity. He said he formerly worked as section hand on a railroad in south Flor ida but dld not remember the names of his employers Railroad lsill'' is de- scribed as being about feet and 6 or inches high and weighs about 165 pounds. The negro arrested by Sheriff Irwin was only feet and Az inches high and weighed about 135 pounds He was placed in jail yesterday afternoon at Ev- ergrecn to await further developments.
 It was learned here this afternoon that the citizens of Brewton and 1cscambia county had signed a petition and for warded it to Governor Oates, urging him to appoint MT. James McMillen. brother of the murdered man, to fill out the un- expired term. He has no opposition.
 The news that was sent out from Montgomery a few days ago, purportlng to be information furnished by prom inent gentleman from Escambia." to the effect that Sheriff McMillen was led into a trap by his enemies and advancing the theory that he was assassinated by some one other than Railroad Bill" created no little unfavorable comment here, from the fact that it is said by many promi- nent men here that if the late sheriff had an enemy, white or black. other than Railroad Bill" no one knew it. The statement is denounced as unwarranted.
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