The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-12-18

the cabin was rlddled with bullets and
Constable Stagg Of Echo and cxCity
Marshal Dawes of Evanston. wyo, were
Killed.
iu few hours the news o. the Killing
had been flashed over the territory, and
preparations were Immediately made for
what proved TO be one Of the most ev
citing man hunts 60 the history Of
Utah.
After the killing Of Stage and Dawes
the posse fell back, and a. soon a. the
coast was clear, Coughiin and George
lief, the cabin and struck out for Ogden.
Had the officers known Of their desu.
nation the arrest which took place five
days later might have been brought
about In much less time, hut as II was
the officers were at sea. From all parts
OF the territory reports were being re.
eeiyed In this city and Ogden with ref.
cncc to the movements Of the murder.
ers. According to these reports Cough.
lin and George were travelling hundreds
Of miles per day and were being seen In
lnnumerahle places by countless people.
The first actual encounter between
the officers and the murderers after the
killing Of Stage and Dawes was at the
head Of City Creek canyon, when
Coughlin and George were encountered
by Officers Pratt and shannon and a
posse Of pursucrs from this city, on the
morning Of August tst Ohiccr Pratt
attempted to FIRE at the bandits. but the
trigger Of hls gun caught. and the next
moment a bullet from Coughlln's rifle
whlzrtd uneomiorahly close TO his head.
a iusiiladc followed. but In the end the
murderefs escaped without Injury to any
one
This encounter intensified the prevail.
ing excitement and during the -four DAYS
that interviewed before the murdcrers
were finally captured, people were al.
most afraid to risk themselves outside
Of their doors at night for fear that they
might catch stray bullet
In October, 1895, Coughlln and
George were tried at Ogden for the
murder Of the two men. George, realls.
Ing that he was In a very close place,
pleaded guilty to the charge OF murder
In the first degree and threw himself
upon the mercy OF the court. The
result was that he was sentenced to life
imprisonment In the State prison. But
coughlln looked at the matter In a diff
ierent light, pleaded seli.defenee and
fought the case. The evidence was 90
overwhelmingly against him, however
that the Jury promptly returned .
verdict OF murder In the first degree
without a recommendation for mercy
and coughlIn was senteheed to be shot
II was on the morning Of August stt
that Coughlln and George were finally
captured. They were surprised a, thel
camp at Willow Creek canyon, Tooel,
county, by Sheriff MaeKellsr OF tina
county and large posse OF determine,
citizens, who had been upon their trail
D since the proceeding night.
p The murderers were practically c'
. hausted through forced marches AM
loss OF sleep, and when they awoke /
the fact that they had been sourrounde
: they Informed the officers not to shoe
and gave themselves up.
From Tooele county they were brough
to Salt Lake whore on AugustSth the
! were arralgned before Commissioner MOI
: rIs Sommer on charge Of horse-stealln
, Later Sheriff Hardy swore to'a CON
: plant charging them with the murder q
Dawes and Stage. The next step wa
the removal OF the murderers to Ogden
the killing having occurred In that dl'
trlet.