The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-11
A POSSE KILLS A MURDERER.
HOUSE RIDDLED WITH BULLETS
IN ORDER TO REACH HIM

Armed With Pistol He Refused to
Surrender and Fired One Effective
shot at His Pursuers-He Had Kill
ed His Father-in-Lnvv and Was on
the Way to XIII His Divorced wife
and Her Husband.
Buffalo, N. Y, Jan. 10.-At Ransomville
this afternoon Robert Clapsaddle an aged
farmer, was brutally murdered by his
son-in-law, George II. Smith, and three
hours later a posse meted out swift JUS
tice TO the assassin, riddling him with
score of bullets.
About three years ago Smiths dissolute
habits and brutality caused his wife to
obtain a separation from him. Smith nurs-
ed the idea that Clapsaddle had induced
his daughter to make this move and just
after the separation proceedings were be-
gun he beat the old farmer in a brutal
manner. He was sent to prison three
times for this and other offenscs, but the
terms of his confinement were short.
About eighteen months ago Mrs. Smith
married John de Clute, a farmer, living
about four miles from the Clapsaddle
house
Smith swore revenge upon old man Clap
saddle for alternating his wlfes affections,
but about this time he was convicted Of
perjury in swearing falsely against Farm
er John Moore, whom he charged with
smuggling Cinnamon, and was sent to
prison for a year. As he was taken from
court he swore TO kill Clapsaddle when he
regained his liberty. His term expired
Nov. !, and since that time he has lived
vagrant's life.
Early this afternoon he went to the
house of his father-in-law, whom he
round reading a paper, and without a
Smorq o. OF warning hred a bullet into his
The murderer than fed across the fields
ana the alarm being soon given, a posse,
headed by deputy sheriff and consta-
pie, gathered and started in pursuit, be-
ing Followed by dozen or so until Ii in
creased to three score. Smiths course
lay in the direction of De Clute's house,
the nome or his divorced wife, and the
posse fearing that he medtated further
murders, hurried in the same direction.
I,,iIcy nRey mad nad gone about two and half
lance, ABOUT quarter of mile from
DeClute's house.
When the hunted murderer saw the
posse closing IN upon him he changed
his direction and sped toward the house
OF a farmer named Brown, which he
reached just as the posse came up.
turning in the doorway of the house
Smith fired shot at his pursuers, shout.
ing, the first man who follows me in here
The posse surrounded the house. and
Farmer Brown came out and told them
Smith was secreted in a clothes press
which had a window looking uDon the
yard. "A rush was made for this window
but Smith, thrusting his arm out of the
opening, fired another shot, which broke
the arm of Elmer Clapsaddle, relative
of the murdered man, and the crowd drew
back.
Deputy Sheriff Wolf called upon the
murderer to surrender but received no
regDOnGp
pairing for another attack he ordered the
posse to fire. Two score of rifles and
shotguns rang out their reports and pour
ed their contents into the wall of the
house.
The sound of a falling body and a
groan followed the volley, and the posse,
entering the house, found Smith on the
floor bleeding from dozen wounds. and
unconscious. He was brought to Ran
somville, where he died late tonight.
Farmer Clapsaddle was one of the most
respected men in Niagara county.