Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-08
AN EXCITING HUNT,
searching for Ford Through the
Woods of montgomery

| woods of Montgomery.
The search for Elsie Kreglo's murderer
| In the woods near his home on the RUPERT
| farm was in many respects an exciting
| one 1t was an affair similar to those in
| winch some of the country people had
| figured a number of times but to those
from the city it was a novelty. The farm
ers in the vicinity of the suspects home
did more than their paGt in the search.
| They knew, however that a brutal crime
| had teen committed, and that a woman
| was the victim. This was enough for them
| and they left their plows in the fields and
| shouldered rifles. old war muskets and shot
! guns filled with buckshot. Those who had
| no such weapons carried pistols of various
kinds and sizes, and had Ford appeared
| from any of the clumps of underground
| along the northwest branch he would in
all probability have been made the object
| of a coroner's inquest instead of a pris-
oner on trial for his life.
The searchers made their headquarters
| at the home of Mr.. George McCeney
where they took virtual possession of the
| house and farm. Wednesday night De
| tectives Rhodes and Helan took up the
| pursuit Detectives Horne and Helan had
| followed. Through the three miles OF
woods the two detectives, with their two
dozen volunteers, made a start soon after
sunset, and followed along the line of the
branch and then to either side. doing the
| best they could to brighten out the fugitive
who was supposed to be in hiding there.
cues, theories and trails were heard and
discussed, and finally, about / o'clock, the
members of the pursuing party thought
they were going to be rewarded for their
efforts. There was the sound of something
leaving a thicket and running in the direc-
ton of the branch.
Shoot him." shouted one of the party:
that's our man.
Hold on" said another Don't shoot.
Tor he may be one of our party"
Instead CT shooting, the posse went be-
hind whatever made the noise and kept
within hearing distance for fully mile
Then they could hear Lut a faint noise ard
finally the sounds died out. and if the posse
had been on Fori's track he had eludeti
them and was once more in place of
safety for a few hours, at least.
About O'Clock in the morning the MEM
bers of the party of searchers ware pretty
Well tagged out and they concluded to give
up the hunt until daybreak. But hey did
not do SO without leaving the Ford house
well guarded A colore1 man named But
Ter was left on guard He remained con-
cealed near ;he house, and was stretched
on the ground beneath a small nine tree
about daybreak, when a countrymdn, who
had made an early start, saw him. Think
ing the colorcd man was Ford, the coun-
trynlan covered him with his revolver and
Butler turned several shades brighter. He
lost no time in raising his hands to save
his life, and when explanations had been
made Butler gave up his position and
sought place Where he thought his life
would hot he in danSa~
Soon after breakfast the search was re-
neweG. and during the day several mount
ed officers. as we'll footmen, reached the
scene of tire search, and once more the
woods We're secured.
Il wonder if he is still in the woods" was
the remark heard SO frequently during the
morning.
This question. it was thought, was an
swered when a colored woman. employed
as domestic in a farm house near the
edge of the woods, declared that she had
seen him.
II looking out the kitchen window"
she said. Just about daybreak. and Ford
came across a field Of oats. When he saw
me looking at him he took his hat in his
hand and ran like deer
The colored woman called to her en-
ployer, hut the man whom she had seen
in the oats had managed to get out of
sight. and his footprints could not be track
ed after he left the field Through the field
were footprints Of somebody who had worn
not small shoe, and the oats had been
trampled down from one side of the field
to the other.
This information was sent to the house
of Mr.. McCeney. and soon afterHard the
officers were in the field and made efforts
to follow the footprints through the woods.
which. however, was a matter of impossi-
biity. When the searchers had BEEN out
several hours they returned to the house
and once more held a consultation. While
this discussion going on Inspector Hol-
lnberger and Detectives Boyd and Lacey
appeared, Detective Horne having arrived
ahead of them. The inspector Ia 1 a ''sure
tip and he expressed he belief that Ford
was in hiding near his house.
Detective Horne dissented. Hes not in
the woods now the detective said, land
I'm going to return.
Il tell you he is here said the inspector.
My information carle from a reliable
man, and 1 think if make the right
kind of a search we will get him "
A hearse came along just at that time,
and Detective Horne took a seat on the
box with the driver and left Montgomery
county fully satisfied that Ford was not
there.
party of volunteers. and six squads We're
formed. those in charge being Deputy
Sheriff Jones. William McCeney. Morgan j.
BoteIer, T. L. Jackson George McCeney
and l.. Bell. Inspector HCllinberger and
the three detectives were in the party
Leaving the home of Mr.. McCeney, the
party started for the woods. Near the
home of the Fords they separated. and the
small squads of armed men made start
One squad went in the direction of the
Ford house where Richard Ford, the fugi-
tive's father and Lizzie Ford his wife,
with her young child in her arms, stood on
the front porch.
Il suppose they will shoot him if he's in
the woods" said the cid man. who was as
"We!l" he added. Il always teached INV
children better, and If he's done killed
anybody, they ought to catch him.
Il suppose he had been drinking?' quer-
led one of the party.
IF he had the father answered, che
didn't tell me SO. You see. l always want
ed my children to do right, and when they
did wrong they never told me about it,"
Fords wife. who seemed as if she had
almost lost her mind. declared that her
husband had not told her anything of what
it was charged he had done. She pointed
out the direction in which he went when
he left home Tuesday night
A neighbor. Lille Mayo. colorcd, the wo-
man who said she saw Ford early yester-
day morning, told a story entirely different
from what Ford's wife had told Mrs
Ford. she said told her that when her hus-
band left home he said: You will never
See me again. ] outraged a girl and cut
her throat but don't know whether she's
dead or not"
Mrs. Mayo was willing to face Mrs Ford
and repeat her story, but as the wife's
statement could not be used as evidence
the women were not required to face each
other.
When darkness came on the search was
finally abandoned, and the officers returned
home.
UnspOiIed by Prosperity.
From the Chicago Tribune.