Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-04
TAYLOR is CAPTURED.
THE MEEKS MURDERER
CAUGHT IN CALIFORNIA.
Identified by h. F. Lane of Linn County.
Who Had Known Him Many Years In
MiSsOurI-CarrolltOn Omoers Believe
He Is tho Right Nan.

HANFoRD, CAL, Feb. 1.-George
Taylor, the man who is wanted for the
murder of the Meeks family, near
Browning, Mo-, in May, 1894, was cap
tured at this point by w. V. Buckner,
sheriff of Kings county, and his depu-
ties, Andy Ayres and Howard McGin-
mis-. b. f. Lane, a painter by trade,
who came here twelve months ago
from the town where the murder was
committed, and who has known the
whole Taylor family from boyhood,
first sighted Taylor, alias Rattlesnake
Bill, Thursday afternoon. Lane states
that he imagines Taylor recognized
him, but he gave no sign of recogni-
ton Lane went immediately to Sheriff
Buckner, who caused search to be
made. The man was traced to the
Jacob sheep ranch, few miles out of
town.
Taylor was unarmed and made no
resistance His capture was q clever
combination of detective work and dis
guises, Lane, who claimed to have
known him from boyhood, having
changed his appearance and visited
the sheep camp to see if the man it was
proposed to arrest was really Taylor.
Taylor refused to answer any qucs-
tions put to him by reporters He is
in ragged condition, but still has not
the appearance of a tramp exposed to
wind and weather. A boy who was
with him, and who is held for what he
may know, states that he and Taylor
came down from Oregon recently.
CARRoLLToN, Mo-, Feb. 1.-The cap
ture of George L. Taylor, who is under
sentence of death for the murder of
the Meeks family in Linn county, and
who escaped from the Carrollton jail
last April, has been the absorbing
topic of conversation in Carrollton.
Citizens here are divided in opinion
as to the identity of the George
E. Taylor who is now held by
Sheriff Buckner of Kings county,
California. Nearly all agree, how
ever, that there are several circum-
stances connected with the sus-
pect in irons at Hanford which give
FEASIBILITY to the belief that
George E. Taylor has been captured.
1t is known that james Taylor, the
father of George. years ago lived in
California, and it Is thought that
George was born there. He has q
number of relatives living in Califor-
MIA. Soon after George escaped from
the Carrollton Jail his brother Albert
made hurried trip to the far West,
presumably for the purpose of making
it easier for George to conceal his
identity and whereabouts.
In addition to these facts, Il. f. Lane,
who recognized George Taylor and
caused his arrest, is an old resident of
Linn county. Lane was subpoenaed in
the Meeks murder case, but was not
called to the stand, as was the case
with many other citizens of Linn coun-
ty who had been subpoenaed. 1t is
conceded that Lane grew up with the
Taylor boys. and should not be mis-
taken in his Identification of George.
No man who ever saw George Taylor
could well forget him, as no man living
looks like him.
Only 500 reward by the governor of
the state is now outstanding for George
Taylors arrest, ex-Sheriff Stanley hav-
ing withdrawn the $500 he had author
lied up to the time of TaylOr's escape
until Stanley retired from office ON the
first Of January.