Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-01
HUNTED TO EARTH
Second Of the fiends Who Muir.
dered the Meeks.
GEO. TAYLOR IN THE LAWS GRIP.

Babe, by Two Brothers OF the State Of
Jesse james.
Kansas City, Feb. by the capture
Of George Taylor at Hanford, Cal. the
last chapter in one of the most atrocious
murders in Missouri's history has been
begun. Requisition papers will be got
ten out Immediately for the return here
of the noted murderer, and death on
the scaffold, which awaits Taylor. will
doubtless rapidly bring to close the
Meeks family horror. The story of the
capture, wired from Hanford is as fol-
lows: Friday man named Lane, who
had known Taylor well in Missouri saw
him on the streets of Hanford. He i'm
mediately notified Sheriff Buckner, but
by that time the man had left town
and the officers lost track of him. Later,
however, he was located in q sheep
camp fourteen miles southwest of Han
ford, near Tulare Lake. The sheriff or
ganized a posse and went in pursuit.
When they neared the camp the man
who had identified the outlaw in Han
ford was sent ahead to reconnoitre. He
came back and reported that there was
no possibility Of mistake.
Took the Camp by Surprise.
1.-THE man in the camp was George
Taylor. The officers knowing the des-
perate nature Of the man they were
after. waited until dark. Then they
surrounded the camp. Taylor was COM
pletely surprised and made no re-
sistance. With him was q young boy
who was also arrested. The two were
brought back to Hanford and are now
in Jail. The captured man denies that
he is the much-wanted Taylor. He
calls himself 'Rattlesnake Bill and
gives no other name. He tells number
of contradictory stories as to where
he came from, locating himself success
sively in Texas, British Columbia, Mon
tana and Oregon. When in irons the
arrested man recognized Lane, and ac-
cused him Of giving him away to the
officers, adding with an oath that he
knew Lane in Missouri. where they
were boys together. Taylor is a stout
bAilt man with long fine black hair
that hangs to and curls on his should
ers. He is of swarthy complexion. Lane
positively identified him as the mur-
derer."
They Butchered Whole Family.
Bill and George Taylor were brought
here. They were condemned to hang
together for the murder of the Meeks
family, and while in the Carrollton Jail
escaped on the night Of April II last.
Bill was caught on the roof of the Jail,
returned to his cell, and less than a
month later was hanged for his part in
the crime. George made his escape, and
till now has eluded capture. though he
had been reported to have been seen
in many parts of the country. Gus
Meeks, his wife, his two little girls and
his baby. were shot and beaten to death
on the night Of May II, 1894, on a lonely
road in Sullivan county, Mo. The Tay-
lors were bankers. and had been ac-
cused Of making a big cattle steal.
Meeks was to be the principal witness
for the state, and on the night Of the
murder the Taylors were aiding the
family to leave the country, they hav-
ing paid Meeks for agreeing not te ap-
pear against them.
Hid the Bodies in q Straw Stack.
After most brutally numbering all but
Nellie. 9 years old, the brothers placed
the bodies Of all in a straw stack on
George Taylor's farm. Nellie, though
| hardly wounded, managed to crawl from
the stack next morning and gave the
alarm. The Taylors fled, and for months
| the whole country roundabout the scene
Of the crime was up AZ arms The mur.
derers in three .-'onths were run down
| at Mountain Home, Ark, and brought
| home for trial. Several attempts tc
lynch them were made, but the Law
| was enabled to take its course. They
| had plenty of money, and at the first
trial succeeded in buying the jury. Sew.
| eral jurors were convicted and a new
| trial was had. Finally murder in the
| first degree was the verdict and the sen.
| tence hanging, which Bill has already
| undergone and which must soon taks