The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-09-03
MARSHALS KILLED.
Two Dead, Two Wounded and Two
Missing In Arkansas.
ATTACKED BY BAND OF MOONSHINERS
The Men Who Did the Shooting Are Sup
posed to BE Led by Two of the
Most Desperate Characters
In the Country.

Little Rock. Aug. S1.-Two deputy
United States marshals are dead, two
are seriously injured, and two more are
missing as a result of an attack on a
posse of officers by a band of moonshin-
ers in Pope county. The dead are b. f.
Taylor of Searcy county and Joe Dod-
son Of Stone county. The wounded are
the Renfrew brothers
The names of the missing men are
not given. but they are supposed to be
deputy sheriffs of Searcy county. Tay-
lor, one of the murdered men, was 60
years of age and was the wealthiest
man in Searcy county. Dodson was
well known deputy and has been ter
ror to moonshiners for years.
The victims were all officers, deputy
United States marshals and deputy sher-
iffs, and the murderers are moonshiners
OF the boldest and most desperate class.
The scene of the crime was ravine in
the mountains of Pope county, 35 miles
from Russellville, the nearest telegraph
office and 10 miles from Will Springs.
The region has for years been a rem
devious for counterfeiters and moon
sinners and is considered the worst and
most dangerous section in the state.
The officers for long time have been
trying to break up the lawlessness in
that vicinity. and many battles with the
desperadoes have occurred. Captain B.
F. Taylor, the richest man in Searcy
county determined to aid the officers in
putting down crime in that section. He
secured commission as a deputy Unit
ed States marshal and led the posse In
the raid that resulted in his death.
Fifty Stills In Operation.
few days ago successful raid was
made in the same locality in which a
dozen moonshiners were captured and
brought to Little Rock. One of them
told the officers that at least so large
distilleries were operating in the same
nelghborhood. Taylor, with his posse
located a large moonshne outfit Sat-
urday night and decided to make the
raids Sunday.
Proceeding in advance of his men,
Taylor was Mthin 30 feet Of the dis
tillery when he was fired upon from
ambush and instantly killed. As Dod-
son ran up to Taylor he was also shot
dead in his tracks, and then a volley
was fired into the officers.
The Renfrew brothers fell mortally
wounded and lay by the roadside until
later in the day, when a traveller named
Pack CHANGED by. All traces Of the ban
dts had disappeared, as well as two of
the deputy sheriffs. The latter have
not since been heard from and are be-
lieved either to have been killed or TAX
en- captives by the moonshiners.
Pack hurried to Russellville with the
news, and the coroner, together with
a sheriff's posse, Immediately started
for the scene. No news has been re-
ceived since they departed. The officers
believe the gang is headed by Horace
Bruce and John Church. two of the
most dangerous characters in that To-
cality.
The United States authorities were
asked to offer a reward for the arrest
of the gang, to which the state will con-
tribute, and a determined effort will be
made to capture them. 1t is very prob
able the effort will lead to further blood
shed.
Marshal Cooper has received the fol-
lowing telegram from Attorney General
McKenna:
Expense of posse, subject to execu-
tive approval, not to exceed $4,000, au-
thorized. Five hundred dollars reward
authorized for capture and delivery to
marshal of all persons implicated in the
murder"