The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-12
EER ARREST.
Marshal Gave Up Arms, Dined with
Criminals, and Took Them to Jail.

>
Democrat.
The well-known mountain detective,
George w, Drake. who captured jacob
Neace and Daniel Farler, the men who
killed Deputy United States Marshal Bird
in Breathitt county, came here to-day to
see United States Marshal Blackburn re-
gardiug the disposition of the prisoners.
Marshal Blackburn was not at home, and
Drake communicated with him by tele-
phone. The marshal ordered him to have
United States Commissioner j. NJ. Mar
cum at Jackson hold the prisoners. and
not give them up to the state authorities.
While here Drake told the following story
Of the remarkable capture:
- have been man-hunter as the boys
can IT, Tor ten years and have done a
great deal of work in the mountains in
the revenue service, but the capture of
Neace and Farer is an entirely new expe-
renee to me. The warrant for their ar
rest was sworn out Friday, and late that
nght 1 secured three men and went TO
the home of Jacob Farler's father-in-iaW
Mack pun. who lives on Caney Fork.
Neaee, near which the killing was done.
! Inquired that Ncace would make directly
for his father-in-law's, as Duff is a promi-
nent man among the mountaineers. I
guessed correctly.
When we arrived at Duff's house yes
terday morning before sun up we found
the women had cooked breakfast for a
large number of persons. We asked them
where the men were, and they said up on
the mountain located Immediately in the
rear of the house. We got our breakfast.
fed our horses, and were in the act OF
leaving. when Duff and Jacob Neace's
brother, Ben came down the mountain
and asked us what we wanted. / told
MN l had warrant for the arrest Of
Jake Neace and Dan Farler for killing
They said that we could not get them;
that there were fifteen of the moonshin-
ers, hve of whom were armed with Wn-
~ a oil .aIN -.
ers. ! told Duff that we did not come
70 have any trouble. and to show him
mat ! meant what ! said, I told him that
| would surrender my pistols, and that
my men would do the same, II they would
agree to go with us to jackson and SUBJ
NIT TO the county authorities. ] told him
son-in-law IL would go much harder with
nm than II he was tried by jury of his
own people: Dun replied We'll, II / take
you fellers guns. | expect the boys will
be willing to go with YOU
we accordingly surrendered our arms
ana az my suggestion, they searched us
ana took all our cartridges. AS they start
ca up the mountain with our weapons
looked up and saw their companions al
me top behind large projecting rock
that formed natural fertilization They
were well supplied with ammunition. as I
afterward learned, and i believe they could
nave held fifty men at bay from their ad-
Vantageous position.
In about an hour Duff and Ben Neace
returned ana said that the boys were not
luty decided what to do, but If l would
meet them alone at Ben Neaoe's house
about five miles away, and take dinner
with them they would fully consider the
matter MY companions were averse to
tnis proposition, but quickly settled the
dispute by saying ! would go and take
dinner with the moonshiners According
~ Ben Neace went up the mountains and
started runner to his house with instruc-
tons TO have dinner prepared for us Duff
accompanied me to Ben's home 1t Is a
one-room log cabin, and when we arrived
m rtflar 'tuH "a
mountain, were awaiting us. DUFF intro
duced me around quite cordially but I
must confess ! felt a little squeamish, for
they were all armed to the teeth and look
ed as II they would like to Kill me on gem
eral principles. Ben Neace was a model
most, and before we sat down 70 dinner
and we all took a nip. While the moon
sinners were very hungry having missed
the breakfast that we had eaten al Duff's,
/ can't say that | enjoyed my dinner
Il put on a bold front. told the men how
foolish IL was TO stand out against the
United States government, which would
send regiment of soldiers into the noun
tains after them II the local authorities
did not arrest them, and l pointed out TO
Jacob Neace the advantage IL would be 10
him to have his case tried in jackson by
jury OF Breathitt county men. i never
talked so earnestly I'm my life, and don't
suppose any man ever had more atten-
nearly an hour IL seemed 20 me, old man
Duff looked at me admiringly and said:
Boys. Mr.. Drake is talking sense. / tell
We II won't do To go agin Uncle Sam Sad
die up and let's go to Jackson for / be-
lieye Mr. Drake will treat you right
"Of course, ! Endorsed the old mans
statement, and we were soon on our way
10 Jackson. The old man asked me TO
deputize the moonshiners as guards for
the prisoners. and. OF course. complied
with his request Immediately. But they
did not give up our weapons and IL 4
stranger had met US In the road he would
have thought that we were the prisoners,
instead Of the officers.
"On our way 10 Jackson Jacob Neace
told his story of the killing of Marshal
Bird. He said Bird arrested Sam Neace,
while he was working for him on hts place
early Thursday morning and came by
the house just as breakfast was ready. Ja-
cob asked him TO get down and eat with
him. but Bird refused, which made him
mad. and when Bird partly drew his pls-
tol as Jacob entered his house Neace got
angrier. He told Dan Farler. who also
worked for him, to- catch the horse, and
when that was done he took his Winches-
ter, got on the horse and told Farler 10
get on behind him. He said he intended
to go to a neighbor's to swap guns with
him but as Bird had not allowed Sam TO
take any extra clothing. he rode fast to
overtake Bird and ask him again 60 let
Sam take some more clothing with him.
He said when he overlook Bird the latter
began shooting at him, and that he shot
in self-defense. He wound up his story
by saying: I'm sorry | had to kill him,
but he ought TO have eaten breakfast with
me. Don't you think so?'
II told MIN tnal thouBnt ne ought
10 have eaten with him, and believe now
that had. Marshal Bird eaten breakfast
with Neace that morning he would be
alive to-day The mountain people OF
Kentucky think they have a right TO
make moonshine whisky, that they ought
to kill their enemies-but whenever a man
breaks bread with them they are like the
Arabs when a stranger eats salt in their
tent AT least. l have found IL that way.
] am certain | could not have captured
Birds murderers had l not eaten dinner
with them yesterday.
II placed the prisoners IN jail at Jack
son last night and their friends remained
In town 20 guard the JAN against an ex-
pected attack by Birds friends. The pris-
oners became very nervous after they we're
put in jail, and both OF them cried like
children"
--Priscilla--Jacl Is the oldest fellow He