The Van Buren press., 1897-09-04
WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER.
Pope County Moonshiners Ambush a
United States MarshaPs Posse
and XII Several Of Them.

and Kill Several Of Them.
From Mondays Little Rock Democrat
This morning Assistant District At
torney q. S. Bratton received tele-
phone message from Russellville which
WAS calculated to shock the strongest
nerve 1t told of the ambush of
United States marshal's posse in the
mountains of Pope county, and the
death of Capt. B. F. Taylor, Joe Dod-
son and probably two others at the
hands of mountain desperadoes engaged
in illicit distilling. Capt. Taylor was
Mr.. Bratton's personal friend, and he
was very much affected by the inform
alton. The message received was TO
the effect that Capt. Taylor, Joe Dod-
son and four other deputy marshals had
started ont to raid an illicit distillery.
They were in the locality about ten
miles south of Wits Springs. near
North Fork postoffice. The plant had
already been discovered and yesterday
morning the party approached it eau
tiously. Capt. Taylor was in advance
of his men, with Dodson and the other
Deputies twenty yards in the rear.
When within thirty yards of the distil-
lery. which is located in small hollow
or gulch. a volley from behind the ad-
jacent trees brought down Taylor and
Dodson and two others.
A man named Pack brought the in
formation to Russellville. He said
Taylor and Dodson were killed outright,
and two others, probably the Renfroe
brothers were seriously wounded. The
two other deputies were missing, and it
is not known whether they were killed
or not. Grave apprehensions are felt
for their safety. Had they escaped un-
hurt they would certainly have gone to
Russellvile or some other point for help.
A coroner went out from Russellville to
hold an inquest. Sheriff s. A. Henry
also went to the scene Of the tragedy
with posse.
North Fork is about forty miles from
Russellville and located in one of the
most isolated sections of the state.
Capt. Taylor, who led the marshal g
posse and who fell under the murderous
fire of the bandits. was citizen of
Searcy county. He was captain in
the Federal army and about sixty years
old. Gentlemen who knew him say he
was brave courageous man, and in
every sense gentleman. He was a
merchant and one the wealthiest men in
Searcy county. Capt. Taylor was ap-
pointed by Marshal Cooper
Joe Dodson was hold over and had
served under Marshal Gaines. He was
from Stone county and bore good
reputation for courage and bravery.
Two other members of the marshal s
posse are thought to have been the Rem
froe brothers, who had also seen ser
vice. 1t is apparent that the ambush
was unexpected, and therefore the men
who fired upon the posse had all the
better opportunity to pick off those in
front.
While it is not known definitely, it is
thought the distillery was being operat-
ed by Horace Bruce and John Church,
and if that be true they were probably
two of the men who fired on the mar
shal posse.
Postmaster Davis, of Russellville,
when called up by The Democrat today
verified the story as given here.
The marshal 8 posse did not go out
from Russellville, and therefore it was
impossible to secure the names of only
two of the men, and these were Taylor
and Dodson, who were killed outright.
The scene of the tragedy is in wild,
mountainous locality, where settlers
are few and far between. Illicit dis
tilleries have fourished for years in that
vicinity, and the United States officers
have frequently been fired upon from
the cliffs and gorges which are found in
great numbers. Capt. Taylor knew
the country we'll and had undertaken to
break up the lawlessness existing there.
| The government will be asked to
offer reward for the capture of the
murderers, and Gov. Jones will also
be asked to lend such assistance as may
be within his power.
A deputy United States marshal left
Little Rock this morning on learning of
the terrible affair, and will probably
join Sheriff Henry with an efficient
posse in the hunt for the assassins.
The bodies of the murdered men will be
sent to Searcy county overland for
interment.
LATER:-Deputy Sheriff W. P,
Hodge, of Searcy county, son iE law
of Deputy United Marshal B. F. Tay-
lor. who was killed by moonshiners in
Pope county Sunday, left for the scene
of the tragedy yesterday, accompanied
by posse. News was brought into
Russellville this morning that Hodge
and his men were close upon the
mountain bandits and a fight was ex-
pected at any moment. Hodge com
municated with the United States
marshal Office here this morning and
asked that assistance be sent him.
One of the deputies wounded, whose
name could not be had yesterday, was
Ben Snow. ex sheriff of Searcy county.