The herald., 1897-08-31
Murder a Batch of Deputy
SheriffS
TWO WERE KILLED OUTRIGHT
TWO MoRTALLY WOUNDED AND
TWO MISSING
Illicit Distillers in Arkansas Resist
Arrest and Shoot, Like Cow
ards, From Ambush
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Aug. 3O-Six
men were probably massacred in the
wilds of the mountains of Pope county
outright, two were fatally wounded and
left for dead and two have mysteriously
disappeared and are either dead or are
being held captive by the bloodthirsty y
The killed are:
Captain B. f. Taylor, of Searcy county,
a United States marshal.
Joe Dodson, of Stone county, deputy
marshal.
The fatally wounded are two brothers
named Renfrow of Searcy county.
The names of the missing men are not
known, but they are supposed, to be
deputy sheriffs from adjoining count
The victims were all officers deputy
marshals and deputy sheriffs, and the
men who did the awful work of carnage
are moonshiners of the boldest and mos t
desperate class. The scene of the bloody
crime was a gulch or ravine in the noun
tains of Pope county, an isolated spot 35
miles from Russellvile, the nearest tele-
graph office, and ten miles from Will
Springs.
A 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 fifty large
distilleries were operating in the same
neighborhood. Taylor, with his posse,
located a large moonshine outfit Satur-
day night and decided to make the raid
Sunday in daylight.
Proceeding slightly in advance of his
men, Taylor was within thirty feet of
the distillery when he was suddenly fired
upon from ambush and instantly killed.
AS Dodson ran UP to Taylor he was
also shot dead in his tracks. Pistols be-
gan to crack in all directions and terri
BILE volley was poured into the remaining
officers.
The Renfrow brothers fell mortally
wounded and lay by the roadside, until
later in the day traveller named Pack
chanced by. All traces of the bandits
had disappeared, as well as two of the
deputy sheriffs. The latter have not
since been heard from and are believed
either to have been killed or wounded.
or taken away captive by the moon
sinners.
The traveller rushed to Russellville
with the news, and the coroner, with a
sheriff's posse, started for the scene.
No news has been received since they
departed. Pack thinks the Renfrow
brothers will be dead before the party
reaches them. II is not known by whom
officers believe the gang is composed of
desreradoes headed by Horace Bruce
and John Church, two of the most dan
gerous characters in that locality The
United States officers were today asked
TO offer a reward for the arrest of the
gang to which the state will contribute,
and a determined effort will be made to
capture them. 1t is very probable tn :
effort will lead to further bloodshed Cap
tain Taylor was an ex-captain in the fed
eral army. He had served two terms
in the state legislature and was noted
for his bravery
Marshal Corser this afternoon received
the following telegram from the attor-
ney-general:
washington, Aug. 30-Expense Of
posse, subject to executive approval, not
to exceed $4,000, authorized. Five hun
dred dollars reward authorized for cap
ture and delivery to marshal of all per-
sons implicated in the murder.
"(Signed) M'KENNE"