The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-09
BROUGHT TO BAY BY BULLETS.
HORSE THIEF WARDELL SEVEN
TIMES WOUNDED.

Savannah Hospital in n Critical
ConditIOn-stOIe Mr.. w. C. Waters
Horse and Fitted out His Rig With
MIR. r.. NortOn's buggy and Har-
ness-ProVed to BE the Fugitive
Who Escaped From BuIlOch COun-
tvs sheriff by jumping Through a
Car window
II. H. WardeH. a horse thief, was
brought into the city yesterday afternoon
by Sheriff P. J. Thompson of Bryan coun-
~ and Messrs. W. G. Waters and r. G.
Norton OF savannah He was first taken
to the police barracks, but his condition
was seen to be critical from numerous
wounds he had received before submitting
TO arrest, and he was sent to the Savan-
nah hospital.
Drs SheftaH and Norton there operated
on him, removing several bullets from his
body There were seven wounds and in
some of them bullets had lodged. The
most serious wound was that caused by
buekshot that had entered his back on the
left side, and lodged just beneath the skin
in front, where it could be felt.
The crime for which Wardel was arrest
ed was committed last Saturday night
when he stole a horse from Mr.. Waters
stable on the Ogeechee road, near Bum
gers store. He took the animal to Mr..
Norton's buggy house in the neighbor-
hood. A set Of harness was found conven-
tent and this he threw on the horse, hitch
ing him TO Mr.. Nortons buggy. The loss
of the horse and buggy and harness were
discovered the next morning.
Mr. Norton notified the police OF the
robbery. Chief McDermott advised him 70
follow the Ogeechee road as 1t was prob
able the thief had taken that route out of
the city. Mr. Norton acted on the adj
vice taking Mr. Waters with him. They
drove out the Ogeechee road, and into
Bryan county, where they secured Sheriff
Thompson to assist them In their search.
The first glimpse the pursuers got Of
Wardel was yesterday morning about
O'Clock. Up TO that time they had no
track OF him He had not been seen in
the neighborhood, and it was feared he
had taken another road. When discovered
Wardell was standing in front
of "a house near Shumans
bridge The horse and buggy, which
the owners recognized from a distance,
stood al the gate, where Wardell had lett
them. He was peddling fly poison. and
had left the horse to make a sale. warden
saw the men from a distance, and at once
decided his best resource lay in his heels.
Paying no attention to the calls TO stop
shouted after him, he struck out across
the fields. The sheriff and the owners of
the horse and buggy followed in hot pur-
suit. Messrs. Waters and Norton were
each armed with a shotgun loaded with
buckshot. Sheriff Thompson had 3S-cal-
iber revolver. When the race began, War
dau had start Of about $50 yards, and
-aFf 1nU hat grass INF
TO hang on to. They gradually gained on
him, however, and no attention being paid
to their warnings, the pursueTs opened
fire. A running fire was kept up
and a number of shots must have told.
Eight shots were fired and seven wounds
were found in Wardell's body. Some were
inflicted by buckshot and might have been
caused by one shot from a gun, but it is
likely that several took effect
Wardell kept on running and the chase
continued through field and thicket with
the pursuers slowly gaining ground. II
was not until over half a mile had been
covered that Wardell, weakened by his
wounds, came to a stop. He did not fan
but calmly stood and awaited his pur-
suers. lie was taken in charge and led
back to the buggy, His wounds were Civ
en- some attention and his captors
brought him into the city The wounds
are pretty well distributed over his body.
in the side, and the 9TH
ers In his ankle. arms, and hips.
His captors said that at one time during
the chase they saw what they thought
was a pistol in Wardell's hand. This was
not found on him when he was captured,
and 1t is believed he threw 1t away as he
ran. Wardell said ii was a bottle he car
ried. He seemed to have had great conf
dence in his powers as cross-country
runner. This confidence had been recent
~ bolstered up by his experience in max
ing his escape from the sheriff of Bull
loch county. The story OF the escape Of
a prisoner by jumping from car window
near Pooler a couple of weeks ago and
the chase he led the sheriff
and some Of the train hands
and passengers through the woods was
printed In the Morning News at the time.
The escaped prisoner was Warden, who
gave his pursuers the slip after he gained
the stretch of woods near Pooler. He
then came on to Savannah.
Wardell told Sheriff Thompson the story
OF his doings after taking the horse and
buggy. He did not go out the Ogeechee
road, but drove out on the White Blum
road. There he picketed the horse In a
secluded spot and came back to town. He
visited the stolen horse twice In the mean.
time. and left on Monday night. driving
across to the Ogeechee by the Buckhalter
road. On the last trip out to the horse
he found that the animal had broken loose
and come up 10 the toligate. He had been
driven back up the road, and had been
taken IN charge by a negro. Wardell got
the animal and set out for the buggy. He
was seen here day before yesterday, and
was pointed out 20 Policeman York. who
would have arrested him had he not
taken a street car before he could be
approached. Wardell was pointed out TO
the officer by a negro who works at Gull
martins stable, and who knew him
through his having attempted 20 steal a
horse and buggy from Mr.. Gullmartin He
had ordered Mr.. Farr's team from the
stable TO be sent TO the De Soto on be-
ing taken there the boy refused TO turn IL
over TO Wardell, who said Mr. Farr had
told him to order II. The boy drove back
20 the stable ana was told 10 keep a look
out for the man.
Wardell Is apparently about 30 years old.
OF medium build with "a dark complexion
and dark hair and mustache. lie seems 20
have been In Gainesville, Fla. for "A while.
A number OF letters OF an amorous nature
were found In his pocket from woman
there
The prisoners nerve during the probing
OF his wounds was commented uDon TTo