Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-10

| Through the Neck - A Childs
Arm Shot Off.
| Special to the Register.
Weston, w. Va, November o.
| Sunday morning, in the little hamlet
of Muddlety, situated deep in the
mountain Businesses of Nicholas
! county, occurred a battle to the death
between United States Deputy Marsh
ais and gang of desperadoes For
, the last three years Milton Hickman
and his followers have been a terror
/ to the two Virginias, and although
pursued constantly, by the aid of
friends they succeeded in evading the
| officers. They have robbed many post
offices, intimidated the natives, who,
! through fear, oftentimes sheltered
them when they were holly pursued.
| On Sunday Deputy Marshals H. w.
RAIDER and Arch McClung ascertain
| ed that Hickman was attending a pro-
tracted meeting in the village church,
at Muddlety, and deputizing a posse
of eight mountaineers, quietly advanc-
ed on the church and surrounded the
building. Just as the preacher was
about to announce the doxology, Mar
shall RAIDER stepped to the door and de-
manded the instant surrender of Hick-
man. Hickman and two of his fol-
| lowers, who were at the altar, rushed
| for their Winchesters, that were lean
| ing against the wall, and Immediate
! ly began firing. With the first volley
! Marshal RAIDER fell MORALLY wounded,
| but throughout tie conflict that en-
sued he directed the movemer : of the
posse. Out of sympathy a number Of
mountaineers in the congregation
| joined the cause of Hickman, and as
/ all were armed the battle was bloody
and determined.
! At the end of two hours Hickman,
who was foremost in the fight, fell
pierced by several bullets. He expired
in the arms of his sweetheart, who was
| present and encouraged him through
| out the battle for his life and freedom.
His followers weakened Immediately,
| and after a few struggling shots ceased
| firing.
| The outlaws were placed under arrest
| and are now in Jail at Summersville,
| the county seat.
The excitement in Nicholas county
over the murderous work is still intense,
| and only the personal efforts of Rev.
| Pierce, the pastor, who was reported
killed last night, but who was really
unhurt, averted a wholesale lynching
! of the desperadoes of the Hickman gang
to-day This may yet be the end of the
prisoners, who, four in number, are now
confined in the Jail at Summersville.
Rev. Pierce has been there all day, maxi
/ ing personal appeals to the crowd of en-
ragged citizens, and SO far has averted
| mob punishment.
Reports tonight of reliable nature
| from the scene of the terrible encounter
say that the list of casualties includes
three dead and seven wounded, and that
two of the latter will die. Two of the
! dead are Milton Hickman, the leader of
the desperadoes, who was killed almost
instantly after fighting for two hours,
and Deputy United States Marshal Ra-
der, who died this afternoon. The third
name is not given. The fatally wound
ed are Mrs. Hickman, who was shot
through the neck, and her six-year-old
child, who had one arm snot oil, and
who was also wounded in the neck. The
other wounded. three of Raiders depu-
! ties being included in the number, will
recover.
As showing the desperate nature Of
the conflict and its long continuance,
the church altar is total wreck, While
there are bullet holes all over the inter-
ior of the church-in the walls, ceiling,
pews and floor. Windows and furniture
were broken, and from an inspection Of
! the edifice to-day about all the ammuni-
ton in the possession of both sides to
the melee must have been expended, and
| it is a wonder the list Of killed and
wounded is not much larger.
Milton Hickman, the leader of the
outlaws, is a noted postofice robber, and
| his photograph adorns the rogues' gal
! leries of many city police departments.
He has been a desperate criminal for
! years. and is wanted on large number
! of charges in this and other States.
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