Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-01-02
Saturday. Dec. &C., 1895.
AT ARTESIA.

! On Wednesday night at about II
I clock MIR. J. P. Roberts, a merchant
Artesia, was undressing, preparatory
retiring for the night, when he heard
me one prying at the door OF his
eeping apartment, which is in the real
,rt of his store. Then the noise WA
ard at the window, he fired a shot
rough the window shade and glass,
G shade being drawn at the time, and
zen ran to the front of the store, and
1t, making toward the depot, presum
sly fer help. When he had gone about
alf way to the depot, the burglars, who
nd come round the store, overlook him.
rom Mr.. Roberts account it would
EN- the burglars took hold of and
lied to step him, when he fired on them =
ne of them shot him in the right OF the
)lomeu a little below the waist line.
he ristoA was so close to him that his
,irt was burned by the powder. He
I'D taken OF his coat before firing
lrouch the window.
The alarm was given, but Mr.. Rob
rts was too weak to give much infor-
nation. He designated the direction
ne men went, stating that there were
NO of them He sent a message to his
rothcr saving that he died trying to
ave the store; and died just after his
rothcr got to him, thirty minutes af-
er he was shot. He was buried by the
Snighth of Pythias, Thursday afternoon
{ Artcsia.
Soon after the murder a pursuit of the
burglars was instituted. Two packs of
POUNDS were put IN the track at differ
mt times. Each pack trailed them to
, negro settlement Of Capt. Burgin's
arm about three miles northeast of Ar
esia, where they lost trace. In the
irst chase which began at 30 a. m.
Thursday, one of the burglars coats
vas found, with a bullet hole through
ne collar on left shoulder and one in
eft forearm, with blood on each, The
;oat was wet with perspiration, and ev-
had just been thrown off.
The chase was an exciting one, The
rain came in from the north at lis
IN. BY LEO the dogs from West
Point were on trail. The north bound
rain vas just pulling out. Two men
lad been stationed at the coal bin just
.bove the depot, to prevent the burglars
aboard. As the train stopped
men stopped out of the darkness, but
eeing the guards they fed. The dogs
ad already opened on the trail. The
urglars fed, through field and negroes
ards, over wire fences for three miles,
the echoes of the midnight air,
II suddenly, as stated, the trail was
lddenly lost. 1t is believed the bur
lt5:nlv n is thought to have been
asell escaped on horseback. All,
viewer is conjecture. Officers are on
alert in all directions, but the bur
lrs, like the witches in the gruesome
les Of old, o. a North Carolina red
x when he ticks his feet and vanishes
the very teeth of the dogs, and no
zee of him can be found.
Mr.. Minga of Columbus,
the captured coat as n stolen
I'm him in October last.
II the guards who went to the coal
1 had thought to get on board the
lin, both burglars might have been
But it is easy to see at a dis
nee.
Mr.. j. P. Roberts is said to have
ell a useful citizen. 1t is hoped that
. sad accident of his death will fill up
3 measure of the depredations that
We been committed in the country of
Q. and stimulate a general vigilance
bring the criminal to justice.
ARTEsIA, Miss, Jan 1, '97.
CnToR BEACON learn from the
yht operator here that hounds are on
of two men who took breakfast at
ntral Hotel, Starksville, this morn
and who answered to the descrip-
n of the burglars chased ereWedne
y night.
j. F. HALEY.
Later-Dogs on hot trail, thirty min
IS behind.
A Rrillianf WeddinO.