Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-22
4 THRILLING STORY.
Correct Version of an Exciting
Chapter In Pepin County's
History.


ing been at various times in the past, and
especially during the last five years news
paper articles relating to the killing of the
Coleman brothers by the Maxwell (alias
Williams) brother at Durand, Pepin
county in this state, and as many Of them
have been erroneous in many particulars,
and having been requested to do so, l
avail myself of this opportunity to give
those of your readers who may be inter
terested as short and correct version of
that unhappy event as lies IN my power.
You will please excuse me it use the
pronoun | many times, as it will convey
my meaning and the truth more readily.
To attempt to give history of the prin-
cipals to this tragedy would require more
space than would be allowed at this time;
suffice it to say, Ed Maxwell (alias Will
Gams) was comparative stranger IN
these parts, coming here shortly after
serving five years in Joliet, H., for bur-
glary committed in that state. He was
man about % years of age, very compact
ly built, dark eyes and hair and about
feet inches in height.
His brother Lon had been living at
Hosea about two years The two broth
ers met, Ed having come from aen-
derson county, Ill. The two brothers
seemed to keep company until the 10th
of July. 1881. About two weeks preyl-
Gus to this time e. A. Taft's jewelry
store had been robbed in Menomonie and
titled that the burglar had been captured
in Wabasha, MINI. The sheriff there
upon sent Milton Coleman, undersheriff,
to bring him to this city. On reaching
Durand Sunday evening it was learned
that the Williams l<others had crossed
oner in the jail and with his brother,
Charles, hastily arranged to capture
these desperate men. | am sorry to say
at this late date that they declined any
assistance and proceeded alone, armed
with their revolvers and each with shot
gun they had borrowed. They inquired
as they went along, until between $50
and 8 o'clock, looking toward the village,
they saw them coming side by side to-
ward them. Milton said: Hush, there
they are now"
They approached within six PAGES,
when Milton raised his gun, pointing d.
rectly at AlonZo Williams and said:
''You are my prisoner
Lon Immediately fired, and the bell
passed directly through Millions neck
breaking it. and as he fell dead, the Of
ficer discharged his gun, wounding Lon
slightly in the face and hand with the
fine shot. Charles Coleman and Ed Will
liams exchanged shots almost instantly,
| Charles receiving the fatal shot through
his body just below the heart. AS Cole
man staggered out Of the smoke, and as
he sank to die. he fired his last shot and
received wound through the shoulder,
the shot crushing through the bones.
The only witnesses of this were TWO
boys, the eldest only IA years of age. AS
eight shots were fired by the WllLams
brothers and as no shells were found il
is thought the Williams boys used their
reyolvers. and it was we'll known they
were adopts at their use.
nnSt he ia ken with pOnSlUpra ton
that the Coleman brothers were among
the bravest and best of men. Charles
Coleman was a man 40 years of age and
at the age of p he was shot down at
the battle of Perrysville and placed be-
side the dead. and his recovery was al
most miraculous. Milton was only 25
years of age, but he possessed GOODNESS
| and courage that seemed to mark aim as
one of the best officers in the state.
The capture of the Younger brothers
in Minnesota had already demonstrated
that the people of this part of the c0un-
try were willing to dare and to die in the
pursuit of such outlaws. SO the people
of this county and Pepin county arose
almost as one man to ScOur the Eau
Gale woods for the capture of these
men, but they succeeded IN Guiding their
search, and reached the Chippewa river
one night and found an old boat, in
which they drifted quietly down the
river, and soon landed on the Iowa shore.
While this civilians hunt did not
result in the capture of either of the
| outlaws, it had the effect, it is thought,
Of convincing that class of men, as did
| the Mortified capture, that this is not 4
congenial cline for them. Of course,
while all engaged should be thanked for
the time and hardships endured during
this hunt, special praise should be be-
| slowed upon such men as Capt Frank
| Kelly, Deputy Sheriff Doolittle, J. G..
ingalls, and others, who were prominent
| III this work.
mother of the Williams brothers. lived in
Nebraska, and the brothers made a des-
| perate attempt to reach their home once
| more to see them-probably for the last
time. In doing SO they reached a house
| some thirty miles from hcme and found a
| dance IN progress, and although offered q
| home for the night, concluded to go on
| further. Some one at this house was
| struck by their desperate appearance.
length of their hair and other evidence of
| tough character and concluded to go to
the county seat and notify the sheriff.
found Sheriff Kellen, who promised to
equip himself and attempt their capture,
| taking his undersheriff and another man
as well as a driver. The four started for
| the house they supposed to be the abode
| of the Williams brothers for the night
1Heg AppIOdcHeu the mouse Win caution,
| getting in before the Williams brothers
| could rise from their bed, and seeing their
rifles leaning against the wall some dis
| lance from the bed, the sheriff placed him
! self between the guns and the bed. Lon
arose and passed out in his stocking feet,
presumably to examine the surroundings,
| but while out Sheriff Kellen was CON
WINGED he had before him a task not an
| tlclpated and hardly prepared for, and he
| made a spring for the long-haired despe-
RADIO, who arose and attempted to reach
| his Winchester.
! The sheriff, being powerful man and
| having his fingers clenched in Ed. Will
| liams' long hair, succeeded in flooring
him. AS he screamed for help Lon an
swered by returning, revolver in hand.
| and as he reached the door. attempted
| to shoot one of the men, but missed, the
| ball entering the side of the door. The
| officers gun also missed, and immediate
| ly Lon made his escape across the prai-
| RE. He was pursued, but never to my
| knowledge captured.
| The sheriff and his assistants fastened
| Ed securely in their wagon and returned
| to Grand Island after they succeeded in