The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-27
FATE OF A DESPER ADO.
Skeleton of One of the Jesse James
Gang Found in the HBad I.ands.v

Skeleton of One of the Jesse James
Gang Found in the HBad LandsJ
From the Chicago Tmes-H Herald
Durand, Wis. Jan. 2l.-"Lon" Williams
known as one of the most notorious and
daring of the Jesse James gang, although
he had not actually Joined it, escaped
lynching here only TO die OF starvation in
the bad lands" or alkau plains of Mon
tana Mob justice was meted out to his
brother, Ed" with the resultant verdict
of the coroner's jury that the deceased
died from fall down the court house
steps"
All trace of Lon" had been lost, al
though a big reward was offered for his
capture, until word was received to-day
by former Sheriff Knight that prospectors
passing through the bad lands" had
found the bleached skeleton Of a man lying
in lonely guich with the wristboncs at
tached by pair of rusty handouts. The
skeleton had evidently lain there for years,
Upon being polished up the words Pc
pin County" were deciphered upon the
handouts. and this fact has finally led to
identification of the skeleton as thar of
a desperate who had long terrorzed ciu-
zens of Illinois, Wisconsin and other
Northwestern states
sons Of a prosperous farmer living at Ma
comb McDonough county. Illinois. The
boys grew up to be daredevil country
riders, in spite of the responsibility of
their parents. Edward, the eldest of the
two, soon committed a burglary and was
caught, resulting in a term Of one year at
Joliet. Lon could not bear to be sep
arated from his brother and also com
mitted a burglary, for which he was sent
to Joliet for two years Ed was restoi.
ed to liberty soon afterward and went back
to his old home but the friends of his
boyhood summed him. This made him
desperate, and he committed a series of
daring robberies, which soon nettcd him
another term at Joliet, this time for six
years.
When Lon was released he went to
Indian territory, where he joined the
James boys and became one of the bold
est in their gang When Eds siX-year
term expired Lon returned to Illinois and
met him at the prison doors They wen;
to Rock Island, where Lon had a supply
of reviewers ana ammunition and also two
fine saddle horses.
Thus equipped the Maxwell boys. or, as
they were later called, the Williams boys
started to ride moth to Minnesota with
the object of joining the James and Young
er brothers, who were al that time operat-
ing in the Northwest. After they had
ClOSSeu INTO Wisconsin, IN september, 1851
they began a series of bold robberes in
the smaller towns which they passed
through. They would ride boldly up to
a store, hold up the storekeeper and any
customers that might be present, and then
mount their horses and dash out of town.
firing their revolvers. At Fielden, near
here, they determined to try their hand
at bank robbers. Murder and the end of
their career followed.
They coolly rode up to the bank al noon
pitched their horses and entered The
cashier and a friend were alone in the
bank. The brothers covered them with
revolvers and made them hand out all
the money in sight. Then they rushed
out, jumped on their horses and started to
leave. AT that moment the cashier put his
head out of the window and yelled Rob.
bersH 1t was the last word he ever ut.
tered. Lon Williams raised his revolt
yer and fired, the bullet entering the
cashiers brain and causing instant death
Before an organized posse could be
raised the Williams boys were miles away.
A strong party from here headed by Mr.
Knight, the sheriff started on their track,
and on the third day came up with The
robbers. desperate battle followed Two
brothers named Coleman, both deputy
sherifs, were shot dead and several 9TH
ers were wounded, while the Williams boys
escaped
J.,
which was followed across Iowa and
through Nebraska to Grand Island. where.
two months later the two desperadoes
We're captured. Sheriff Knight went from
Durand to bring them back here to an.
swer for murder. The Williams boys We're
shackled together at the ankles, and each
wore a pair Of handouts.
An hour after the train had started for
Omaha Lon" managed to loosen the
shackle from his ankle and free his feet
though still. securely handcuffed. He sud
denly rose up and plunged headforemost
through the car window into the dark
| ness, while the train was running twenty
five miles an hour The train was quick
ly stopped, and several officers started
back up the track, expecting to find Lon
dead with a broken neck. He could not
be found and no trace Of him had since
been reported until the discovery of the
skeleton.
Sheriff knight then returned 10 Durand
with Ed" Williams in charge The pris-
oner was taken direct to the court house
upon arrival here, Nov. 10. 1881, to undergo
a preliminary examination. An immense
crowd had gathered, and soon angry muir
murs and threats Of lynching were made.
Suddenly there was a rush, and a dozen
men grabbed Williams. The officers were
brushed aside and he was dragged down
on the the court house steps A rope was
thrown over his neck although he was
then dead and fifty men hauled him uD
a lamp post Then the mob drew revolt
vers and hundred bullets were shot into
his body.
1t is thought lion" managed to hide
himself in a freight car and made hfs
way westward. Leaving the train, 1t Is
evident that he tried to hide himself in
the bad lands" Being unable TO remove
the handouts, he sought the gulch. where
his skeleton was found, and there appa-
| renuy starved to death