The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-24
rsanArs crow, wrIErAns,s BorEs.
RE nienchea akeietea Eeund IN sasntana Hzsy
Iae the Host Deapernae,a.

ne the Host Deepernas'a.
JOLIET, ILL.,, Jan. pa report comes from
Montana that last week q party OF prospectors.
who had Just crossed a part OF the bad Lands"
or alkali plains, had found the skeleton of q
man lying In a lonely gulch. The peculiar thing
about the find was that attached to tho wrist
bones Of the skeleton were a pair Of rusty hand.
cuffs. There was not n particle OF clothing,
nothing but the bleached bones and the hand
cuffs by which to identify the remains. 1t was
evident that the bones Ind lain thore many
years. One Of the prospectors brought the hand
cuffs away with him, and, after securing them
mp n little. discovered these words on them:
"Pepin Co." Tho story of the mysterious skele-
ton and the handcuffs finally reached the ears
Of ex-Sheriff Knight OF Durand. Wis. and he at
once surmised that the remains found up in tho
bad Lands" were those OF Lon" Maxwell.
alias Williams, one Of tho worst Villains who
ever lived in the West. This recalls the terrible
tragedy ana lynching that took place at Durand.
Wis. years ago.
Alonzo and Edward Maxwell were the sons Of
q prosperous farmer living at Macomb, Melon
ough county, III. Tho boys grew up to be dare
devil country raiders-they became a disgrace
to the community in which they lived. Ed, the
elder. committed a burglary and was caught,
resulting in q term of one year at the Joliet
Penitentiary. Lion" could not bear to DO sep
arated from his brother, and he also mmit
q burglary at Macomb and was sent to Joliet for
two years. Ed was restored to liberty soon af-
terward, and went back to his old home. but tho
was an ex.conSict. This made him desperate.
and he committed q serie, Of daring rob6sries
that soon netted him another term at Joliet
When Lon was released he went to the In.
James boys and became ono Of their boldest
train robbers. At any rate, on the day that Ed
MSanbwSlt.s L sin;Se met Term 6Im e st tss S as S9Iis Sco a,s
They went direct to Rock Island, whore Lon"
found a supply Of IeXolyers and ammunition
he Williams boys. started to ride north into
"a Esn sS;o x6e wsIs Alter x .e essy h ss%s crossed S : insG
IN Mi The smal ffSey yo SsSsp ah a sSr,Ss w q SSi they gp pSssss.
the storekeoper and any customers that might
out oS pG cf town. shs They %oa aid t this at nof q nu nna aas Of
places without coming to blows or firing q shot.
boys determined to try their hend at bank rob
berry; They coo,iy rode up to the 6ank about
tered. The cashier and one other person were
alone In tho bank. The, robbers covered them
with their revolvers and made them hand out
Jumped upon their horses. and started 70 leave;
but at that moment the cashier put his head
was the last word he ever uttered. "Lon"
| williams raised his revolver and fired, the bull
Instant death. before an. organized posse could
be raised the Williams boys were miles away
pSls so5nS ss sisS sh sy w! sserlf 4 k ssTSaF p staIt. from ON
their track, and on the third day came up with
the robbers. A desperate. battle took place.
were deputy sheriffs. were shot dead, and sew
eral others were wounded, but the Williams
boys got clear away. crossing into Iowa and go
The Killing Of the deputy sheriffs and the bank
cashier r. aroused 10 sed w the o whois S FOR ,hs W.i,li IA re,
their trail, which, was followed clear across
Where ant at last sat't the two desperodoos We're cap:
tured. Sheriff knight went from Durand TO
murders. The Williams boys were shackled to.
gether at the ankles, and each wore g
PP sis Sf th ssn ssrs st T assna th fsIan %ore An Dl ses1
Williams managed to loosen the shackles from
his ankle and free his feet, though still securely
handcufed. At a moment when he was not
watched he rose up and plunged headforemost
train running twenty-five miles an hour: As
soon as the train could be stopped several Off.
Seri a sI%aaea W SfHk Ss dead sss wiih a S SrIfesa'n nec Io
leaving. several officers behind to continue tho
81. Sheriff If j Kn,shs vent on through .e Dnrsnd
being sent to Jail to await his trial. AN Inn
the court room being jammed. Soon angry
murmurs were heard and threats to lynch the
murderer. The court officers tried to quiet the
crowd, but all at once n rush was made, and. q
dozen men grabbed the prisoner. while the
linms was hustled out Off the Court
House steps. a rope was thrown over
his neck, and fifty hands began to
revolvers and a hundred bullets wore shot into
the dying man. A big reward was offered for
him was ever found. 1t was thought that he
had managed to hide himself in a freight car,
and made his way westward. Leaving the
train. he tried to lose himself in the " Bad
Lands" and being unable to remove the hand
cuffs which bound him he starved to death. The
bleachcd skeleton Of Montana is probably that