The Mena star., 1899-06-22
FUGITIVE CAPTURED AT LAST.
W. W. Ross of Crawford County Charged With Illegal Use of Stamps.

sS1 Vhu hiegai Use or stamps.
 Early Monday at point about two miles east of Mena, a posse of officers under Deputy Sheriff Cunning. ham, captured W. w. Ross, man whose arrest has been sought since in April last. The charge against him is the illegal use of postage stamps.
 Ross was postmaster at Dial, In Howard county and some months ago 1t is said offered his resignation, he says with the intention of coming to Mena in the hope he could improve his business opportunities, which were not satisfactory at Dial. At about the tune the government inspectors were checking up his office it was alleged that Ross had been using and can- ceiling postage stamps a second time by. soaking them off letters. According to report printed in a Center Point paper in April last. Ross was return ing to his home from the office in the night with a revolver in his hand, when he was ordered to surrender by deputy marshal, but offered re- sistance, was fired on, returned the fire and ran. Since that time he has been a fugitive, spending most of the time in the woods near Mena. His wife lives here and has been keeping fruit stand at corner of De Queen street and Sherwood avenue.
 A daughter of Mir. and Mrs. Ross came up from Howard county, and yesterday she aHd the wife started out with horse. The officers followed, and it resulted in tracing the women to the hiding place of the fugitive in a thicket about two miles east of town. The officers did not attempt to make the capture in the dark, but when daylight came watched an opportunity and rushed in with weapons drawn and no resistance was made. Ross was lodged in the county jail, where he was seen by q representative of the Star Monday. The prisoner is a man Of about thirty-five years, and says that the charge is unjust He claims ti t his daughter was, when he was captured, mounting horse to go to Howard county and secure bond, and that when she returned he in- tended to come in and give himself up, but the officers do not seem to credit this. Mrs. Ross says she had written to Deputy United States Marshal Holman at Texarkana that if he would come up her husband would give him self up.
 There are stories afoat accusing Ross with other and more serious crimes, but the only charge known to be made against him by the officials at this time is the one named
 Attorneys Shaver & Norwood have been retained to defend the prisoner.
 He was taken to Ft. Smith Wednes- day to have his preliminary exam ination about Friday, before the United States Commissioner.
 He is in charge of Deputy United States Marshal Holman, of Texa rkana, who came up yesterday afternoon. Mir. Holman confirmed several state ments which were made by Ross and his wife that were not given much credit before. A Star reporter was informed by reliable parties that he displayed and read several letters while in the city which he had re ceived from Ross, in which he ex- pressed desire to surrender to hlm.
 Mir Holman also gives credit to Ross excuse for fleeing from him last April when he attempted to arrest him. Ross says he had heard that an at tempt would be made to rob him, and that he thought the officers were gang of robbers. Mir. Holman said his action at that time, and since, leads hlm 10 believe Ross is honest in his statement He is further reported as saving that Ross has no charge of counterfelting against him, and that there is no foundation for the report as given out at this time. Mrs. Ross is in charge of their stand at the cor ner of De Queen street and Sherwood avenue Her daughter left this morn ing for their home in Howard county with the horse her father has had with him while in hiding, and the one she rode up here last week. She goes back to work and care for the crops on the farm, as she is their only child
 Before leaving for Fort Smith, Ross secured several names on his bond, in case he should be held by the commis- sioner.
 Fourth of July Picnic at Egger.
 rrbara will be a brand old cele bratiOu