Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-06-28

miles. He said that at one time Stel
rett and Spillan passed along the roa
! while he was concealed behind tn
fence. Just opposite him the par!
looked across the country at some har
} vesters, and he escaped detection.
THE CAPTURE.
Information was brought here Sun
day shortly after noon tha4 q man VIII
had been on watch the previous nigh
near the Taylor homo at East Lsxlne
ton had seen members Of the family
make several trips in The direction o.
Timber Ridge, Suspecting that young
Taylor was concealed OF Jas. 81. Pax
toms home whose wife is his aunt, that
suspicion was communicated to the
authorities, and the fact mentioned
which was known only to few, that
there was q cellar TO the house with a
Hperet trspdoor. After consultation,
Justice Lindsay and Policeman Walker
determined to send q searching party
to Paxton's home. Notwithstanding
two nights before the house had been
searched. At three O'Clock Sunday
afternoon o party Of sworn-in deputies,
". L. Criglsr, J. Fl. White, Henry
Mutherspsw. ]. 81 Tollsy, Charles
Baker, J, Il. Marks, and William Pulse
under the lead Of Walker quietly left
town for the home Of Paxton. When
within a mile of their destination, the
party left their vehicle at farmhouse
and ap preached the suspected house
on foot, which they surrounded. All
were absent from home except Paxton
and be denied any knowledge Of Taylor.
A sarch being made the trap-door
was discovered which was covered with
mating and had boxes and barrels
piled on it so as to conceal its pres.
ence. Up to this time Paxton had
raised no objection to the search, b"
whom the entrance to the cellar wa
disclosed he demanded their author y
for the aeal ch. This satisfied The
ssarchers that they were on the right
track. He Was compelled to get
lantern which he did although he waS
visibly excited. Several Of the men ell
tered the cellar whore Taylor Was found
concealed. He called to the men no
TO shoot. He himUelf was unArmed
Crigler grabbed him and brought him
out and Immediately the party StArttd
for Lexington. arriving here at abou
$50 O'Clock. On the way the prisoner
begged to be shot fearing possibly
Of being lynchsd. As soon IS he ="
put in Jail q strong guard was put OIL
duty. The Jail itself Was an sr'erA
for there we're stored there . large sup
ply of Winchester rites supplied from
the Virginia Military Institute.
10 the older citizens the Jail guarded
with it armed men patrolling back an
forth recalled the sceLes incident 10
the famous tragedy which occurred in
Lexington about forty years agew
q stu dent named Christian stabbed
cadet nameI Blackburn,
THE ARRIVAL HERE.
On the arrival Of the party in Lex
ington the prisoner was quietly taken
to the jail even before many person
knew OF his arrest. Soon large crowd
gathered in trent of the court house
square. but perfect J orderly one,a
no threats Of violence we're heard. The
prisoner requested to see Rev. DIR. Jas
A. Quarles but be was not in town,
TAKEN TO LYNoHBURe.
To prevent an outbreak Sheriff
Sterrett with a strong guard took
Taylor from the jail at lao o'clock
Monday morning and drove to Natural
Bridge station where they boarded the
Chesapeake and Ohio train for Lynch.
burg. The prisoner will be kept in
in that city until the tiial ct the July
term Of the. county court when it is
believed the ndue excitement will
have been allayed.
PRISONERS sTATENENT.
Taylor says that he has no know
ledge Of tho crime, that he was drunk.
But those who are familiar with bis
actions that night subsequent to the
assault cannot be led TO accept that
statement as true. His efforts to escape
indicate the cunning Of steady brain
aud not the irresponsible actions Ct a
drunken man.
PUBLIC OPINION.
So far as we can ascertain public
opinion is unanimous in the belief OF