Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-25
DESPERADO'S DARING DEED
Horsethief Shoots and Mortally Wounds a
Constable Trying to Arrest Him.
HE THEN KDNAPS THE SHERFF'S SON
CompeIs the Latter, Mt n Revolver
Mouth, to Drive Him Many Miles
ana Then Turns Young
Man Adrift.

Hardin Moss, constable at Loveland, Ia,
was shot and probably mortally wounded
about l o'clock yesterday afternoon by
horsethief and desperate, for whose arrest he
held warrant.
The shooting occurred at grading camp
near Loveland. The desperate made good
his escape in the constable's wagon, COM
pelling Joe Morgan, a son of Sheriff Nor
gan, who had accompanied Moss, to take
the reins and drive for him. After a chase
lasting the entire afternoon the mans cap
ture was effected on the outskirts OF this
city on South avenue by Officers Sam Albro
and Harry James. The fellow showed fight
and the officers were compelled to shoot him
in the leg He is now in the city jail, where
he gave the name of Dave Williams and
claimed to be from Nebraska.
Young Morgan, after an exciting ride OF
several hours with the desperate sitting
behind him with a cooked revolver. was
| turned adrift by Williams about six miles
| from the city. Williams hired a farmer
to hitch his horses to the wagon and was
driving into this city when captured. Nor
gan made his way home by riding one OF
the horses belonging to Moss, which Will
| liams had discarded when played out.
Exceedingly Ncrvy Transaction.
Shortly after noon yesterday the sheriff's
Office at Council Bluffs received word that a
mule, which had been stolen from L. d.
| Laughln of Ashland, Neb., had been traced
to Loveland, where the thief was said to be-
! Constable Hardin Moss at Loveland was at
once notified by Sheriff Morgan and he, in
| company with Joe Morgan, who is employed
| in one of Wickham's grading camps, drove
to where the thief was said to be. They
found the man they were after, eating din
ner in one of the tents.
Moss Stpnned inside while younp Morpa n
stayed by the team. The alleged horsethief,
when told by the constable that he held a
warrant for his arrest, asked permission to
finish his meal, which was granted. AS
Moss turned toward the door of the tent
to speak to Morgan the desperate drew a
revolver and fired at the constable striking
him in the back. Moss dropped to the
ground and the desperate rushed from the
tent With his revolver leveled at young
Morgans head he commanded him to jump
into Moss wagon and take hold of the
rens. The fellow climbed in behind and,
with his revolver still leveled at young
Morgan, ordered him to drive off at a GAL
lop.
Makes Short Work.
The whole transaction lasted but a few
seconds and before the graders I'D others
in the vicinity Of the tent could collect
their senses the fellow with Morgan was
driving rapidly away. Word was at once
telephoned to Council Bluffs to the sheriff's
Office and a posse started in pursuit from
Loveland. Sheriff Morgan and Officer Weir
of the local police force started off in one
direction, while Deputy Sheriffs Baker, Slead
and McLyman and Constable Alberti Sc
cured teams and started off in other direc-
tion, hoping to head the desperate off and
rescue young Morgan from his perilous stu
alton.
The telephone wires were kept hot and
word was sent in every possible direction.
Posses were started out from Neola and
Persia and at every point between Council
Bluffs and Loveland men were despatched
to take the fellow dead or alive II possible
After leaving Loveand the fellow turned
off towards the northeast through the Bluffs
onto the Hazel Dell road and then continued
east through Boomer township. The posse
from Loveland was about ten minutes be-
hind as the wagon containing Williams and
Morgan passed the Grange cemetery.
After leaving Boomer Williams decided
to change his course and ordered Morgan
to turn the horses heads toward Neola
After going few miles he again changed
, his mind and decided to make for Council
Bluffs. The horses, which had been driven
at full speed ever since the start, commenced
! to show signs of giving out and Williams
ordered Morgan to ply the whip.
Gets New Team.
About six miles south Of the city the team
became played out, having been driven al
full speed ever since leaving the camp al
Loveland Henry Tarks, a farmer was
shelling corn in a field nearby and Williams
called out to him that he wanted to hire his
team to drive him into town. He told
Tiarks that he would pay him 50 for the
use OF the team and that he could not carr
a couple of dollars any easier. While Tiarks
was getting his team ready Williams eau
toned young Morgan not to say anything
and ordered him to unhitCh the tired horses
This Morgan did and Tiarks hitched on his
team. Williams then told the farmer to gel
into the wagon and drive him to Council
Bluffs as quickly as he could. AS they started
Williams turned round to Morgan, bade him
goodbye and, with laugh, told him to take
, good care OF the jaded horses and take then
, back home as soon as they were rested
When the news reached the police sta.
tion that the desperate and Morgan had beer
sighted near Weston and were apparently
making for this city Chief Bixby dispatched
all the men available to watch the different
roads leading into the city. Officer Sam AL
bro and Harry James, the patrol driver
we're sent out in livery team to drive soutt
on the asylum road. About the junction o
South avenue and Tostevin street they me
Williams and Farmer Tiarks.
The only description the officers had of thu
man they wanted was that he was tall, darl
and was wearing large black slouch ha
and that young Morgan was with him. Afte
leaving Loveland Williams, however, haC
changed his hat for small black cloth car
and as he drove by the officers with Tiark
they did not at first suspect he was the maj
they were after. They passed by, but Albrt
happened to look back and saw that vii
. liams had also looked back and he tolC
James that they had better go back and taxi
t another look at the man they had jus
, passed. James turned the horses and drov
rapidly back, passing the wagon containing
Williams and Tiarks on the left side. Whel
! few feet in front of the wagon James sud
denly swung his horse across the road, com
pelling Tiarks to pull up short to avoid run
ming into them Tiarks pulled up. Albrt
noticed Williams put both hands into hi
pockets. He called out 10 him to hold up hi
hands
Flashes Two ReyOlvers.
Instantly Williams flashed two re.
yolvers but before he had time to shoot
James had drawn his revolver and at once