The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-11
Bandits Who Recently Held Up
Passengers at Hugo.
ONE SHOT, ONE BURNED
Located by Officers on Ranch
Near Town.
Two of Sherif7s Posse Badly
Wounded in Melee.

Goodland, Kan, Aug. 11.-Both of the
bandits who robbed Union Pacific train
near Hugo, Col..last Saturday night, kill
ing WI. Fay during the affair, were
killed by posse four miles north of here
Friday. Before they were killed they
shot and seriously wounded two of the
possemen, George Cullins and j. B.
Riggs.
One of the robbers was shot in the
forenoon as he was making a break
from a ranch house where the posse had
the two surrounded, and the oody OF tne
other is in the ruins of the building al
ter it had been burned by the posse yes
terday afternoon. Whether one OF the
many shots fired into the building killed
him, whether he shot himself or whether
he died in the flames is not known.
The two robbers came to the ranch or
D. E. Bartholomew, where they We're
killed on Wednesday. They asked Tor
shelter and something to eat Bartholo-
NEW gave them the best he had and
asked few questions. They volunteered
the informal ton that they did not want
to go to town, as they were ragged ana
unpresentabfe. The first suspicion that
was aroused against them was when
they sent boy to town to get the Den
yer papers The boy gave full account
of the men to the officers here and his
description convinced Sheriff William
Walker that they were the Hugo rob
berS.
Friday morning Sheriff Walker and a
posse, including E. c. Biddison, ]. B.
went to the ranch. Sheriff Walker and
one of the others disInounted and went
toward the house, but their approach
was seen by one of the men. who closed
the door and remained passive until it
was kicked open by the sheriff. Then a
general fire began.
After several shots had been exchang-
ed and the other members of the posse
had Joined thier comrades, one of the
robbers jumped through window and
endeaVOred to make his escape, firing
repeatedly. He tried to reach the horses
but before he could get away he was
shot and instantly killed, but not before
he had shot Cullins and Riggs Biddison
fired the shot that brought the robber
down.
After the killing of the first robber the
where it lay. but carrying away the
wounded Cullins and Riggs. Sheriff
Walker telegraphed to Denver for can
non to batter down the cabin, and while
waiting for it's arrival a desultory fire
was kept up on the refuge of the remain
ing ba udit.
The man inside the house was armed
with a Winchester and a too near ap--
proach drew his fire. About 4 o'clock
some men, by crawling through a corn
field, got to a shed near the house and
from this place threw two railroad
fusees to the roof of the house. setting it
afire. Tt was not many minutes until
the entire building was in flames. but
the rObber made no sign and if he was
not shot by a bullet from the many that
were fired at the house from the outside
he found his death in the flames. A rifle
shot was heard in the building while
the fire was burning, and is possible that
the robber shot himself to avoid crema-
ton His body has not been recovered
from the ruins.
There is no doubt about the men being
the train robbers. On the body of the
man shot in the morning was found a
watch, two black calico face masks. a
lady'S chain and charm and an opened
envelope addressed to some unreadable
name at Hugo, Col. He was tall, with
black mustache and commonly dressed
The body was brought to town last ev-
ening, where an inquest will be held
Both men were about so years old, and
of the desperate style having threaten
ed to shoot several farmers who refused
to keep them.
The house on the ranch, with it's con-
tents, was valued at 81 200 and will be
paid for by the county
Riggs and CulIins. who were shot in
the fight, are doing well and may re-
cover.