The Red Cloud chief., 1901-01-11
MURDER AT SNYDER
Saloon Keeper Victim Of a Trio
Of Desperadoes.
IS SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD


snyder, Neb., vas the scene OF n
diabolical murder at about o o'clock
Friday night, January 4, the vic tim
being Herman Iahn, n soloonkeeper.
The town has been i'm "A state of great
excitement and every citizen Is either
carrying a Winchester OF has his
pockets bullying with revolvers.
The murdcrers were three unknown
men who held up the saloon, robbed
1t and shot Zabn down in cold blood.
The trio of toughs first went to the
saloon operated by Kicrbaum Bros.
Here they drank frequently and show
ed "a disposition to quarrel with those
who CHANGED To come into the saloon.
This sort of thing continued for about
an hour when the men adjourned to
Iahn's saloon. nearby.
The men entered Iahn's place and
ordered all of those inside to throw up
their hands.
When the men entered, Mr.. Xahn,
n proprietor, was sitting on u table.
He obeyed the order concerning his
hands, but started toward the high
waymen. begging them o t. shoot.
AS he did 40 one of the men pulled his
trigger and Iahn fell heavily to the
floor. One of the men then went back
of the bar and broke open the money
drawer, his pals" meanwhile holding
their guns on the terrorized crowd OF
men so completely at their mercy. In
the drawer was found about seventy
five dollars in cash. This was quickly
pocketcd. The robber then walked
around In font OF the bar where Zahn
lay, dubbed him over the head with
his revolver, gave him a kick and re-
lieved him of his watch which was in
his vest pocket.
The three desperadoes then backed
toward the door, keeping their weap.
ons directed at the CROWD of men be.
Tore them. As they retired through
the door it was closed and they fed foi
their lives.
Iahn died within an hour.
AS soon as possible "a posse was
formed and chase was given Blood
hounds from Lincoln were sent for and
as soon as they arrived the trail wa.
taken up. sheriff Kreadcr having in
the meantime arrived from Fremont,
The dogs led the posse To a well known
rendezvous of toughs and bootleggers
about n half mile south Of Crowell
This rendezvous is a new two-stor,
frame house near the Elkhorn river
having an outside stairway. When
the men arrived they found a woman
In possession.
The woman's name was Williams
her husband being NJ. ID. Williams
who was recently sentenced Mt O'Neil
to six and II half years in the peniten
tiary for burglary committed at Elgin
A search of the premises was imme
diately commenced. At a straw stack
near the barn developments were sooi
found. Soon a man was pulled out a
the stack, where he had co~nceale,
himself in the straw and had wrappe
himself in u blanket. This man wa
heavily armed.
The man captured was name
Gardner, the name of the fellow WIN
escaped was Billy Rhea: He wa
S"PeutCh idItr. anu the tnlfu man wa
captured at West Point.
The story told by members OF Sheri
kreader's posse is thrilling. I'll
rendezvous where Gardner was capture
is graphically described. The house
comparatively new and was built f.
a gathering place of some kind. IL
situated on the bank of the Elkhor
river at a point where the Elkhor
railroad crosses it. IL can only |
reached by a narrow road way beneat
the railroad bridge.
The residence aud barn were DO,
built recently and were in good COZ
dition. One side of the house had I
windows. and the second story W;
reached only by an outside staircas
There was no connection between IL
floors on the inside. Only the COO
ness of sheriff Kreader prevented
lynching, as excitement at Snyder W,
very high. Special deputies have bee
sworn in and II is not likely al
| lrlnhla will ha haI