The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-28
BEAT OFF The OFFICERS
BANDITS DESPERATE FIGHT WITH
DETECTIVES AT NASHVILLE.
Supposed to Be One of the Much
Wanted Montana Bank Robbers
His Flight to Freedom.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Oct. "a desperate
man fought his way clear of two city de-
tectives here to-day, and after thrilling
chase made his escape. In his race for
liberty he utilized two-horse wagon team,
horse and buggy and a riding horse, all
forcibly taken. while two dead blood
hounds mark the first portion of his trail
officers believe the man is one of the gang
that held up the Great Northern express
near Wagner, Mont, last June, his at
tempt to get change for $40 bill of the
series secured in that robbery attracting
the attention of the police to him
At 1880 o'clock this morning a raw-boned
man about five feet ten inches high, with
ford complexion offered the bill in pay
ment of small purchase made at a store
on the public square. Difficulty in making
the change caused the salesman to closely
notice the bill. which proved TO be on the
Montana bank to which the stolen bills
were consigned. The police were quietly
notified, the clerk meanwhile delaying the
matter of change. Detectives Dwyer and
Dickens were soon on hand and approach
ing the man demanded his name.
Ferguson" was the reply. and after an
other question or two Detective Dwyer in
formed the man he was under arrest.
Quick as a flash Ferguson had a re-
volver i'm each hand and started for the
door. A hand-to-hand fight ensued, both
officers graphing with the stranger, who
proved more than match for them. Using
his pistols as clubs he fought his way 10 tho
door and fed down the street.
A passing ice wagon caught his attention
and the three negro occupants were soon
out of his way Then, at a terrific clip, the
hp6 hpr r lar Il
river bridge into East Nashville, fusillade
of shots following it. Out Woodland street
went the flying team, but a sudden turn
into First street brought il to grief. One
of the horses fell and broke his leg, but the
fugitive was not to be delayed. Running
across First street he held up an old negro
who was driving by in buggy and the
flight was continued.
out into the commons he sped. Once the
buggy overturned. but was quickly rlghted
Finally the tired horse was abandoned, and
after a dive into Shelby Park on foot the
supposed bandit secured another horse
hitched at a point near the park Then
after a sensational ride the horse was left
and the flight continued on foot Further
out the pursuers found two of the blood
hounds used in the chase shot TO death a
short distance apart and after that all
trace of the man was lost.
The sheriff. with large posse. is out to-
night securing the country for the missing
man. When the buggy was abandoned the
man threw away a wallet containing 81 ,040
I'm ten and twenty-dollar bills of the Mon
tana Bank. Chief of Police Curran has the
money.
The woman Annie Rogers. alias Maud
Williams, arrested here some days ago with
Montana Bank bills I'm her possession is
still held at police headquarters. Every
effort OF the officials to induce her to talk
of herself has proved a failure. and she is
now as much of an enigma as she was the
day she was apprehended for attempting
10 pass the bills under suspicion. Tonight
she declared she knew nothing of any man
named Ferguson. refusing TO discuss to-
days affair beyond answering direct ques-
tiOnS in a negative manner.