The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-17
DICK YOUNG CAUGHT
MURDERER OF DOVER FOUNTAIN
CAPTURED AT MIAMI, FLA.
CHASED ACROSS THE STATE.
OFFICERS FOLLOWED HIM FROM
SAVANNAH TO TURKEY CREEK.

at Presence of SpOtter and Made
His Escape-Deputy sherins O'Con-
nor and MeIdrim Tramped Weary
Miles in Search of the Fugitive.
Found in Miami and Arrested by
sheriff of Dade COunty-Deputy
Sweeny Gone to Bring Him Back.
John StaIey, Alleged Member of
Gang, in Jail Here for a Week.
Richard Young, one of the slayers
of Dover Fountain, is in Jail at Miami,
Fla, and John Staley, said to be the
brains of the conspiracy that culmi-
mated in the murder. is in the county
Jail here. Another member of the gang,
Dorsh Young. is in the railway hos
pital at Waycross. Thus surely the
net of the law is drawing its folds
about them.
Young and Jim Stewart, the latter
already tried and condemned to serve
the remainder of his life at hard labor
in the penitentiary. murdered Dover
Fountain and cruelty assaulted the
lads aged mother. 1t is the theory of
the officers that Young and Stewart,
both of whom were positively identified
by Mrs. Fountain and her son at the
time of the murderous assault. We're
not the only ones connected with the
crime.
They implicate John Staley, ST Allen,
Anderson Stewart and Dorsh Young
the two last named brothers of jim
Stewart and Richard Young, respec-
lively.
The arrest of Staley and Young form,
incidents in an exciting chase after the
murderers, in which Deputy Sheriffs
O'Connor and Meldrim played the lead
ing roles. The officers followed their
fleeing prey over half the state of
Florida, and though two of the alleged
Inurderers managed to make good their
escape the chase has resulted in the
arrest of two prisoners, supposed to be,
with Jim Stewart, the leaders of the
gang Dorsh Young helpless with a re-
Gently amputated leg in the Waycross
hospital, is already to all intents and
purposes, in the clutches of the law.
Others in the Plot.
Soon after the commission of the
murder the sheriff's office received in
formation leading to the conclusion
that Richard Young and Jim Stewart
were not the only members of the
SdilS. ne OlHGJS, whose names are
given above, had been seen in close
conversation with the two principals on
the afternoon preceding the crime and
early during the morning of its conn
mission the entire gang, with the ex-
ception of Jim Stewart and Dorsh
Young left for Jacksonville. Stewart,
it will be remembered, was captured in
his house before he could make his es-
cape, and it is believed that
Dorsh Young, struck in the
leg by a buckshort from young
fully wounded to travel. AS to him
the theory is that he made his way
to Waycross with his wounded leg,
afraid to carry the wound to a plfysi-
clan for fear ii would lead to his de-
lection and arrest, until at last gan
creme set in and surgical treatment be-
came an absolute necessity A man
has been sent to Wayoross to iden-
tify him, and ascertain the nature of
the wound that necessitated the am
putation of his leg.
Richard Young, John Staley. ST AL
len and Anderson Stewart were all in
jacksonville when they were first To-
Gated by the sheriff's officers, and there
Deputies O'Connor and Meldrim hur-
ried without delay. They reached
Jacksonville April g. and on that day
arrested John Staley. learning at the
same time the others of the gang had
already left for Southern Florida.
Flew for Turkey Creek.
The destination of the negroes was
Turkey Creek, point near Tampa and
25O miles from Jacksonville. and to
this place the officers sent a negro
spotter. He was particularly instruct
ed to locate Young and wire O'Connor
at Jacksonville when this had been
done. On April the spotter wired that
Young was at Turkey Creek.
Had the deputies been provided with
a reasonable amount of money the ar
rest of Young would have followed
there and then. The man, however.
was In a railway construcEon camp.
in which 500 negroes were living, and
the officers scarcely thought it wise
or safe to- direct his arrest by local
officers there. They had no funds with
which to make the trip to Tampa and
were compelled to wait in Jacksonville
while they wired home for passes.
They also wired the spotter at Turkey
Creek to lure Young and his pals into
Tampa or Plant City.
AS the passes failed to arrive O'Con-
nor and Meldrim jumped the train with
Staley and came back to Savannah.
where, on Sunday, April 6, that men,
Der of the gang was lodged in Chat
ham county Jail. He has been there
ever since.
Largely through the efforts of Judge
Barrow. passes were secured for the
two officers, and on Monday they left
again for Turkey Greek, picking up in
Jacksonville Deputy Sheriff Frank
Jones of Duval county.
They reached their destination to
learn that their birds had flown
Frightened possibly by the appearance
of the spotter, they had scattered and
struck out across country.
OConnor and Meldrim followed
tramping up the right of way of the
half-constructed railroad at the rate
of twenty miles day for two or three
days, securing occasional bits of in
formation as to Young or some other
of the fugitives, but never CATCHING
sight of them. AT the last construction
camp the officers reached they were
told that the gang had struck out for
the East Coast and that Palm Beach
was their probable destination. Very
reluctantly O'Connor and Meldrim re-
traced their steps.
Located Finally Mt Miami.
The tip that the fugitives were head.
ed for Palm Beach seemed to be
straight and Sheriff Frohock of Dade
county was notified of their possible
appearance within his jurisdiction, and
requested to look out for them. A sim
liar request had also been made from
Savannah by Chief Deputy Sweeny
Young was known to have a woman
in that part of the country, and it was
thought likely that in his trouble he
cnly hays -