Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-31
THE REMAINS OF DEAD BANDIT
IN HANDS OF RELATIVES.
VERNE STEWART is HIS NAME
CORPSE FOUND IN A LINCOLN DIS.
sECTING ROOM. $50
.i.> ~
PARENTS WELL-TO-DO PEOPLE.
With Posse Proves to he Former Resi-
dent OF Illinois

Lincoln, Nebr., July 25-Verne
Stewart is the real name of the
horse thief who was killed on April
70 last n a battle with officers in
Sherman county. His home was at
Pittwood, H., seyenty-siS miles
from Chicago, where his parents
now reside. A strange part of the
history of the young man, who was
but twentY.une years old is that
through the means of an unknown
person writing from Oklahoma, his
relative were led 20 make search
for his body. His remains were
recently taken from the dssecting
room OF the Lincoln medical college,
where they had been legally con-
signed. Through the courtesy of the
officers of the institution the remains
were shipped to Illinois for final in
terment week ago last Monday.
Had the search been delayed
short time longer the means OF iden-
LITIGATION might have been destroyed
and the relatives would never have
known to certainty the fate Of the
young man.
The story of the discovery Of the
young mans identity is quite inter
esting. He was hayward son and
several years ago he left his home.
His parents were well to do people.
His brother-in-law, Noah Ash Of
Pittwood is in the grain business in
that city and is a respected business
man. The young mans sisters are
well connected, one being the wife
of presiding elder in large dis
triCt. Stewart could not bear the
life Of his home town and started out
to make his fortune in the west.
He wandered about in different
places leading free and easy life
till he settled for a while I'm Okla
hona. On several occasions, his
family sent him money. Once they
sent him $500 to buy team of
horses. He bought tract of land
in Oklahoma on which he aimed to
live. But the border life was too
enticing and he kept bad company.
In April OF this year he with his
friends came to Nebraska and near
Greeley Centre, at Spalding, the
theft Of several horses was discov-
npn1 fnn ne Hn pA =
men to effect an escape. They made
long cross country run with the
Sheriffs Of three counties and a large
posse in pursuit. Across the line in
Sherman county they-were brought
at bay. Many shots were fred and
eX-Sheritr Houck received bullet
wounds. During the encounter the
thieves fortified themselves in a
trench in the sandhills when Stew
art, seeing they were surrounded
started to run. He received bullet
in the base of the brain and died in
stantly. His companions suIredered
, and one Of them, Harry Hill, was
brought to the penitentiary this
week to serve a six-year sentence.
Many efforts were made to ascer-
| tain the identity Of the dead man
but they were TO no purpose. He
/ had given as aliases the names
Charles Wilson. Hill and Baldwin.
His remains were brought to Lincoln
and viewed by many people, but
none recognized him. His body was
given to the Lincoln medical college
through the regular channels and
was preserved for use during the
coming school year.
Harry Hill, the man brought to
the penitentiary on Wednesday for
the theft is one OF the men arrested
when Stewart was shot. He is
charged with horse stealing for
which he is settenced for six years
Sheriff Smith, who participated In
the chase brought him to Lincoln
Hill Is quoted as saving, that they
did not intend to injure the officers
when they were cornered and they
merely discharged their guns a few
times to fTighten the pursuers AS
several bullets nipped the pursuing
officers, it is taken with a grain OF
salt, The men were implicated in
other affairs in Greedy county and
since the ARRAY, large amount OF
cattle rustling has been traced tC
their doors Two farmers living neal
BraytOn lost sixteen head OF cattle
They were driven to Fullerton and
were loaded and shipped to Omaha