The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-27
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posite corner to make dash for the shelter
of the house.
"Jrst as ne turned to make the run Ru-
dolph fred and the detective sank to the
grourd with Il bullet through his head. At
the same time RudoIphS companion opened
fire at Cro.ner and me.
CAUGHT CHIN ON A CLJOTHES5LINE.
we turned and ran. 1 was going down
the hill at a lively pace. when I stumbled
over a leg and fell to the ground. Cromer
was running hard but before he reached
the sheItc-- of the trees he caught his chin
on a clothesline and turned double somer-
sault.
He acted as if he had received a fatal
wound and. in fact l thought one of the
bullets had reached him. especially as he
did not move. / picked myself up and ran
through the underground until was out Of
range.
In the meantime Tichenor, who had
leaped to a place of partial safety behind
the win. of the house. was firing at the
men. He wounded the stranger in the back
of the head. and during the confusion sue
ceeded in getting away without further
trouble"
The first night of the excitement hardly
any one slept in a radius Of several miles
from the Rudolph house. The farmer liv-
ing in an isolated house. in many cases over
a mile from the n.arest neighbor. spent an
uncomfortable twelve hours.
WHOLE ENEIGHBORHOOD
WAS DISTURBED.
The exploits of the bandit Tracey were
too fresh in his mind to warrant COM
Portable night. He remembered how the
Washington outlaw had visited farmhouses
and compelled the inmates to administer to
his comforts. and at every noise was pre-
pared to resist an invasion.
While the feeling of personal security
was greater in the towns and villages, the
presence of armed men at the railroad sta
tions and at points along the railroad where
freight trains are compelled to reduce speed.
owing to grades, was sufficient to keep
many from their beds.
At the stations. especially. were the sights
weird and totally at variance with Twentt-
eth Century ideas. .-..--
In the dim. smoky light of the primitive
kerosene lamp. stern-faced men could be
seen with a shotgun or Winchester thrown
at rest across one arm.
During the intervals between the arrival
of trains the waitins-rooms presented the
appearance of arsenals. Gathered about
men, discussing in low tones the probable
course Of the fugitive, while in a convenient
corner were stacked variety Of weapons.
When the warning whistle announced the
approach OF a train. passenger or freight,
they would silently gather up their arms
and carefully watch every bumper and
truck to see that no man was hidden there.
In the glinting light of the lanterns. with
the cold white snow for fitting back
ground, the scene was one to make a last
ing impression upon the memory.
The reputation Of William Rudolph among
the people of this vicinity is not Of the best.
When Deputy Sheriff vedder accompanied
Schumacher on the trip to the Rudolph
house he had in his possession a warrant
for the arrest of young Rudolph that had
been issued five years before.
According to the story Of man named
Jefries, who was released from the Mis-
souri, Penitentiary about two years ago.
Rudolph was one of those who took part
in q "foot roasting" in 1888.
Rudolph, Jefries and another man were
implicated. The former turned States evf-
dence and was sentenced to serve term
of two years Rudolph disappeared about
this time and had not been home since.
H. G. NICHOLAS.