Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-12-03

Three Men IN the Laws Clutches
After an Exciting Chase.
GIVEN CREDIT FOR NINE MURDERS,
None of the Three Are Over Tventy-Ons
Years Of Age. but They Calmly Con-
fessed 70 Career Of

Chicago, NOV. S.-Chained Wrlst Y
wrist, their hair matted with drie'
blood. the clothing covered with dus
and dirt, two beardless boys. Pete
Neidermeier and Harvey VanDtne, ga
last night in the presence Of Mayo
Harrison and Chief Of Police ONeill
calmly confessing their share In
three months career Of crime which
has included nine murders, the wound
ing Of FIVE other men and long series
Of robberies. The two young bandits
neither OF whom Is over 81 years old
together with their companion, Emil
Roeski, who is no older. were captured
near Liverpool, Ind. yesterday after
Q fight in which they battled against
policemen, railroad detectives, railroad
laborers and farmers. One man was
killed, another fatally wounded and all
three of the young bandits were
wounded, ut not seriously.
The three men were wanted BY the
police for completely in the murders
at the car barns Of the Chicago City
Railway company August 80, when two
men were killed, third badly wound
ed and $3.50 stolen from the COM
pany. On Wednesday they loft Chi
cago, going to q dag-out made by rail-
road laborers near the tracks Of the
Michigan Central at Miller's station,
Ind. Thursday night they spent In an
other dug-out near Millers station,
and there they were surprised BY the
police yesterday morning.
Word was brought to the police
Thursday night by T. s. Reichers, o
school teacher near Clark station. Ind,
that three men answering the descrip-
ton Of those wanted for the car muir
ders were living in the dug-out. Other
stories placed the men near Waukegon.
ILL.,, and the police. placing no great
reliance in any Of the rumors, sent
only eight men-Detectives thinner,
DeRoch, Qualey, Sheehan. Driscoll.
Banner, Gleason and Hughes-to In
diana, Sheehan being placed in charge
u the squad. The men reached the
dug-out at about three O'Clock. guided
by Reichers. AS soon as they were in
sight Of the place the officers advanced
In q circle upon the dug-out where
the three robbers were supposed to
be concealed. Driscoll, who was walk
Ing in closer than the others, called
put: at doesn't look as though there
Is anybody In there" Don't anybody
Hre," ordered Sheehan, until we know
L they are the right people"
As Sheehan spoke Driscoll picked up
4 chunk of wood and hurled 1t at the
iug-out. Instantly there was flash,
/ report and Driscoll fell in a heap,
,hot through the abdomen. One Of
his fellow-oficers stopped to raise him
Ind the other six opened fire on the
iug-out, from which the shots were
low coming thick and fast. While the
Ire was at its hottest VanDine and
2oeski rushed out, followed few min |
ties later by Neidermeier. The latter
an to the tracks Of the Michigan Gen.
raj railroad and, throwing himself
lat on the roadbed, steadied his arm
IN the rail as he kept up q rapid fire
With three revolvers Roeski ran for
he brush. but vanDine reiterated slow
y, although the air around him was
llled with bullets and the snow at his
Get was kicked up by them. Catching
light of Detective zimmsr, who was
'ehind q tree, he fired; thinner went
Town with bullet in the head. As
10 fell vanDine fred again and the
econd bullet went through Zimmer's
rm.
Roeski had by this time disappeared
nd VanDine and Neidermeler, placing
heir revolvers in their pockets, made
run for freedom. The detectives
Ired constantly. hut the banditaL ea-
aped. Aftgf running about q mile |
cross country they came to the tracks
I the Pennsylvania railroad. A switch
ngine with a train Of cars was close
hand and, hurrying up to 1t, the
len ordered Brakeman Soyea to un-
ouple the train from the locomotive.
10 refused and attempted to take
Ieidermeier's revolver from him. The
liter instantly sent bullet through Ii
he brakeman's brain, laying him dead
l the snow. Springing past Sovea's
ody. the bandits mounted the locomo-
We. with revolvers in hand, and or
cred the engineer to move out in q
urry, which he did, going in the d.
sction Of Liverpool, Ind. After two
Tiles had been covered the men or
cred the engineer to slow up and,
'aping to the ground, disappeared In
10 woods.
The two men were finally captured
nd taken to Chicago. Following fresh
'otprints in the snow from the scene
the capture Of Neidermeier and Van
ine. residents of East Tolleston, IND,
lptured Emil Roesh, sitting on A