The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-12
A FIGHT WITH BURGLARS.
Night Watchmsn Ccyngton Of Fiat
River Has a Thrilling Time and
Marrow Escape.
ONE OF THE BURGLARS CAUGHT.

Last Thursday night about ll:4j
OryiIl Cuyinglon, night wachman Mt
Fiat River, was in restaurant with
two friend, getting lunch His friends
went ont icw minutes later aud
turning south went home Coylns-
ton came out OF the restaurant shortly
altrrwaId, aud looking north saw on
the next corner what he thought were
his two friends. His cousin, j. W.
CoNingtou, ha, a jcwcIry store second
door from the corner, and il is the
custom Of the night wnlchman to 90
into hi, store every two or three hours
during the night for the purpose OF
warming and resting, carrying key
Tor thai purpose. When he saw the
men on the corner he naturally thought
they were his two friends waiting for
him to open up the door When he
reached the door be stepped up into it
aud Immediately he was covered by
three guns and told to halt
Instead he threw up his revolver,
which he always carries in his hand
ready for use, aud fired at one of the
men, but another knocked the gun out
of his hand aud the bal went wide of
its mark into window. BY this
time another man came up and one OF
them struck him across the face with
a revolver barrel, the sight cutting
small cash under the eye and splinter.
ing up his nose aud knocking him
down. They carried him around the
corner, where they were joined by
! Iiith man, aud started with him tow
ard au old shaft back of the depot.
The shot fired by Coyington caused
The restaurant keeper to run out into
the street, and hc saw Il man crossing
The road in crouching position. The
rcastauratcur called to him to halt, at
the same time firing shot into the
ground, but the fellow ran the faster
and called to the others to run. The
rcastaurauicur fired two more shots Mt
the fleeing object but without effect
Those who had CoyingtOn in custody,
acting upon the admoniton Of their
pal, suddenly released their victim and
fled. A posse was aroused and a
search commenced.
Covington says he recognized one
Of the would-be robbers rs Clarence
Mitchell, and another as u man named
Nallc. Afer searching in vain for the
parties, COyington returned to the
jewelry store and there found, that au
attempt had been made to rob the
safe containing the jewelry. The han
die had been wreuchcd off and about
u pound Of powder tamped into the
hole. A wrench and two jimmics bad
been stolen from shaft No. 4.
Friday afternoon Coylngton learned
that Valcc lived near Doe Run June
ton, and boarded train and went
down. lie climbed over the back
fence and saw Vallce sadding his
horse. lie covered Vallee with his
gun, who yelled out, "J'm not 60
ing TO run" Coyington brought him
, to Pennington and lodged him in Jail.
Clarence Mitchell, one of the suspects,
keeps company with young lady liv-
ing opposite the Lead Belt News Of
: flee. Tho Office "devil" saw note
delivered to the girl Friday afternoon
and sent word up town. That night
the house was watched Shortly af-
ter dark the girl came out and soon
!, was joined by strange man. Now
was the critical moment; one of the
amateur detectives rushed upon the
man aud with revolver drawn asked,
: ''are you Clarence Mitchell, one of
: the men that tried 10 rob Covington's
/ s,oreFn OF course the stranger said
c .no " The detective remarked,
= "That's all wanted to know" and
left him. The stranger shipped out
n The girls father said next day he wa
positive that 1t was Mitchell.