The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-21
HORACE JACKSON
CAUGHT IN SELMA
Alleged Bank Robber Caught
After Long Chase
RECALLS FAMOUS ROBBERY
Inspector Kile, Who Landed His Man
In Selma, Participated In the Battle
With Burglars at Huntington,
Ind, Several Weeks Ago.

Selma, March 0.-(Special. )-ThrouSh
the efforts of Postoffice Inspector. S, c.
Kile, whose headquarters are in Cincin-
natl, an alleged postoffice and bank rob-
Der was apprehended this morning about
9 o'clock and safely lodged in the Gala
boose until this afternoon. when he was
taken to Montgomery to be given pre-
liminary examination before United
States commissioner
Horace Jackson is the name of the al
legged robber, and according to officers
he has served three different sentences in
prisons for various offenses. He has gone
under the names of Claude C. Davis and
Frank f. Brooks, and it was when he
called at the general delivery window this
morning for Claude C. Davis that he fell
into the trap which has landed him in the
clutches of the law.
Since last Tuesday Inspector Ilile has
patiently waited hidden behind the let
ter case at the general delivery window,
expecting his man to show up. He never
left his post a moment during the day,
sitting there from a. m. to p. m,
and his vigilance had its reward this
morning, when the man for whom he has
been searching for over month stepped
up to the window and asked If there was
any mail for Claude c. DAVIS.
Miss Mary Graham, the general dellv-
cry clerk, had been shown a photograph
of the man wanted, and as he approached
the window she easily recognized him.
He was told there was no mail for him.
and Mr.. Kile quickly slipped around the
side door of the office, but in even that
short time the man had gotten out of
the place and was nearly to Broad street
lie kept straight down Water street,
walking rather rapidly, and the inspec-
tor overlook him about Lockharts drug
store.
Hello. Horace" said the Inspector at
the same time fastening his man with
a strong grip.
you are mistaken" came the reply.
aOh, l guess not" said the inspector,
turn in here and let's see what you have
on you As he spoke the inspector pushed
his man in a door and quickly ran over
MIN looking for a gun. Finding no
weapon, still keeping his vise-like grip on
his gun, Mr.. Kile carried him to the post
office and back in Mrs. Forces private Of
fee, where more thorough search was
made. A file and other articles used by the
professional burglar were found on him.
but no arms of any sort. He was then
carried around to the council chamber and
locked in an inside cell.
kiIe Tells Experience.
Mr.. Kie gave an interesting account Of
his first experience with the man can
| tured today. About the latter part of
January he was working up a case of
postofice robbing at Midtown, Ind.
when he learned that an attempt would
De made to rob the postoffice at Hunt
| ington, Ind. He went to Huntington and
/ spotted four Notwithstanding charac-
ters In the town as the crowd that were
TO make the raid on the place. They.
however, left Huntington and went to
Jasper, about seven miles away To this
place they were followed. and finally, on
the evening Of February 3, they returned
! 10 huntington, walking all the way
| down the railroad track Mr.. Kile fol-
lowed them at safe distance and saw
! them go into camp about a mile from the
| town. lie disguised himself, and making
circuit, came upon the camp and pre-
tended to be tramp like themselves.
seeking shelter from the rain which was
| pouring In torrents. For an hour he sat
ABOUT the fre talking to the four men,
ana then went on to Huntington and or
| ganized posse to guard the postoffIce.
| being firmly convinced that an attempt
! at robbery would take place that night
| The postmaster with two men were sta
toned in the building across the street
and Mr.. Kile, with two others. was con-
Venient to the rear door of the office.
winch opened into dark alley and where
IL was thought certain the entrance into
the office would be effected Telephone
communication with the men in front Of
the building was convenient, and the
night operator young lady was warned
10 give the connection quickly. A switch
had also been placed in the place Occur
pied by the inspector so that an electric
light could be turned on inside the office
when the prey was well within and at
work.
Much to the surprise of all concerned.
the gang about 1870 o'clock on the morn
ing of February walked up to the front
door OF the office right on the main
street "hlch was brilliantly lighted, and
broke in the door with q crash robber
was stationed at each end of the building
as sentries to warn the other two. who
went inside. The postmaster and the
men in the building across the street
from the office tried to ring up the in
spector over the telephone but the young
lady at central, hearing the crash and
knowing that 1t was the postofflce bur.
glars, became frightened and ran and
| hid.
Desperate Battle.
! Mr. Kile and his two men had heaI q
| the door crashed in and not receiving al
message from In front, started arour
| when they heard a shot. One of thu
sentries had noticed a window go up in
the building across the street and laQ
fired at the form outlined. The shot va
returned and then commenced despeIa e
battle In which three of the robbers were
shot down and the fourth, Horace Jack
son. escaped. Mr.. Kile, coming up a
narrow alley to reach the front of the
office, pulled down with his double Da
relied gun on one of the men and both
barrels snapped, The robber then shot II
him with a forty-four Colts, the bullet
taking off a slight piece of the inspector e
| ear.
Jackson was at the extreme end of the
postoffice on guard and made his escape.
His three pals. who were shot down, were
not fatally wounded and are now IN jail
III Huntington awaiting their trial which
occurs in May.
Mr. kfle traced Jackson to Hartman,
Ienn., thence to Tuscumbia and thence 10
okolona, Miss, from which latter place
ne came to Selma. On March IA Jackso a
was IN Okolona, Miss, and wrote a postal
card to General delivery, Tussugnbia
Ala, asking that all mail addresFed fs
us be forwarded The card was SIGN (
claude c. Davis and Frank r. Brooirs
| On March a similar card wa mailed
from New Decatur which was re-
oeived here by Mr.. Kile after Inc had
caught his man.
Jackson is about five feet eight iecn..
tall, wore a brown derby hat N ~
| a sandy complexion, clean sha,ed ana