The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-08-27
MOST HIDEOUS
CRIME AT EVANS

was with the child when he was cap
tured He was leading her and
walking toward Evans. The child
was crying with pain and was badly
frightened.
Taylor was arrested by force OF
six armed men, Chas. Dean, Ted Cor.
yen, VIII Lewellyn, Thos. Evans,
Fred Marks and James Richards.
The men had started out from Ev-
ans and were well supplied with Win
chesters and shot-guns. They knew
of Taylor's acquaintance with the
Scott family and thought he might
possibly stop there. They left Ev-
ans as the mob was becoming quite
strong and were in advance of the
Oskaloosa officers and other search
ing parties that started out. Taylor
when captured was covered by the
guns of the men and he made no re-
sistance. The men had reached the
Scott place and were told which way
Taylor had gone and in this way they
up his hands as ordered. and when
searched had only a razor and a
knife on his clothes. The men took
the prisoner Immediately to Evans
While all this was going on OFF,
GERS Will Donnelly and Joe Fisher
with Constable Ruggenberg, had
started in pursuit, leaving this city
about five o'clock Monday evening
They drove to Evans and here, learn
ing that Taylor had gone west, Sc
cured hand car and with it went
to Fishyille where they stopped for
about half hour to search the
place. Finding no trace Of Taylor
they proceeded on to Leighton. Here
they learned of his having been at
the Scott farm and they went afoot
| across the country to that place, a
distance of about three miles. On
reaching the house, they discovered
that they we're about half hour too
late and that the man was already
a prisoner and on his way to Evans.
The quickest way to Evans was by
the road by which they had come,
and so they returned to Leighton and
ran the car back, telepnoning to
Taylor's captors to hold him secure
till their arrival.
When they reached the Junction
excitement was at top notch. Near
ly the whole town, besides many
from the surrounding country, had
turned out and were making big
demonstration. The officers missed
the six o'clock train and were think
ing Of waiting for the one from Des
Moines about nine o'clock, but the
actions Of the crowd became threat
ening and they were advised to
bring him to this city at once by
carriage. The mob was of consider
able size and was evidently well
armed, for the officers assert that
several hundred shots were fired not
at anything in particular, but just to
make a demonstration. Threats or
lynching were openly made but the
mob was without leader.
The officers arrived with Taylor at
the county Jail at quarter of nine
o'clock. Constable Ruggenberg and
renee, of Evans, were IN buggy be-
hind them. The man gave them lit
tie trouble and did not seem much
concerned when placed in Jail. He
conversed with the officials while
they were removing the handouts
and apparently cared little. He was
not drunk and it is impossible to as
sign any motive that could have
prompted him to so heinous a crime
as that of which ne is charged.
The first victim, Mamie, stood in
greatest fear of the man and for
that reason she tried to avoid him
upon every occasion and upon any
pretext whatever. She left home
and would not permit herself to be
where the man was if she could pos
sibly help it. 1t is claimed that the
man had whipped and beaten the girl
repeatedly until she feared for her
life before him and stunned him as
she would a serpent. Mamie hao
left home and had worked out from
place to place and in Oskaloosa. The
father, so 1t is claimed, would collect
the wages of the girl from week to
week and she was not permitted
enough of her earnings to clothe her
self. She had been working at
place in this city and the family go.
ing away on visit she had gone to
the home of James Myers to stay I'M
til their return. The Myers family
also left the city and the girl came
to the Frank Myers home on North
Market street to seek shelter as she
did not dare to go home. Taylor had
been in the city after the girl and
she had successfully eluded him IN
til Saturday when he found her at
the Frank Myers home. He drove
up at the side of the house in rig.
The girl begged Mrs. Myers to go
put AMI see Taylor and tell him that
she was working there and to give
her a bundle Of clothes that she
could wrap up and take away with
her. Just anything, Oh, Mrs. Ny
srs, please do, oh, please do, pleaded
he girl, frightened so that she was
trembling violently ooh, he win
ill me, he win whip me to death;
10 will ne will"