The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-26
ON TRAIL OF
HIGHWAYMEN
Numerous Searching Parties Look
ing for Men Who Killed and
Robbed Contractor.
The Victim Was Blown to Pieces
With Dynamite-Two Sus-
poets Arrested.

Washington, Pa, Sept 26.-The murder
and robbery of Contractor Ferguson on
the West Middleton road yesterday af-
ternoon Is still a mystery. The two
men, who were apprehended as suspects
are now in the Washington JAIL They
were identified as Frank Francis and Jo-
seph Huston, former employees at the Fer
guson camp. They disclaim any knowl-
edge Of the crime and said that on Thurs
day night, they slept in McClay's school
house, about four miles northwest Of this
place, and on the main road to West
Middletown. They say they can prove
that they had nothing to do with the
entered by the men who fixed the fuse
that blew Ferguson to death
The abandoned mine on the Patterson
farm. near the OF the tragedy, which
was supposed to have been used as a
refuge by the criminals, was closely
guarded last night, and this morning was
thoroly explored without any evidence
being discovered that the men had been
hiding there and the searchers left salts
fed that the mine was empty.
Early to-day John Welsh a resident Of
West Middletown found the satchel in
which Contractor Ferguson had carried
the money. 1t was rifled Of the roll Of
bills amounting to about $4,000. Some
twenty dollars in silver were left in It,;
and collar were also found, but 1t Is not
yet known to whom they belonged.
| Mr.. Welsh found the satchel at
| o'clock this morning in a cornfield a lit
| tie north of the scene of the explosion.
| 1t had evidently been rif1ed shortly after
the tragedy by the man who was seen by
Louis Ligget the farmer working near the
scene, and who guarded his treasure with
! a drawn revolver and was allowed to go
unmolested for that reason.
Mr.. Martin, the bookkeeper of the Fer
| guson Cons truction company, who was in
the buggy with Mr.. Ferguson and who
was seriously injured, did not rest we'll
last night and this morning was complain
ing of pain in his side. The exctment
! in Washington county is very high and
| general indignation is expressed. Many
/ citizens formed Independent armed
/ searching parties and went on the trail of
| the fugitives.
over the mine ten minutes before Con
tractor Ferguson was killed, saw two meI
] In the roadway who, he thinks, were the
criminals. To-day he tried to Identify
| the prisoners In Jail. After looking al
them he declined to say whether he had
identified them or not
Sheriff Carrothers believes that the work
twas done by professional crooks, who ha6
preceded Ferguson the day before from
| Pittsburg. What lends color to this Is
the fact that late on Thursday evening
the Toulouse at the camp was broken into
and the Dynamite and wire, with the shot
gun, was stolen from there:
| General Manager Norton Of the Fergu-
son company does not think that the sus-
poets under arrest committed the deed
| but believes they may know something
about it. He is of the impression that Il
was committed by persons employed ii
the camp and that they are remaining IL
| the camp in order not to excite suspicion
The police of Pittsburg and surrounding
/! towns securing the territory In al
| directions. Orders have been given tt
arrest every man whose actions Nigh
give cause to believe that he knew some
| thing Of the affair." The officials OF. tn,
Ferguson company say no effort or ex
pense will be spared to apprehend tn
men. sl.
The dead man was one of the hes
known railroad contractors in the coun
try. He was associated with his brother
F. M Ferguson, in the Ferguson con
| citing ~