The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-03
Wright County Sheriff and Posse
in Desperate Battle With a
Gang of Tramps.
Leader of the Band Killed and the
Others Wounded, One Of Them
.. Mortally. g..
Evidence Seems Conclusive That a
Plot to Hold Up Train
g.
Was Matching. ......

3pectaf to The Journal.
Buffalo, Mimi, Oct. BIN a pitched
battle between a sherin's posse and a
gang OF tramps near South Haven, twenty
miles from here, just off the 500 road,
yesterday afternoon, the leader of the
tramps was killed, one Of his band NOR
tally wounded and another man badly
shot.
In the morning the sheriff, with one
deputy, started in pursuit Of a gang of
thteving tramps that has been marauding
In this netghborhood. 1t was known that
the men had gone in the direction OF
South Haven The sheriff located the
men in a box car and not knowing they
were armed. jumped into the car and de-
manded their surrender. The tramps COW
cred the sheriff and his deputy with guns,
made them throw up their hands and dis
armed them.
Sheriff Young went into the town Of
South Haven and called posse together.
He secured plenty Of volunteers, for the
residents have been terrorized by the
tramps.
Fought In Corn Field.
Young and his men found that the
tramps had vacated the box car and taken
to the fields. Their trail was followed for
some distance. when, without warning,
a volley was fired at the pursuers from
ambuscade. None OF the shots took effect
and the members Of the posse returned
the fire.
They could not see into the corn field.
but many Of the men were armed with
shotguns and rifles and their fire was fol-
lowed by screams of pain.
I'VE surrender" shouted one tramp,
standing up among the corn.
There had been six men In the tramp
party. When the sheriff and his posse
closed in one lay dead, another was near
DEATH third was badly wounded and
the others carried bullets in their skins.
The wounded men were brought here
last night. There Ia much excitement and
the sur vivors Of the gang were hustled
to jai thru crowd Of 100 people who
were Of temper to string them up.
Axel Younger Is said to be the name
Of the leader Of the gang who was killed
The prisoners were searched and 1r
their possession were found q set Of rail-
road signals. evidently procured for the
purpose Of train wrecking. Each Of then
was supplied with two Colts revolyers
One of the men had papers to show NJ
was member Of Rochester, N. Z.
labor union. The coroner has decided t
hold an inquest over the dead man. =.
Planned Train Hoidup.
It develops also that the tramps had 8
crude chart of the South Haven country
and 1t Is the consensus that they were
plotting train robbery on the 500 Line
and were waiting for a good opportunit!
to strike. -D.
The court room In Buffalo was turned
into a hospital for three OF the wounded
The body Of the dead man was take1
to South Haven and from a statemen
made by one of his pals it is believed h
is Gerald Shannon Of Rochester, N. Y
Officials are communicating with Roches
ter and hope to get further light on iden
LITIGATION.
Dynamite Also Found.
The men are middle-aged and are tougl
appearing characters. Two who wer
only slightly hurt are in Jail here. TIL
train robbery theory has further supper
in the fact that a quantity of dynamit
was found near the men.