Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-04-30

opened the door OF the '~'dugout." One OK
the bandits, who was Immediately re-
ognized as Roeski, appeared and was or
dered TO surrender. Instead, he darted
back into the cave. No sooner had ne
done so tina firing began, and voiley
after volley aimed at the ofncers, came
from the magazine guns of the bandit
Concealing themselves behind trees and
bushes as best they could, the police
steadily returned the fire.
In this manner the fight continued Tor
a short time. Suddenly two OF the out
laws Jumped from the cave and escaped
across the frozen prairie, keeping up a
fus.lade as they ran.
Shooting Of Driscoll.
Detective Driscoll advanced to the dug
OUT and was firing at the fleeing desper-
ADDE'S when Neidemeier-the police
thought there had been bat two In the
hollow-emerged. fatally shot him In the
back and joined his companions, while
the other policemen were still engaging
the outlaws. A moment latter Detective
thinner fell. seriously wounded, but
neither side yielded. Some minutes later,
however, the police, being obliged to care
for the. two wounde detectives. and ind
ing their fire falling short, decided TO Civ
up the fight temporarily, and send to Chi
cage for relnforcements. The bandits con-
tlnued their flight.
A special train with fifty policemen
armed with rifles was rushed to the scene,
and the hunt renewed.
Although escape was now Impossible
the men showed no signs OF submission.
They had not halted since firing their last
vollcy, and arrived at Tolliston exhaust
cd. but still determined to avoid capture.
On a sidetrack at TOlliston, where sec
ton men were working, stood an engine
and a train OF cars. Then followed the
execution OF a quickly formed plan TO
seize the train and escape. The three OUT
laws Jumped into the cab and confronted
Fireman Frank COFFEE, the engineer be-
ing away at the time. At first Coffey
d!d not notice thai they were armed.
Brakeman John Sovia did, however, and
warn him. Sovia attempted TO take the
revolver from Neidemeier while the other
two BANDITS pointed their revolvers at
Coffey. The scufhe was short and Sovia
pitched headforemost out OF the cab with
a bullet in his brain, dying almost in
stantly.
Stole a Train.
with their guns still pointed at Coffey's
head the trio ordered him hastily to take
the train out of the siding, and 1t started
on n wild run to Liverpool.
In the woods a short distance away
were a number of armed farmers, who,
having heard of the cscapade and escape
OF the outlaws, had started to intercept
them. The posse reached Tolliston about
noon, just as the train passed. The
rushed across the prairie to a point where
the road curves and where there was a
locked switch, compelling Fireman Cof-
fey to stop.
The posse opened fire as the train
stopped, and the trio fled to a corn field,
exchanging shots as they ran. Charges
from the guns of the farmers, under the
leadership of Charles Hamilton, struck
Neidermcier and Van Dine, but did not
seriously wound either. The bandits, who
had now made their last stand, were not
deferred and fired frequent volleys at
their pursuers.
Knowing they were surrounded and that
further resistance would be useless, the
criminals some minute later decided to
surrender, Neidermeier. the leader OF the
who Marx had said would never be
taken alive, being tho first to do so. A
few minutes afterwards Var Dine ADAM
doned the fight.
While Van Din and Neidermeier were
giving themselves up, Roeski fled to the
woods beyond Liverpool. The posse found
him later in a railroad station at Aetna,
waiting for a train TO Chicago. He made
resistance, was disarmed, and brought
to the city with the two other bandits.
Detective Drlscoll. who was shot by
Neidermeier, died four days later.
Boosted of His Crimes.
While I'm Jail Neidermeier. smiling,
boosted of having killed twenty-three
men. Marx asserted hat he had muir
dered five. investigation proved the
TO be untrue. 1t developed
that these confessions" had been made
to obtain notorlety, or for as small a con-
sideration as n chew Of tobacco. OF the
known victims Of the bandits. four
arc thought to have been killed by
Neidermeler alone.
ON January 6 the trial Of N~eidermeier,
Van Dine and Marx, who had been In
dicted the day after the capture, began.
But little testimony favorable to them was
Neidermcier.
In the case of Van Dine evidence was
introduced to show that he had been since
birth afflicted with a form OF epilepsy,
which had made him irresponsible. The
state introduced expert testimony TO tho
effect that Van Dine was mentally re-
sponsiblc when he took part In the de-
Iiberatcly planned crimes.
A plea for clcmency for Marx was made
on the ground that his confession had led
to the capture of his companions.
Hanging the Penalty.
The case went to the jury March II,
and the next day Marx, Neidermeier and
Van Dine were found guilty. Hanging
was the punishment fixed by the jury.
The aged mother of Marx, NeidermeieI
and Van Dine were In court during the
OF the trial, as were the widows
Of some of the men who had been slain,
there were a number OF impressive
connected with the hearing OF
the case. None of the bandits had YET
reached the age of twenty-five years.
Following are the names OF persons theS
were known to rave murdered:
Bauder, Otto, in saloon of Ernest Spires
July .. 1909.
La Gross, Benjamin c., in his saloon
August /.
Johnson, Adolph, in saloon Of Benjamin
La Gross, August /.
Hohnson, j. b., motorman, In robbery
Of Chicago city railway car barns, Au'
gust 30.
Stewart, Frank, clerk, in robbery OF
Chicago city railway barns, August 30.
Quinn, John. detective, while trying tt
arrest Marx, November p.
Driscoll. j. D., detective, wounded by
Ncidermeier in fight at 'dugout' NoVem'
Der q, died December L.
Sovia. John, brakeman. when bandits
" $500 4. T.1tnna Nnt.nTnhpr o. |