The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-22
DAY OF DOOM.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

The posse opened fire as the train
stopped and the trio fed to a cornfietd,
exchanging shots as they ran. Charges
from the guns of the farmers. under
the leadership of Charles Hamilton
struck Neidermeier and Van Dine, but
did not seriously wound either. The
bandits who had now made their last
stand were not deferred and fired ire
quent voileys at their pursuers.
Knowing they were surrounded and
that further resistance would be use
less, the criminals some minutes later
decided to surrender, Neidermeier,a the
leader of the gang, who Marx had said
never would be taken alive, being the
first to do SO. A few minutes after
wards Van Dine abandoned the fight
While Van Dine and Neidermeier
were giving themselves up, ROeski fed
to the woods beyond Liverpool The
posse found him later in a railroad
station at Aetna, waiting for train to
Chicago. He made no resistance, was
disarmed, and brought to the city with
the two other bandits.
Detective Driscoll, who was shot by
Neidermeier, died four days later
While in Jail Neidermeier smilingly
boosted of having killed % men. Marx
asserted that he had murdered five.
Investigation proved the statements to
be untrue. It developed that these
Confessions" had been made to obtain
notoriety, or for as a small considers
ton as a chew of tobacco. OF the
eight known victims of the bandits
four are thought to have been killed
by Neidermeier alone.
On January the trial of Neider-
meier. Van Dine and Marx. who had
been indicted the day after the capture,
began. But little testimony favorable
to them was offered. No defense at all
was made for Neidermeier.
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 ir-
responsible at times. The state intro
duced expert testimony to the effect
that Van Dine was mentally respOn-
sible when he took part in the de-
liberately planned crimes.
A plea of clemency for Marx on the
ground that his confession had led
to the capture of his companions.
The case went to the jury March
II, and the next day Marx, Neider-
meier and Van Dine were found
guilty. Hanging was the punishment
fixed by the jury.
The aged mothers of Marx, Neid-
ermeier and Van Dine were in court
we're the widows of some of the men
who had been slain. and there We're
a number of impressive incidents con
nected with the hearing of the case.
None of the bandits had yet reached
the age of twenty-five years.
Following are the names of per-
sons they were known to have muir
dered.
B4uOeTs OlIOs IN Saloon OF ernest
Spires. July 8, 1908.
I.aGross, BENJAMIN c.. in his sa-
loon. August 1.
johnson, Adolph. in saloon of Ben
jamin c. LaGross, August 1.
johnson, J. B.. motorman. in rob-
berry of Chicago City Railway car
barns. August 80.
Stewart, Frank, clerk. in robbery
of Chicago City Railway barns, Aug
ust 30.
quinn. John. detective. while try
ing to arrest Marx: November 81.
Driscon. J. D.. detective, wounded
by Neidermeier in fight at "dugout.'
November 81. died December l.
Sovias John. brakeman. when ban
dts stole train in Indiana, November