The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-04-29

IHTa -HaE -ssHL H4r4sEH sE
opened the door of the ~''dugout." One of
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 he
done so than firing began, and volley
after volley aimed at the officers, came
from the magazine guns of the bandits.
Concealing themselves behind trees and
bushes as best they could, the police
steadily returned the fire.
In this manner the fight continued for
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 DriscoIl.
Detective Driscoll advanced to the dug
out" and was firing at the fleeing desper-
ADDE'S when Neidemeier-the police
thought there had been but two in the
hollow-emerged. fatally shot him in the
back and joined his companions. while
the other policemen We're 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 find
ing their fire falling short, decided to give
up the fight temporarily, and send to Chi
cage for reinforcementS. The bandits con-
tinued 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 shove no signs of submission.
They had not halted since firing their last
vollcy, and arrived at Tolliston exhaust
ed, but still determined to avoid capture.
On a sidetrack at Tolliston. where sec
ton men were working, stood an engine
and a train IF rorS Then fo11OWni 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 Coffey, the engineer be-
ing away at the time. At first Coffey
I'D not notice that they were armed.
Brakeman John Sovia did, however, and
warn him. Sovia attempted to AXE the
revolver from Neidemeier while the other
two BANDITS pointed their rcvolvers at
Coffcy. The scuffle was short and Sovia
pitched hcadforemost out of the cab with
a bullet in his brain, dying almost IN
stautly.
Stole a Train.
With their guns still pointed at Colfey's
head the trio ordered him hastily to take
the train out of the siding, and it started
on 4 wild run to Liverpool.
In the woods a short distance away
were q number of armed farmers, who,
iitNliLs5 Ilctlt vi ilt tScitI)dlt anu escape
of the outlaws, had started to intercept
them. Tho posse reached Tolliston about
noon, just as the train passed. They
rushed across the prairie to a point where
the road curves and where there was a
locke switch, compelling Fireman Cot-
fey tc stop.
The posse opened fire as the train
stopped, and the trio fed to a corn field,
exchanging shots as they ran. Charges
frnr,1 thn oI,rc Of tho E :, ~ ,,D1nr tho
leadership of Charles Hamilton, struck
Neidermeier and Van Dine. but did not
seriously wound either. Tho 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 minutes later decided to
surrender, N~eidermcier. the leader of the
gang, who Marx had said would never be
taken alive, being the first to do so. a
few minutes afterwards Van Dine ADAM
doned the fight.
While Van Dine and Neidermeicr were
giving themselves up, Roeski fled to the
woods beyond Liverpool. The posse found
him later in a railroad station at Aetna,
waiting for Il train to Chicago. He made
no resistance, was disarmcd, and brought
to the city with the two other bandits.
Detective Driscoll. who was shot by
Neidcrmeier, died -four days later.
Boosted of His Grimes.
While in Jail Neidcrmeier. smiling.
boasted of having killed twenty-three
men. Marx asserted that he had muir
dered five. Investigation proved the
statements to be untrue. 1T developed
that these confessions had been made
to obtain notoriety, or for as small a con-
sideration as Il chew of tobacco. OF the
airbt Ernu-p victims of thn hn niitG foly
are thought TO nave been killed by
Neiderrncier alone.
On January 6 the trial of Ncidermcier,
Van Dine and Marx, who had been in
dicted the day after the capture, began,
But little testimony favorable to them was
offered. No defense at all was made fol-
Neidcrmcicr.
In the case of Van Dine evidence was
introduced to show that he had been since
birth afflicted with Il form of epilepsy
which had made him irresponsible. The
state introduced expert testimony to the
effect that Van Dine was mentally re,
sponsiblc when he took part in the de.
liborately planned crimes.
4 plea for clemency for Marx was made
on the ground that his confession had leo
to the capture of his companions.
Hanging the Penalty.
The case went to the jury March II
and the next day Marx, Neidcrmeier ant
Van Dine were found guilty. Hanging
was the punishment fixed by the jury.
The aged mothers of Marx, Ncider1nciel
and Van Dine We're in court during thC
progress of the trial, as were the widow!
of some of the men who had been slain
and there were a number of impressive
incidents connected with the hearing O
the case. None of the bandits had We
reached the age of twenty-five years.
Following are the names of persons the,
were known to v murdcrcd:
Bauder. Otto, in saloon of Ernest Spires
July Q, 1903.
La Gross, Benjamin c., in his saloon
August /.
Johnson, Adolph. in saloon of Benjamin
La Gross, August l.
Hohnson, j. B.. motorman, in robber.
of Chicago city railway car barns, Au
gust 30.
Stewart, Frank, clerk, in robbery o
Chicago city railway barns, August 80.
Quinn, John, detective, while trying t
arrest Marx, November 81.
Driscoll, J. D.. detective, wounded b.
Neidermeier in fight at %"dugout' Novem
Der q, died December !.
Sovia, John, brakeman, when bandit
stole train in Indiana, November 81.
Afternoon Tea in Berlin.
P~hiladelphia Telegraph: A commit