The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-04-22
Polo. Base Ball and Races at the Fair Gounds

while the other two bandits pointed
their revolvers at Coffey. The scuffle
was short and Sovia pitched head
foremost out of the cab with bullet
in his brain, dying almost instantly.
With their guns still pointed at
Coffey's head, the trio ordered him
hastily to take the train out of the
siding, and it started on a wild run
to Liverpool.
were a number of armed farmers
who, having heard of the escapade
and escape of the outlaws, had start
ed to intercept them. The posse
reached Tolliston about noon. just
as the train passed. They rushed on
across the prairie to a point where
the road curves and where there was
locked switch, compelling Fireman
Coffey to stop.
The posse opened fire as the train
stopped, and the trio fed to corn
field, exchanging shots as they ran.
ers, under the leadership of Charles
Hamilton, struck Neidermeier and
Van Dine, but did not seriously in
jure 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 minutes
later decided to surrender. Neider-
meier, the leader of the gang. who
Marx had said never would be taken
alive. being the first to do so. few
minutes afterwards Van Dine aban-
doned the fight.
While Van Dine and Neidermeir
were giving themselves up, Roeski
fled to the woods beyond Liverpool
The posse found him later in the rail
road station at Aetna waiting for a
train to Chicago. He made no resist
ance. 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
boasted of having killed twenty-three
men. Marx asserted that he had mur
dered five. Investigation proved the
statements to be untrue. 1t developed
that these confessions" had beer
made to obtain notoriety, or for as
small a consideration 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 before the cap
ture, began. But little testimony fav-
orable to them was offered. No de-
fence at all was made for Neider-
meier
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-
at times. The state intro
duced expert testimony to the effect
that Van Dine was mentally respon-
sible when he took part in the delib
erately planned crimes.
A plea was made for clemency for
Marx on the ground that his confes-
sion 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 gull
ty. Hanging was the punishment fix
ed by the jury.
The aged mothers of Marx, Neider-
meier and Van Dine were in court
during the progress of the trial, as
were the widows of some of the men
who had been slain, and there were
connected with the hearing of the
case. None of the bandits had yet
reached the age of % years.
Following are the names of pers-
ons they were known to have muir
dered:
Bauder, Otto, in the saloon of Er
nest Spires, July 9, 1908.
LaGross. Benjamin c.. in his saloon
August i.
Johnson. Adolph. in saloon Of Ben
jamin c. LaGross, August l.
Johnson, J. B., motorman, in rob
berry of Chicago City Railway car
barns, August 80.
Stewart, Frank, clerk, in robbery
of car barns. Aug. 30.
Quinn. John, detective. while try