The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-14
A STRENUOUS CHASE.
Capture of Desperate near Medina by
Benton County Officers.


weeks on the trail Of fugitive
and full of thrilling experience,
being twice shot at by women, at
tackled as "whitecaps" and then AZ
rested themselves, Sheriff r. ID.
McCord and Deputy Sheriff Dock
Harris reached the Camden jail
Monday night with John Lindsey,
a desperate character under SEN
tence of FIVE years for arson COM
mitted in Henderson County, and
who escaped the jail at Lexington
three years ago. The two officers
carry scars as souvenirs Of their
weary hunt for the fugitive.
John Lindsey, a farmer, aged %
years, with wife and three chill
dren, was sentenced to five years
in the penitentiary by the circuit
court of Henderson County for
burning the barn of a neighbor.
He was known in that county as a
tough citizen. His case was APP
pealed to the supreme court, but
before that tribunal could take it
up Lindsey broke jail and fed the
county.
The sheriff of Henderson Coun-
ty offered reward, and two weeks
ago Sheriff McCord located the
fugitive on Birdsong Greek in a
dense part of this county. Accom-
panied by Deputy Sheriff Harris,
the sheriff paid visit to the cabin
at night. Their coup was spoiled
by Lindsey's wife, a frail little
woman, who held the officers at
bay with a gun while her husband
escaped under cover of darkness.
The little woman shot at Sheriff
McCord, but missed. In order to
save himself Deputy Harris was
compelled to throw his pistol in
her face, Selling the opportunity
to disarm her. The bird had flown,
however, and the woman had saw
ed the day.
The officers again located Lind
sey in Gibson County, living on
the plantation of Green McCast-
lin, near Medina. Sunday night,
reinforced by M. S. Clark, Milan
officer, they went to the home of
McCastlin and intended keeping
vigil through the night and await
early morning developments.
McCastlin' wife saw the moving
form Of one of the officers in the
yard and raised the alarm. Nc
Castlin had been threatened in the
past by visit from "whitecaps."
The inmates were therefore pre-
pared for emergencies. Blinds
were pulled down, doors bolted
and the members of the family,
composing some little children be-
sides Nc Castlin, his wife, nephew
and the latter's wife, armed them
selves and prepared for war.
Seeing that they were discover
ed, and feeling even more certain
that their man was in the house,
the officers went to the door, ex-
planned their presence there and
requested McCastlin to open the
door. His reply was:
owe will kill the first man who
enters"
Deputy Harris was the first man
in and was struck in the temple by
the butt of q heavy revolver, al
most telling him. A general me-
lee followed during which McCast-
Inns wife twice snapped a revolver
in the faces of Sheriff McCord and
Deputy Harris. McCastlin was
overpowered after a fierce struggle
and made to listen to reason. He
at first refused to divulge the
whereabouts of Lindsey, but later
directed the officers to the next
house, on his plantation. Here
the officers surprised Lindsey in
bed and effected his capture.
The party drove over to Milan
to catch a train for Camden Mon
day evening. Here the officers
were arrested upon a telephone
message from Medina.
The Benton County officers were
not known in Milan, but before
message from here could reach
there vouching for their standing,
the Milan citizens heard their sto-
ry and were ready to make their
bond for S75. 900 if needed. One