The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-13
THE OFFICER
Colorado Desperate Kidnaps the
City Marshal and Frank John
and Marches Them 25 Miles.

Frank John, a former we'll known res
ident of this county and brother OF g.
G. John, OF this city, who has been liv-
ing at Rocky Ford, Colorado, for several
years, recently had thrilling exper-
ience in company with the city marshal
of that place, both men being captured
at the point of a gun by thief and
then compelled to place their hands in
the marshals handouts and were taken
25 miles away before being turned
loose still handcuffed together. The
story is told in the following special
telegram published in the Pueblo Chief
tain:
Rocky Ford, July 24.-More than ten
hours at the mercy of an unknown man,
during which time they were compelled
to cross the country, taking down wire
fences, driving through arroyos and
across hills, ending at dusk by being
compelled to turn their horses loose,
and after being handcuffed together,
having to tramp through the darkness a
distance of eight miles before a ranch
house was reached, is the unusual and
narrowing experience that befell City
Masshal Croop and Frank John yester-
day.
Word of the two mems experience
was received here shortly after mid
night when Marshal Croop telephoned
from Cheraw asking that an automobile
be sent after himself and companion.
At the same time telephone message
was sent to Sheriff Potter, and as soon
as the men reached La Junta posse
was formed and started in pursuit of
the officers kidnapper. Up to a late
hour tonight no word mad been received
from the posse, but should they over
take their quarry it is expected that a
lively fight will follow, inasmuch as he
was heavily armed, having Winchester
rifle and three revolvers in his equip
ment.
Judging from the actions of their kid
napper the two men believe that he is a
desperate character, probably wanted
for some crime in some other portion of
the state In fact the description fur
nished lead the officers to believe that
possibly he may be one of the men who
robbed the bank at Amity several
weeks ago. and every effort will be
made to overtake him and capture kim.
Sometime during Wednesday night
work harness was stolen from the barn
of the Jackson & Lawson Transfer Co.,
the theft was reported to Marshal
Croop early Thursday morning. Evil
dence of wagon track leading from
the barn furnished the only Glow found.
This was taken up and followed by Mr..
Croop and Mr.. John, who was taken
along to identify the harness should il
be found.
The trail was followed going east of
Rocky Ford to Swink, then north to the
river bottom where they lost the trail,
but continuing their journey further
they came upon camping outfit. See-
ing man there and thinking he might
give them some information as to.
whether anyone was seen going past
this camp, Marshal Croop got out of his
buggy and approaching the man asked
how long he had been camping there.
The man quickly responded by saying
twenty four hours you blankety blank"
calling him name and ordering him to
throw up his hands. Marshal Croop.
seeing he was up against the real thing
quickly complied with the request, as
did Mr.. John who was also included in
the command.
The man relieved Marshal Croop of
two guns, one from his person and the
other from grip in the buggy. Then
the men were ordered to fold their
arms so it would not be 80 tiresome for
them, and the holdup put his tent and
wagon in order, took the harness off his
horses, mounted one Of them and lead
ing the other ordered Croop back into
his buggy and to drive on ahead in
northeasterly direction. 1t was then
near noon and several times on the
journey the captives endeavored to e1-
plain that they were out in search Of a
harness that had been stolen but they
were ordered to shut up and continue
the journey without a word.
The man selected route across the
prairies and when wire fences inter-
fered with their journey he would have
the men take down the wires. 1t was
noticed that in nearly every instance
the wires were spliced, showing that the
man was familiar with the route and
was evidently expecting to meet with
his friends. The party reached Timber
lake, a point ten miles north of Cheraw,
at sundown, having travelled about Is
miles. Here the captives were ordered
to unharness their horse and turn it
loose, which they promptly did. Then
using Marshal Croop's handouts the two
men were fastened together and ordered
to hike down the road. The horse being
gone, they were obliged to walk about
eight miles before they came to the
ranch house of Mr.. Osborne in the lower
end of the Holbrook country.
Mr.. Osborne fled off the handouts
and took the men to Cheraw, the near
est telephone station, where word was
sent to Rocky Ford for an automobile
and Sheriff Potter was talso notified at
La Junta. When the auto reached
Cheraw, the men were taken to La
Jnnta, arriving there about o'clock this
morning.
After securing horses Marshal Croop,
Sheriff Potter and posse Of deputies
started in pursuit of the kidnapper, but
up to late hour tonight no word has
been received from the posse. Mr..
Johns, who came back home after the
posse started, stated that the feeling of
suspense during the long trip overland
was terrible as they did not know how
it was going to terminate.
The desperate is described as = big
raw-boned fellow and his actions prove
conclusively that he il desperate