The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-04-05
SHERIFF BISHOP
AND HIS DEPUTY
HELD PRISONERS
Carried Down Ohio River by
Jolly Crew Of the Packet
Liberty.
Went to Arrest Captain and
Himself Captured.
TnLER ROPES ARE CUT AWAY.

AhbhDb WI 20 avn ODI avail.
Sheriff Bishop, of Livingston coun-
ty, and Deputy Ben Champion were
kidnapped by prisoner Saturday
might.
Pistols were an Important factor in
a battle between the sheriff and his
deputies and the crew of the steamer
Liberty" late Saturday afternoon on
THE Ohio river between Smithlani
and the Illinois shore opposite Padu-
cab. The trouble arose over the at
tempt OF the crew to prevent Captain
Harry S. Davis being taken to jail by
Sheriff w. ID. Bishop, and a rough
and tumble battle followed, In whica
the crew won by strategy after suffer-
ing heavy casualties.
The Liberty is an excursion
steamer, and recently was in the
trade between Paducah and Eliza
lbethtown, but on the return OF the
regular packet the boat began run
ming excursions. II was alleged that
liquor was sold In prohibition terri
tory by the officlals Of the boat, AMI
warrant was issued at Smithland on
a charge of selling liquor while tied
in the Smithland harbor. The war
rant was placed in the hands OF
Sheriff Bishop, and he served it on
Captain Davis. who readily agreed to
accompany him
During the dinner hour Captain
Davis was in the custody of Deputy
Sheriff Ben Champion. who had Davis
at his home Captain Davis consult
ed an attorney. and II was agreed t. |
try his case at O'Clock Saturday |
afternoon, but later Il was decided to
postpone the trial. and for Davis 10 !
give bond. In the afternoon about 2 |
o'clock Sheriff Bishop with Deputy
Sheriff Champion accompanied Davis
to the boat.
Sheriff's Story.
The story OF the trouble as told B.,
Sheriff Bishop is. Captain Davis
bond was fixed at 5000, and he said |
The did not have that much money
with him, but that he could secure II |
on the boat or borrow II from the
crew. We readily agreed to accom-
|pany him and In a minute after STEP
ping ON the boat, he walked to some
|of the crew and spoke a few words.
In a minute | saw a man untying a
line and the machinery was started.
Immediately | ordered the men to
leave the lines alone, but the men
never hesitated. and chopped the line
In two. The boat is a side-wheell
steamer and she was rapidly leaving
the bank.
AT the engineers door Mr.. Cham
pion was headed of by a pistol being |
thrown into his face. and quickly see
ing trouble ahead, ran 20 the pilot !
house, where saw a man, Will
Brisco, who claimed he was not the
pilot, but know he was. used my
pistol as a club and subdued him and /
took hold of the wheel and tried to
run the boat into the bank, but the !,
wheel was useless. as the tillar ropes
had been cut. and the boat was being
steered from the engineers cabin,
by some one swinging the lever of
he rudder.
"As I glanced around ! saw the
mate coming to the pilot house and
using profane language and threaten
ing to kill us dared him 70 put his
foot on the plot house step and when
he aid so ! knocked him cold with
my pistol. He left us in a hurry. The
pilot and captain were in the pilot
house with us. as we had tied and
|handcnf!ed both ~ tue n. Pistol
we're beng discharged freely down
on thu .ower deck. wheye the crew
|nc,d sway. whl'e Mr.. Champion aud Is
three Smithland men, who were I'M l.
armed, and myself were masters of
the pilot house. Il
"The boat continued runnipeh and L
as night came on the crew threatened
TO kin us in the dark. Seeing tina: Il
something had to be done we desert u
ed the pilot house, taking our prison Il
Iers. and went down on the cabin deck Ii
I'VE planned to get the prisoners
ashore. and then escape any way we s
could, but the crew on the lower deck
refused to lower the stage plank aud
vowed they would kill us IL we came !
down a step, while we threatened to
kim the first man that made move
TO come to our deck.
cwhen the Liberty was opposite
paducah the crew landed the boat
ana IL was agreed that a member of
the crew should go aboard and see II {
n were legal for me to retain the |
missioner and remain on the boat K