The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-04-14
TIE POWDEP
SLIRWED ms F4E

in, and lodged in Jail The case against them
was clear. They we're found with the stolen
property; some of them did not even attempt
TO make denial Their examining trial was
held at Plemons. the county seat of Hutchn.
son county. and the settlers gathered from far
and near for that event. The trial was held In
big barn Of n place and the prisoners were
bound over to the district court The Rangers
we're preparing to take them to Panhandle
cry. where there were safer and more commo.
dious quarters, when the fherh-who had al.
ready distinguished himself by setting free the
prominent young outlaw first captured-ap-
pcarcd and demanded the prisoners, on tho
ground that being sheriff OF that county, they
could not be removed without his consent The
Ranger captain promptly informed him that
sheriff or no sheriff. he had shown his dsquall.
hcatioas for that office. and that these prison.
ers would be taken to more secure quarters
than he seemed willing to provide. The off,
Ger departed, and pres. ntly mustered a crowd
armed with Winchcstrrs. Then he appeared
once more before Capt Bill. produced the law
which under proper conditions might have sup.
ported him in his demand. and again declared
that he would have those prisoners. or that
there would be bloodshcd and several Ranger
funerals Capt. Bill promptly called his men
together
We are not going to stand any foolishness."
he said "If an attempt is made to take these
prisoners cut down any one who takes n hand
in It. Come, let's move on now. and get these
men In jail"
The crowd that had gathered expected bat.
tie. chen and there. but nothing OF the kind
took place The sherfrs armed blum had been
called. Later in the day he obtained a writ
OF habcas corpus but Il was not effective for
the reason that the men had been committed
under bond At all events It was not effective
Mo- nd
in charge OF the Jail
II was now evident that conviction OF these
offenders was not to be expected In that coun.
~. Most of them had official influence Of one
Kind or another. In fact. there appeared to BIO
nobody except those whose property had suf
fered who seemed concerned in bringing these
bandits to Justice
With such overwhelming evidence Mcdonald
was determined II possible to secure their pun.
ishment, and eventually was instrumental in
getting their cases distributed and cent to 9th.
err counties for trial. Even so, they managed
to evade the law Through influence of one
kind or another. and the cooperation of ofrl.
cials--former associates, perhaps, In the bust.
ness Of crlme-thelr cases we're one by one
dismissed; this in spite Of the fact that ono
of the men confessed and gave direct testi.
mony against the others Of the gang.
Notwithstanding this miscarriage Of Justice
the general effect OF McDonald's vigorous pros
ecution was wholesome. The members OF
that band either left for remoter territory, or
decided to reform
1t was strange indeed that Mcdonald did not
happen to get killed. In those busy days of
the early ninetles One OF the favorite VOWS
OF the "Panhandler" was to shoot Bill MELON.
aid on sight. But there was suddenness and
v9or about BIZ McDonald's manner and meth
cd that was very bad for a vow like that when
the moment for its execution arrived still.
there were those who tried to make good and
one OF these. duly assisted. came near being
He would have succeeded. no
doubt. II he had had time
That mans name was John Pierce Matthews,
which became simply John Pierce after its
owner got the drop on a steamboat captain one
lay In Louisiana and shot him dead. lie took
ais new name with him to the Panhandle,
where In due time he got the drop on another