Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-04-14
The AOXN2EP
5NRXED tbs EYCE

in, and lodged in Jail. The case against them
was clear. They were 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 Hutchin.
son county, and the settlers gathered from far
and near for that event. The trial was held in
a big barn of a place, and the prisoners were
bound over to the district court. The Rangers
were preparing to take them to Panhandle
City, where there were safer and more commo-
dlous quarters, when the sheriff-who had al
ready distinguished himself by setting free the
prominent young outlaw first captured-ap-
peafed and demanded the prisoners, on the
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 disuuali.
f~cations 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 presently mustered a crowd,
armed with eWinchesters, 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 bloodshed and several Ranger
funerals. Capt. Bill promptly called his men
together.
we are not going to stand any foolishness,"
he said. eff an attempt is made to take these
prisoners, cut down any one who takes a hand
in 1t. Come, let's move on now, and get these
men in Jail"
The crowd that had gathered expected bat
tie, then and there, but nothing Of the kind
took place. The sheriff's armed bluff had been
called. Later in the day, he obtained a writ
of habeas corpus, but 1t was not effective for
the reason that the men had been committed
under bond. At all events 1t was not effective
so long as Mcdonald and his Rangers were
in charge of the Jail.
1t was now evident that conviction of these
offenders was not to be expected In that coun-
ty. Most of them had official influence of one
kind or another. In fact, there appeared to be
nobody except those whose property had suf-
fered who seemed concerned in bringing these
bandits to justice.
With such overwhelming evidence Mcdonald
was determined if possible to secure their pun
ishment, and eventually was instrumental in
getting their cases distributed and sent to 9TH
er counties for trial, Even so, they managed
to evade the law. Through influence of one
kind or another, and the cooperation of Off
cials-former associates, perhaps, in the bust
ness of crime-their cases we're one by one
dismissed; this in spite of the fact that one
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 %nineties. One of the ~favorite VOWS
Of the "Panhandler" was to shoot Bill McDon.
aid on sight. But there was suddenness and
vigor about Bill 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
successful. He would have succeeded. no
doubt, If 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
day In Louisiana and shot him dead. He took
his new name with him to the Panhandle,
where, in due time he got the drop on another