The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-02


torch was applied to the hay. but
shower came up and extinguished the
flames. In the meantime. the six
year.old child had regained conscious
ness and succeeded in crawling to a
nearby farm house. where she told the
story of the murder of the family.
Left With $4,000.
Suspicion rested upon the Taylors,
and on the following day George Tay-
lor rode into town, conferred with his
brother, and that night the men disap-
peared. and SO did $4,000 from the
Taylor bank. The Taylor brothers
left word that they would never be
taken alive.
Some two weeks after the tragedy.
Jerry South left his home in the north
western part of Arkansas to go as a
delegate to the Arkansas Democratic
state convention in Little Rock, to
which he was delegate from his
country He was obliged to travel
sixty miles to the nearest railroad. On
the way he stopped at a country store
in crossroads town, and engaged in
political discussion with the farmers
who were gathered about. In the
group OF loiterers. Jerry observed two
men who appeared to be strangers.
They were well dressed and seemed
to have plenty of money. Jerry had
read of the murder of the Meeks fami-
ly in Missouri and his suspicious were
aroused.
He veered the discussion around to
a question of the issuance of sight
drafts upon city banks. The country
merchant took one side of the contro-
versy and Jerry the other-the one
which he knew to be wrong-and then
finally appealed to one OF the strang
ers for his opinion. The stranger en-
tered into an elaborate statement,
showing an intimate knowledge OF
banking practices and financial mat
ters. which convinced the delegate
from the backwoods that the well in
formed person was none other than
Banker Taylor. the suspected murder.
err OF the Meeks family. Jerry went
out and borrowed a double-barrelled
shot gun. Then he laid in wait for the
two strangers. When they came along
the road. he got the drop on them and
demanded that they throw up their
hands. They attempted to draw their
weakons, but click OF the trigger Of
Jerry's gun convinced them that 1t
was no opportune moment to reach
for hip pockets. Jerry held them at
bay for half hour or more until
there appeared a countryman whom
he ordered to search the strangers.
The search revealed battery of six
! pistols and four bowie knives.
There Was No Jail.
There was no magistrate, no Jail and
no railroad within thirty miles, and
there remained nothing for the captor
to do but to take his prisoners. whose
identity he had by this time estab-
lished beyond doubt, with him to Lit
tie Rock. which he did.
The county which Jerry represent.
ed was entitled to six seats in the
convention. but he was the only dele
gate who appeared. Accordingly, Jer.
~ took the two Taylors into the con-
vention with him. and kept them be-
side him. While he voted and took
part in the proceedings of the conven-
ton he continued to keep an eye on
his prisoners. having warned them
that any attempt to escape would
mean instant death. The convention
lasted for two days. and the prisoners
were Jerry's guests meanwhile. Once
he locked them in room in his hotel
under a guard Of friend while he
went out to call upon his sweetheart.
When the proceedings OF the conven-
ton were over. Jerry carried the Tay-
Tors back to the county seat. where
they were locked up. and the Missouri
authorities were notified.
| Eventually. they were taken back to
Missouri. William j. Stone. now sen.
ator from Missouri. was then governor
of the State. and issued the requisition
upon the governor OF Arkansas which
returned them to the scene OF their
crime for trial. Representative VIM.
Rucker. now member of the house
of representatives. and one of the
Democratic leaders. was the Judge be-
fore whom the Taylors were tried and
4 convicted. and both he and Senator