The Jones County news. (Ellisville, Miss.) 1909-1924, 1913-07-31
BIG CAPTURE BY JONES
COUNTY OFFICER.
Former Resident of Laurel
Held Up and Robbed Fast
Mail Train.
lFrom Laurel Daily Argus.)

ANAoitt Asdukti JdliN AISuS-l
The capture of Tom Clark, lead
er of one of the most desperate gangs
OF outlaws which this country has
known in a generation, in Monroe,
La, is largely the work OF Laurel
man.
Deputy Sheriff Allen Boutwell,,
who picked up the first clue connect
ing Clark with the robbery of an
Illinois Central railroad train near
Batesvile, Miss, on July 4, left for
Hattiesburg to complete the identifi-
cation OF his man.
Clark was employed by the New
Orleans, Mobile & Chicago railroad
working in the local yards. About
the time of his departure, Ii became
known to local officials that be was
implicated with Jess Holitield in the
larceny OF six horses near 9oonville
IN Prentiss county. Holitield was
convicted of this crime and sentenc-
ed TO the penitentiary, where he is
now serving his sentence. Deputy
Sheriff Boutwell, was after CLARK on
this charge, when he learned through
a woman that he was connected with
the Batesville train robbery.
This woman who lives in Hattiesburg,
but who spent some time in Laurel
while Clark was employed here, furni-
shed Deputy Sheriff Boutwell, with
evidence which led TO the arr est, after
II had been ascertained that be pur-
chased dynamite in Little Rock and
cartridges in Memphis for use in
batesville robbery. II is also stated
that the officers know where Clark de-
posted the money secured from the
express company, and that his bank
account will be att ached within the
next day or two.
At least one other man win be ar
rested in connection with the Bates
VIE robbery. 1t is also stated that
a woman will be implicated, though
The officers deny that she is the same
woman who gave Boutwell, the infor-
nation which led to Clark's capture.
Deputy Sheriff Boutwell, will share
largely in the reward of So, 600 offer
ed for the capture of the robber.
1his matter was arranged with the
express company when information
and photograph of Clark was
given the detectives by the Jones
county officer.
The real name of the robber, ac-
cord1ng to Deputy Sheriff Boutwell,,
is not Clark, but Spencer. He was
reared In Minnesota and was SEN
fenced to the federal prisons at Du-
lnth for highway robbery. Escaping
from that place, he came to Louksi-
ana, locating near Monroe, who're
his capture was effected yesterday.
He came to Mississippi In the foil OF
last year and spent several months
along in New Orleans & Northeast
crn railroad between Laurel and
New Orleans. For short while be
resided In Covington county, where
he was indicted for horse stealing.
After leaving Laurel, Spencer, alias
Clark, adopted the name of Tom
Shinn.
II is not believed that this man
was directly implicate in the North
eastern robbery near Hattiesburg
last year, but the officers have evil |
dence which tends to show thar he |
belonged to the same gang.
LATER.
All the prisoners and Dolly Smith |
have been relea sed from Forrest coun- |
ty jail. Clark is in the lookup at
Bonneville, Prentiss county, to await |
trial on an indictment for horse stea-
ling. The arrests proved a water
haul. There was no stolen money dis |
covered in Hattiesburg.
Good Reason for His Enthusiasm