Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-07-29
K|DNAPER CAUGHT
LyNCHERS EvADED
Cowboy Posse Rounds Up
Sheepherder Bandit After
His Victim Had Made
Escape.

Idaho Falls, Id, July 26.-Lon Dean,
a sheep herder, who admits that he
kidnapped e. A. Empey, a rich rancher,
was lodged in the Bonneville county
Jail early today by cowboys after a
hard ride to save their captive from
wculd-be lynchers. Dean was captured
on Sheep last night, after
Empey had escaped.
Dean, a slightly built man, five feet,
four inches in height, explained his
crime by saying:
81 took this means of getting money,
az l thought l could do more good with
1t than those who a it,"
Asked regarding the anxiety he had
caused the family of his wealthy cap
i've, he said: Il hadn't thought of that
Dean, who claims Salem, Utah, as his
aome. said he a a common school
education. Differing from the usua
-un of bad mem who's minds have
oeen nourished on cheap 'thrillers,"
Deans reading has been chiefly the
works of Darwin, Huxley, Payne and
tngersoll.
Planned Deed Long Time.
Continuing his story of the kidnap-
ng, Dean said that he had worke
FOR Empey five years ago. early in
the summer he was in Colorado, then
went to Bailey, Id. He said he had
isIilliSp LIN " ciii tiiiiS'
After abd"cting Empey at the point of
L gun at his ranch 40 miles from here
several days ago, he tool his captive
20 a hut OH Sheep mountain, five miles
rom the ranch. Empey's Gun son
| Vas sent to notify the family that
Empey would be killed unless a ran
som of $4,000 in gold was deposited at
designated spot. The ransom was
-aised yesterday, and would Ia been
oaid had not Empey escaped while his
| eaptor was asleep.
Dean. in r%ecounting his exploit said:
IF the money had not been delivered.
[ would not have killed Empey, but l do
him loose. l treated him well and gave
him the best of everything. 1 stole
food from several sheep camps, and
! always gave Empey the best Of what
/ had. If the money had not been de-
! livered and Empey had o escaped
1 probably would have written another
letter, repeating my demands"
Empey today was at the Long VAL
ley ranch, where he took refugee after
| escaping and sending cowboys tC
search for his captor. He Is in good
health and said ne had suffered moth
| ing from his weeks captivity, although
he had had very little rest.
; Tied Victim to Tree.
Dean kept me fastened to a tree
. with i Cldln anu pdulOCk, lie Salu
"He gave me the best of food and bed
| ding and seemed to try to take excel,
! lent care Of me. l thought him de-
! mented and my captivity was more
| trying on that %accoun / was ex-
| hausted after my escape yesterday be.
/ cause l had run three miles down the
| mountain. I do not care to go through
| such an experience again."
After Employs escape, a posse OF
: COWBOYS sarted for the place he de-
! scribed on Sheep mountain. They fount
/ dean at the foot Of the hill, having
J come down, presumably, in search O.
+; his late captive. Dean was surround.
! cd and captured. The sheriff was no.
titled and went to the spot. The sher.
| ifs automobile was halted severa
! times by cowboys before he convinced
; the guards of his identity and persuad.
J ed them to turn the prisoner over t
! him.