The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-10
|OESPERADOES'
 LAIR |S WIPED. |0UT IN BATTLE.
 Head Of Outlaw Gang And Deputy Sheriff Fall In Clash By Officers With Bandits In Heart Of Everglades NOTED CRIMINAL GANG COMPLETELY WIPED OUT Fight Rages All Day And At Its Close Officers Were Securing SWamps, Seach- ing For 3 Who Escaped

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla, Jan. g. (By Associated Press.)-Two dead men were carried out of the Ever glades' this afternoon by tense men who gripped tightly gunstocks at the same time. Within a score of miles of where the wealth and so- Ciety of the country is gathered in pleasure seeking, Deputy Sheriff Fred Baker. 35, was shot and killed at o'clock this morning in a clash with bandit gang. Joe w. Ashley, 65 years old, member of the famous Ashley gang" died from gunshot wounds, and Laura Upthegrove, said to have been a camp follower, was wounded in the scalp and the leg.
 Tonight three posses are securing the Everglades district of the vicinity of Fruita, 26 miles north of here. in an effort to capture escaped mem bers of the gang.
 Before dark today officers and posse members returned to West Palm Beach bringing with them men and women alleged to have been as- sociated with the Ashley gang. Those who now are held in the Palm Beach county jail are: Laura Upthegrove, Wesley Mobley, father of Hanford Mobley. young desperado; Mrs. Wes- ley Mobley, Mary Ashley Mobley, wife of Hanford Mobley and daugh- ter of Joe Ashley; Mrs. Joe Ashley. Leota Ashley with baby in arms, and a Mobley child 3 years old.
 Deputy Killed.
 Incensed at the death of Deputy Fred Baker citizens, following the wholesale arrests, set fire to the Joe Ashley home, burning it completely. TheyAs then crossed the road and .t0uched fire to the country home of his sofr-in-law. With brands from this last fire they burned the. garages and automobiles standing in them, bent on wiping out the last vestige of the notorious gang that has figured prominently in the criminal annals of this section for the past 10 years. All of the elements of bravery and daring characteriZing wiping out oulawry in western frontiers blended in today's tragedy that began when Albert Miller, look out for the desperadoes' camp, fatally shot Deputy Baker as the latter was adyancing. Miller fired from behind tree within a few paces of the officer. ii,
 q guess I've finished that -. he shouted as he fled to the outlaws tents. Baker fell with gaping wound through his right lung, but not before he had emptied IS rounds into the camp from his automatic :.
 Four companion officers carried Baker to safety behind trees. There he shook hands with them. said good bye with a smile playing over his face, and a few minutes before he expired in the arms of Deputy Sheriff H. I. Stubbs, he said:
 O O O
 "Did My Best"
 Well. boys. I did my best"
 The fusillade of shots that poured from theA Ashley noonshining camp led officers to believe themselves out numbered. Leaving two deputies to watch the dense hammock on which he camp was located. Sheriff Bob Baker and a deputy stole away to Stuart, five miles to the north. to spread the alarm and get assistance
 About noon, John Ashley. son or he dead man. limped out of the hammock holding one arm and dis apeared in the Everglades toward he west. Albert Miller, Bakers slayer, disappeared soon after the first attack. An hour later, he teie-
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