Year: 1877

FOUND on the streets and brfbed with I


silver half dollar. The lad had no idea


of the mission Of the strange men an,


wept bitterly when he saw Small conn


out Of the house guarded and man
acled. The boy is now an extensiv,
and highly respected manufactures
in Des Moines. The prisoners wer,
brought to hotel on the West Side


Here the Sheriff refused to give any
explanation of the matter and started
as soon as conveyance could be pro.
cured in covered wagon for Tams
county. Very few Des Moines people
knew Of the circumstance, as the ar
rests were made late at night and the
journey was commenced early ths
next morning. As the wagon passed
through East Des Moines, citizen
there recognized Small who raised hia
manacled hands and beckoned him t.
approach. He walked toward ths
wagon, but was brought to a sudden
halt by the leveled barrel of q pistol
in the hands oY tAe Sheriff. Not be.
ing of curious turn Of mind the gen.
tleman didn't wait to see what was al
the end of the barrel but hastened of
to inform the East Desmoiners that
some Of the Bunker gang had captured
Small and Seaman and were taking
them away to execution. In q short
time sixty horseman filed over Capitol
Hill in pursuit of the supposed Bum
kers. But there were two men in the
party that knew better-the two men
to whom Small had confessed the trag-
edy in Tama county the previous
week. These men knew that the pris.
oners were legally in custody, and that
the only way to rescue them was by q
legal process. These gave directions
to the captain Of the band to capture
and detain the Sheriff and his priso-
ners until a writ of habeas corpus
could be procured and served on that
official. The chase was long. Fifteen
miles were traversed before the wagon
was overtaken, and then it would not
have been, but for q broken axle. At
first the Sheriff refused to halt, but f.
nally yielded to the persuasive ap-
peals of halfa hundred pistols, and
to return to Des Moines and
await the result Of the writ. Arriving
In the city the court was found to be
in session. Gen. Croker was retained
for the prisoners. The case could not
be heard before evening. The Gener-
al made statement that the prisoners
had been absent from their homes for
many hours, were weary and hungry,
and suggested that they should be per-
mitted to 60 to their residences under
guard. The court 30 ordered, and the
Sheriff placed them,in care of two citi-
zens, with instructions to report at the
court room with them at 7 o'clock In the
evening. Meantime General Croker
made careful Examination ofthe war
rant and other papers, and discovered
that they were impregnable and would
hold the prisoners beyond doubt. This
came to the ears of the
guards and about half an hour before
the court assembled they brought theil
prisoners into the room and directed
them to remain until disposed Of by
the Judge. That was the last that
was seen Of them. When the Judge
and the Sheriff of Tama came the
prisoners and guards could not be
Bench warrants were issued
for the latter, who duly appeared and
explained that they had reported at
the court room with they charges ~
directed. Whereupon their were dis
charged and the Sheriff returned to
his home.


Seaman was never seen or heard Of
afterwards. Small came again to Des
Moines some five or SIX weeks later,
but SO perfectly disguised that his in
innate friends failed to recognize him.
He remained only . short time, and
then went west, passing several years
In the Rocky Mountains. Finally he
returned home, and for several years
past, until his arrest Monday morn.
Ing, had been residing In Des Moines
or on his farm near Polk City.


The escape from the Tama Sheriff
Monday night was effected as follows
The two were on theirway to the Cap
ital City hotel, about ten O'Clock
when they passed saloon, and went
10 refresh their carnal natures with
lager beer, sold under the State laws.
The saloon had two doors one on the
west, the other on the north. While
the Tama county nose was immered
In the foam of Polk county's beer,
jumped out of the door and
hurried off up Locust street, probably
TO see man. The Sheriff gave chase,
revolver In hand, but some parties
on the sidewalk prevented any ex-
tended artillery practice and he was
only able to fire at the retreating pris-
oner three times. The Sheriff didn't
oelong to the American team nor the
Des Moines Sportsmen's Club; conse-
quently he didn't hit the mark. Lem
uel went off faster than his revolver
and made good his escape. Yesterday
the Sheriff retained home. The same
Small was seen ON the streets,
and for aught we know 10 here still.
He Is very still II he is here.


The only way to account for this
new interest In such an ancient affair
Is on the supposition that either Clin-
german or Seaman has come to the
surface and proposes to become q wit
ness for the State. The Sheriff did
not inform any one here that this was
30, but that is the supposed reason fol
this attempted revival Of the old time
story Of the hanging Of the Bankers.





Curious judgment in Uengal.


A somewhat startling and ratheI
curious judgment was recently deliv-
cred by Sessions Judge in one of the
Bengal districts. Four persons were
brought before him on . charge oi
murder, and were duly convicted; but
In passing sentence the Judge apps.
rently found himself in . difI1oulty