Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1884 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

The poor-house of Van Buren County, Michigan, with forty-five inmates, took fire at 2 o'clock in the morning. Fourteen inmates were smothered in their beds or were burned alive. Only one body could be recognized. Lucia Zarate, the Mexican midget, while left alone for a moment in a museum at Cleveland, was carried off by two men, who dropped her when they found themselves pursued. In broad daylight, four men rode to the Medicine Valley Bank, located in the heart of the town of Medicine Lodge, Kan., and, dismounting, two went in while the others took care of the horses outside. Cashier George Geppert and President E. W. Payne, of the bank, were the only persons in at the time. The two bandits, presenting their Winchester rifles and revolvers, said: “Give us your money or we will kill you.” Geppert and Payne refused, and instantly the robbers shot them, killing Geppert and Injuring Payne fatally. The firing aroused the town and brought the Marshal and others to tho spot, and the robbers, hastily mounting their horses, fled. Mr. Geppert was a prominent business-man, while Mr. Payne was the editor of the Index, and a wealthy and influential stockman. The Union Pacific shops at Omaha were closed the other day through a strike of employes generally, save those in headquarters and the engineers and firemen. No attempt was made to move freight. In the evening a bulletin from the General Manager was posted withdrawing the notice of a reduction in wages, and work was immediately resumed at the old rates.

The four Medicine Lodge (Kan.) robbers were captured and imprisoned. A mob broke Into the jail, shot one of the bandits dead, and took the other three out and hanged them. A Kansas City telegram gives this account of the affair: Swift retribution has overtaken the Medicine Lodge murderers and robbers. The posse in pursuit came up with the robbers three miles from town, captured them, after a brief struggle, brought the prisoners back to town, and lodged them In the calaboose. A crowd gathered and attacked the building. One of the robbers opened fire, whereupon the crowd riddled him with bullets. The remaining three were taken out, conducted to the edge of the town, and hung. The excitement of the crowd was intense, and they refused to listen to the officers, who endeavored to quiet them. One of the prisoners begged for mercy, but the othors died game. The excitement increased when it was found that two of the robbers were Henry Brown and Ben Wheeler, Marshal and Assistant Marshal or Caldwell. The other two, John Wesley and Billy Smith, were cowboys.

Waterloo (Iowa) dispatch: “Atriple tragedy occurred at Roland, a small place In the edge of Story County, about thirteen miles south of Radcliffe. A man, whose name it Is impossible to learn, attacked his wife with an ax.. She defended herself as well as she could, at the same time calling for help. The brother of the infuriated husband interfered, and attempted to protect the woman. At this the husband, who is a burly man, seized his brother and threw him into a deep well. As he did this he either lost his footing or sprang into the well intentionally himself. When the neighbors, attracted by the outcry, arrived on the scene they found the two men at the bottom of the well, both dead, while the woman was unconscious. She is badly wounded, and at last reports it is thought that there is no possibility of her recovering.” James Maxwell, of Harrisonville, Mo., killed his brother-in-law, John Lofforn, with a Bhot>gun as he sat on a bed undressing. The victim’s wife had a suspicion as to the murderer’s identify, and remained in the house alone all night with the corpse before giving information of the deed.