Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1901 — HORSE THIEF CAPTURED [ARTICLE]

HORSE THIEF CAPTURED

After Wounding a Police Officer. HIS LIFE SAVED BY A SILVER STAR. Albert Powers, Who Stole George Ketchum’s Horse and Buggy, Arrested at Covington, Ky. George Ketchum, living east of town, had a horse and buggy stolen last February. The thief was traced to Lafayette, where he had driven the horse so hard that it died. He pawned the buggy at Indianapolis and disappeared. Sheriff Hardy was notified and returned the buggy to the owner here. Powers, under the name of Thompson, wrote a number of letters to the party with whom he left the buggy, instructing him to sell the same. The letters were turned over to Sheriff Hardy and decoy letters were written back to Powers and plans laid for his capture. Powers visited Indianapolis a few days ago, but there being some uncertainty as to his identity, he was not arrested, but was shadowed on his return to Covington, where he was arrested. Yesterday’s Cincinnati Enquirer has the following account of his arrest: The life of Sergeant of Police William Sandford, of Covington, was saved yesterday by a silver star badge, presented to him by his wife as a birthday present. George Powers, a noted criminal and daring desperado, fired three shots at the officer, the last shot striking the silver star, directly over the heart, bending the shield, glanced off and made a deep flesh wound through the left breast. Sergeant Sandford, accompanied by Detective Gafney, Detective Dwyer, of Cincinnati, and Detective Weinhardt, of Lafayette, Ind., had gone to Covington, to arrest George Powers, wanted at Lafayette on the charge of horse stealing. Sergeant Sanlord, with Detective Weinhardb, had gone to the front door, while detectives Gafney and Dwyer guarded the rear entrance, to frustrate any attempt at escape. Mrs. Powers opened the door, and when Sergeant Sandford produced the warrant and stated his mission, vowed her husband was not at home. Sergeant Sandford, passing the woman, opened the door to the next room. There was a blinding flash, followed by the loud report of a re-, volver, and as the Sergeant drew hii own gun, two more shots were fired, the officer firing two shots into the darkened room, then staggering back, with the blood flowing from the left breast and right arm, was caught in the arms of Detective Weinhardt. Detectives Gafney and Dwyer, hearing the shots, broke into the rear door, covered Powers with their guns and placed him under arrest. During the melee the guard on Sandford’s revolver was broken and twisted, so that one end forced against the trigger, held it tight, practically rendering the weapon useless. A son of the prisoner, in seeking for cover, when the firing began, narrowly escaped beiDg shot by Detective Gaffney, who thought it was Powers making a dash for liberty, and gave a warning shout to halt, that was promptly complied with. Powers is wanted by the authorities at Rensselaer, Jasper county, Ind., for stealing a horse and wagon February 21. Detective Weinhardt, locating Powers at Covington, called on Detective Dwyer, of Cincinnati, and then went to Covington, where the arrest was made. Sergeant Sandford knew his man well, having arrested him at Glencoe, Ky., two years ago for horse stealing, and the two days he was there the authorities guarded him with shotguns. He was sent to Lebanon, Ohio, where the crime was committed, and while in prison was given steel saws, and succeeded in sawing his way to freedom. Certain circumstances showed that Powers had received assistance from the outside. About this time his son Mark put in his appearance in the city. The authorities of Warren obtained sufficient evidence to justify his arrest as being implicated in the liberation of his father, and he was arrested at the Palace Hotel in this city. It is alleged the young man was surrendered by his lawyer. He was taken to Lebanon, and after a trial was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. After serving three months he was pardoned. He located here and secured employment with the McCullough Seed Company. He had worked for the Fleischman Yeast Company at Grand Rapids. He stoutly affirms his innocence as to the part played hi the liberation of his father. Detective Weinhart arrived in the city yesterday with a warrant for the arrest of Powers, and Detective Dwyer, of the Cincinnati Department, accompanied him in his search. Michael Powers, son of the man

wanted, was located at a prominent Fourth street hotel through decoy letters sent to George Thompson, an alias of Powers, and when the young man called for the mail he was placet! under arrest by Dwyer and Weinhardt. At police headquarters he denied knowledge of his father’s whereabouts ar.d was detained. When he heard of hie father’s arrest he acknowledged he had shielded him. Fifteen years ago Albert Powers was a prosperous lumber merchant at Spear Fish, S. Dak. A destructive fire swept away his fortune, and from that time the family was migratory. They located at Grand Rapids, Mich., whence the father struck out in an effort to retrieve his losses. A year ago he arrived at Lebanon, Ohio. He soon disappeared, and with him went a horse and buggy, the property of a leading farmer of Warren county. He was arrested at Glencoe, Ky., and returned to Lebanon. He was placed in jail, but he escaped within a few weeks. After his escape from the Lebanon (Ohio) jail, Powers, Sr., went to Rensselaer, Ind., where it is alleged he stole a horse. He was then going under the name of Hoyt. Since that time the authorities of that city have been looking for him, and when they learned his family was in Covington they swore out a warrant for his arrest. The report spread tike wildfire that Sergeant Sandford had been killed and created the greatest excitement, and the threats of lynching were only abated by sending the injured sergeant to his home on foot, where the people could see for themselves that his injuries were not necessarily of a serious character. The jail physician was called, and after a hasty examination saw that the bullet, aimed directly at the sergeant’s heart, had struck the silver star, was deflected in its course, and passing through the left breast, made only a painful flesh wound. The first rfhot fired by Powers struck Sandford on the right, forearm, and the second bullet was a clear miss, passing just over the officer’s head and burying itself in the jamb of the door. Detective Weinhart will have to return without his prisoner, as the charge of shooting with intent to kill was placed opposite his name, and he will be held in Covington on that charge. Powers has a wife and six children. Powers’s family is a respectable one, most of them being members of the First Baptist Church. One of his sons is employed on the B. & O. railroad, another is with the McCullough Seed Company and a third is employed at the Goebel Laundry Company. They have only been living in Covington a little more than a year, having come from New Orleans.