CAPTURE OF A NOTORIOUS DESPERADO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1134, 14 August 1883, Page 1

CAPTURE OF A NOTORIOUS DESPERADO.

On the morning of last Thanksgiving Day, Mr H. M’Dowell, a wealthy and highly esteemed citizen of Camden, South Carolina, was found lying on his back in front of the door of a cabin where lived a negro, Joe Wilson, otherwise Ross. His skull was cleft open to the neck by a powerful blow from an axe. For four days and nights in and around Charlotte three hundred citizens sought for the murderer. Ross got as far as the Catawba river and realising that the ferry was Ins only means of escape, he called the ferryman, Alonzo Huntly, and asked to . be carried over. The ferryman knew Ross at once and asked him to take a seat by the fire. As Ross sat down Huntly picked up a musket and told Ross to consider himself under arrest. Ross with rage sprang forward to grasp the gun, and catching the ramrod drew it out, hut before he could make an onslaught Huntly fired and Ross fell shot in the back. When the pursuers arrived, he was placed in a waggon and earned to a house. He confessed to two murders, one of M’Dowell, and the other of an old negro, Bob Hennegan in Mecklenberg county, two years ago. His brother-in-law, he said, had helped him to kill M’Dowell, That gentleman had twice convicted Ross of fraud, and had twice got him out of prison on promise of future good behaviour. Ross also told how he had waylaid Bob Hennegan two years ago, and with the assistance cf two nearoes, Marshall Baxter and Edward HaTis, had beaten his head to a pulp and then thrown his lifeless body into the creek. Harris had turned Slate’s evidence and was released, Baxter wan tried and hanged. Upon finishing his confession Ross died. Prom the time he had killed

Bob Henna*, an becane an obj »ofc of terror among the eid'Mircd pmple. Boss's brother Torn was aiii'm*; the nartv searching f<>r him, and was annnis tlio first to arrive at the ferry h us > « Kero the desperado lay wounded He at once recognised his brother Joe, and exclaimed They’ve got you at last !”