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Fayette County IAGenWeb
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Barber Brothers "Series" |
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GENERAL TELEGRAPH NEWS |
THE IOWA BANDITS CAPTURED.
A BRIGHT BOY AND SIX GERMAN FARMERS CATCH THE BARBER BROTHERS. |
CHICAGO, JUNE 6. --- Isaac and
William Barber, the Iowa outlaws for whom the Sheriffs of three
counties and hundreds of farmers had been looking for three days and
nights, were captured last night after a bloody struggle, their
captors being without arms. On Monday night the desperadoes were
surrounded in a grove, but escaped during a heavy storm and took
refuge in a barn near Tripoli. Leaving the barn, they lost their
way, and yesterday morning sought the barn of a German named
Augustus Tegtmeir. Last night, while Tegtmeir's son Henry was
milking, the refugees crawled out of the hay and asked him for
something to eat. The boy suspected that they were the outlaws for
whose capture a reward of $6,000 was offered, and at once invited
them into the house and told his mother to serve them supper.
Leaving the house he ran to his father and younger brothers, who
were in another barn, and dispatched them for help. Returning,
he entertained the Barbers, and they ate a hearty meal. Just as they
had finished five stalwart Germans burst into the room. Before they
could seize the latter had drawn four self-cocking revolvers and
began to use them. A brave German named Henry Kersting, caught Isaac
Barber, and with the aid of two others pinioned him to the floor.
William Barber, still firing, retreated through the door, ran around
to a window leading to the room where his brother was a captive,
smashed the glass, presented a revolver and shot Henry Kersting in
the back, inflicting a mortal wound. William had no sooner fired
than he was seized from behind by Henry Pope. Wrenching himself away
he turned on Pope and shot him, the pullet plowing a track across
his breast. Not withstanding this, Pope, again grappled with the
villian and held him until he could be bound with a rope which was
brought from the barn by Mrs. Teftmeir. Kersting's father was also
shot and two others received bullet wounds. The Sheriff and party
arrived soon after and the brave German farmers were lionized in
grand style. Preparations were made for lynching the Barbers, but
the Sheriff out-witted the mob by putting the outlaws behind a fast
team and driving away with them. They are now in jsil at Waverly,
Iowa. It is thought they will be taken out and lynched tonight, as
parties are known to be en route to the jail from several villages
in this section. |
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~source: The New Your Times, June
7, 1883 |
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