LeMars Sentinel
November 14, 1919
WILL TRY BANDITS
GUNMEN AND BANK ROBBERS TO BE TRIED AT COMING TERM
The November term of the Plymouth county district court will convene
next Monday with Hon. C. C. Bradley presiding. The grand jury for the
term are:
Jos. Becker, Plymouth;
C. W. Brotherton, Remsen;
J. Brandstetter, LeMars;
Jas. Gibbons, Union;
Fred Gronemeyer, Preston;
Wm. Janssen, Stanton;
F. W. Kehrberg, Garfield;
Fred Remer; America;
John Traufler, LeMars;
Philip Winter, Hungerford;
J. B. Wolf, Marion.
There are thirteen criminal cases on the docket.
The county attorney states that the case of the gunmen and the Westfield
bank robbers will be taken up first when the petit jurors convene on
November 24. Wm. Convey and Wilbur Siglin were indicted by the grand
jury at the last term of court for murderous assault on the sheriff.
The men who robbed the bank of Westfield will also be tried at this term
of court. They are Culver Kennedy, Lee Barrington, Harry Smith, M.
Cullon and Jas. O'Keefe.
The other criminal cases on the docket are of minor import. The state
of Iowa is plaintiff against the following:
Lone Hansen, larceny;
Oscar Palmer, bigamy;
J. F. Hansen, appeal from justice court;
J. A. North, wife desertion.
Athol C. Haile is out on bond pending good behavior and Ernest
Greenfield under bonds to keep the peace.
The following cases have been assigned for trial:
Julia Esther Smith vs. W. W. Ross,
F. L. Kingsley vs. J. F. Ellsworth et al,
Geo. W. Stride vs. J. P. Marx,
T. E. Klay vs. G. H. Mammen,
R. Van Syl vs. G. H. Mammen,
M. R. Faber vs R. Van Zyl.
Thirteen cases are noticed for trial and sixteen old equity cases and
there are twenty-two new cases filed on the calendar.
VIOLIN RECITAL
The appearance of Wm. F. T. Mollenhauer at Western Union College chapel
Wednesday evening in a violin recital drew a good house,
notwithstanding. It was the first cold snap of the season.
LINCOLN: (Special Correspondence)
Clarence Shultz is husking corn to R. Krause.
Mary Taylor, of LeMars, spent Saturday and Sunday with her cousin, Isabelle
Shepherd.
Miss Margaret Carley, of LeMars, spent the past week at the home of her
uncle, Pat Geary, and family.
A. J. Sitzman and family, J. J. Sitzman and family spent Saturday and Sunday
in LeMars with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sitzman.
John Geary, of this vicinity, and Agnes McLaughlin, of Sioux City, were
married in Sioux City Wednesday at the St. Joseph Church, Rev. Father
Zimmerman officiated.
ELGIN: (Special Correspondence)
Albert Bros. shelled corn one day the past week.
Albert Bros. shelled corn for Herman Mandelkow and Mr. Nobach the past week.
Miss Leora Laughton spent Saturday evening at the Wm. Barinsky home in
LeMars.
Floyd and Lloyd Laughton are picking corn for their uncle, Phil Hayden, in
Union township.
Mrs. A. T. Alfred, of LeMars, spent a few days the past week at the Oliver
Buehler home.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Carel, of LeMars, were visitors at the Geo. Laughton home
Friday.
SENEY: (Special Correspondence)
Wm. Deegan shipped a car of cattle to Sioux City on Tuesday.
The snow storm came early for the huskers as only a few have finished as
yet.
Mrs. Anthony Daugherty, of Sibley, was visiting relatives the latter part of
last week.
Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Buss and Miss Ann Buss were Sioux City visitors on
Monday.
Will Ewin left on Wednesday for Sioux City after husking corn for Osborne
Bros.
The W. H. M. S. will meet Wednesday afternoon with Mrs. J. H. Walkup at
2:30.
Solomon Perry and L. D. Baldwin, of LeMars, were visiting relatives here
last Monday.
Ed. Detloff and George Pech had a car of cattle shipped in for feeding last
Wednesday.
Rev. H. M. Burns and R. A. Hawkins attended the district conference in
LeMars this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schwiesow, of LeMars, visited Sunday with their niece,
Mrs. A. D. Jeffers.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Detloff were Sioux City visitors on Monday returning
home on Tuesday.
Frank Kunath, Irving McArthur and Floyd Moore attended the peace celebration
at Sheldon on Tuesday, returning home on Wednesday.
The flyer going south at 6:30 p.m. does not carry mail for Seney. The
southbound mail leave at 4:45 now, which will make it more convenient.
The peace day program which was to be given Tuesday evening was postponed on
account of the storm until Friday afternoon at the school house.
Henry Detloff left on Friday of last week for points in Nebraska to buy
cattle. Mrs. Detloff and children met him in Sioux City on Saturday where
they visited relatives a few days, returning home Monday.
LeMars Sentinel
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1919
BANDITS BREAK OUT
FIVE DESPERADOES SHOOT WAY OUT OF JAIL
WILL MAXWELL’S WOUND FATAL
Gunman Shot Sheriff Hugh Maxwell and His Son
Club the Sheriff’s Wife
Lock Family In Cell and Make Their Escape.
Sheriff Hugh Maxwell and his son, William, were shot, the latter fatally,
Mrs. Maxwell was clubbed over the head, and their daughters, Fern and Clara,
were locked in the jail when five desperadoes attacked the Sheriff and his
family and made their escape from the county jail on Friday evening about
half past six o’clock.
William Maxwell died from his injuries at 7 o’clock on Sunday morning.
The first intimation of the tragedy was given when George Remer, who resides
on Fulton street, passing through the court house yard heard outcries. On
asking what was the matter, the Sheriff told him they were locked in and
told him where he could find a key to the jail door. On the door being
opened the girls ran over to the residence of W. S. Freeman across the
street where their sister, Anna, was taking a music lesson, saying that
Willie had been killed and her father shot. Mr. Freeman, with the girls,
ran over to the jail. Mr. Freeman telephoned Marshal Tucker and then got in
communication with the Sioux City police and Deputy Sheriff Sickler, who was
at his home in the north part of town, was also notified. A general alarm
followed and crowds gathered at the county jail and down town at the city
building and parties of searchers were hastily organized, proved with guns
and rifles and commenced a search for the fleeing bandits.
Sheriff Maxwell and his son, Will, had been out in the country during the
day, serving subpoenas on witnesses to appear at this term of court,
returning at night as they entered the house they threw their heavy
sheepskin coats and their other coats down in the living room and placed
their revolvers on a table and put a rifle they with them in a corner of the
room and prepared to help Mrs. Maxwell serve supper to the prisoners.
In the jail were six prisoners, William Convey and Wilbur Siglin, indicted
at the last term of the court for murderous assault on Sheriff Maxwell and
his daughter, Miss Fern Maxwell, on the night of June 21, and Lee
Barrington, Harry Smith, M. Cullon and Jas. O’Keefe, who were caught by
Sioux City police on the morning of October 22, and hour after they had
raided the bank of Westfield. The six men were awaiting trial at the
present term of court which opened yesterday.
On the fatal evening the Sheriff, his wife and his son went into the jail
which communicates with the Sheriff’s dwelling house by a narrow passage.
None of them were armed and all were carrying trays of food. The men were in
the corridor of the jail. Convey and Smith were walking backwards and
forwards, but as the men often did this when the officers were serving
meals, the Sheriff did not pay any attention. As Sheriff Maxwell was
handing some coffee to O’Keefe, he thought the man was acting in a nervous
manner and at the same time glancing in the other direction, the officer
noticed Convey make a move towards him. He told him to get back and at that
instant Smith attempted to jump behind the officer. Maxwell turned and
Smith opened fire. The bullet struck Maxwell in the side and he fell to his
knees. Smith then turned and shot Will Maxwell, who by that time was at the
end of the eating table, the bullet striking him in the back. As Will was
falling, Convey, who was facing him, fired at him, the bullet striking him
in the left eye. The ball taking an upward course. Will fell into his
Mother’s arms, and as she sank to the floor with his head in her lap, Convey
struck her a blow on the side of her head with a chair. Convey and Smith
rushed into the house, grabbed Clara and Fern Maxwell, the Sheriff’s
daughters, and locked them in the jail with their victims and with
Barrington, Cullon and O’Keefe made their escape. Wilbur Siglin, the sixth
prisoner in the mail made no attempt to escape and cowered in a cell while
the shooting was going on. He stated that he was afraid of the other men and
that they had no use for him.
Siglin, who was awaiting trial with William Convey, one of the escaped
prisoners for having attempted to kill Sheriff Maxwell, was unfriendly with
the other occupants of the jail. Instead of trying to escape, Siglin aided
in caring for the injured persons.
The rest of the gang in there wouldn’t have anything to do with him, said
Siglin. They never talked to me except to call me names. They seemed to be
sore at me because I talked in Sioux City. [several more lines of this
paragraph too dark to read unfortunately]
“When the shooting started [copy again too dark, but appears to be
eye-witness account of Wilbur Siglin] ….. ran into my cell [another dark
line of copy] ….shooting was over. I did not come out of my cell until I
heard them threatening to shoot Mrs. Maxwell. I begged them not to. Now
that it is all over, I can’t understand why they didn’t shoot me.”
“Siglin aided us wonderfully,” said Sheriff Maxwell. “When George Remer, a
neighbor came to our rescue and opened the door, Siglin carried my son
William, who unconscious into the house. He then called a physician and
while we were waiting for the doctor, he bathed William’s wounds and washed
the blood from Mrs. Maxwell’s head. He worked in the house for more than an
hour and after other persons had came to the house to help, he voluntarily
returned to his cell. All he had to do to escape was walk out the door.”
“If it had not been for Siglin, the gang probably would have shot my wife,”
said Sheriff Maxwell. “Siglin had been hiding until the time when they
threatened to shoot Mrs. Maxwell. He knew that they didn’t like him and he
knew that was taking a big chance of being shot. Nevertheless, he walked
between Mrs. Maxwell and the gunmen and pleaded with them not to shoot her.
I think it was his effort that saved Mrs. Maxwell from being shot.”
Sheriff Maxwell stated that he did not think a dozen minutes had elapsed
before he managed to attract attention, but it seemed an eternity to him.
Although wounded, he managed to get to his feet and went to the windows on
each side of the jail to see if possible in which direction the gunmen had
fled.
“I was shot in the body, William was wounded in the head and body, and Mrs.
Maxwell was suffering with a cut on the head. All of us were bleeding
profusely and we were helpless. We thought William was dying, as he was
unconscious. It was fully ten minutes before we were liberated. George
Remer, a neighbor, was passing through the court yard and I called him to
come and let us out. He seemed to pay no attention to me at first, but when
I told him who I was, he ran into the house and came to the cell room. I
told him where he could find a key to the door and he got it and let us
out.”
Dr. Reeves and Dr. Lamb were called to attend the injured men. From the
first it was evident that there was little hope for the younger Maxwell. He
lapsed into unconsciousness on Saturday afternoon and died at 7 o’clock on
Sunday morning.
One bullet entered William Maxwell’s back and stole it’s way through his
liver, penetrated his lung and lodged just beneath the skin below his breast
bone. His legs were paralyzed, indicating that the bullet struck his spinal
cord. The wound over the eye caused but slight damage. The bullet took an
upward course and went out through the top of his forehead. Sheriff
Maxwell’s condition is not considered dangerous. The bullet entered his left
side took a downward course and lodged in his back.
The robbers left without their coats and two of them without hats. They
took a sheepskin coat belonging to Will Maxwell. They also took a rifle and
two revolvers which were lying on the table in the sitting room.
Fern Maxwell, the eldest daughter of the Sheriff, did not know that the jail
break was in progress until the men ran into the house. “I was playing the
piano and didn’t even hear the shooting. The first I knew of the affair was
when Smith and Convey came running into the house. I walked out into the
parlor and they grabbed hold of me, each one gripping an arm. They started
to take me toward the cell room and I asked them what they were going to do
with me. They told me to shut my mouth or they would blow my head off, so I
kept quiet. They grabbed Clara, my 11-year-old sister, who was lying on a
lounge in the back hall, and brought her along. They put us both in the cell
room and then locked the door.
The process by which the bandits procured their guns and ammunition while
incarcerated in jail is unknown. Authorities are of the opinion that the
weapons were smuggled into the jail by Convey’s wife, who has been a visitor
to the jail on several occasions. The last time she visited the jail was a
week ago Sunday. The woman has been arrested and is confined in jail in
Sioux City. She is being held for investigation. Mrs. Convey refused to
talk about her husband’s escape.
The theory first advanced was that the prisoners had made their escape from
town either in a stolen car or one provided for them by outside pals. Towns
within a radius of a hundred miles were notified as quickly as possible of
the jail break.
Approaches to towns in Plymouth county were guarded by armed volunteers. A
detachment of police from Sioux City headed by Commissioner J. B. Mann were
in LeMars an hour after they were notified of the crime. They said they had
put guards on all the roads leading into Sioux City. Automobile parties
scoured the surrounding country, while armed men made a search through the
outskirts of town, the railroad yards, and the stock yards. A report on
Friday night that the bandits were corralled on a hill near the McDonald
ranch below Merrill caused tremendous excitement and thirty cars loaded with
men and rifles speeded it off in every direction. Night and day, the city
building has been crowded with people anxiously awaiting developments and
with men anxious to volunteer their services in helping to catch the
murderers. The wildest kinds of rumors fly continuously and are eagerly
grasped and discussed.
The discovery of the two coats and a rifle on Saturday afternoon upset the
automobile escape theory. They coats were found northeast of town. A
searching party found tracks which indicated the men had gone east after
leaving the jail and left the road near St. Joseph’s church and taken to the
fields. The rifle taken from the Sheriff’s house was found in the yard at
the Nemmers residence on the corner of Franklin and Sixth streets. One of
the coats was found in a corn field near the road leading to Dalton’s
swimming pool and the other coat was found near the Illinois stock yards.
On Sunday morning blood hounds brought here from Waterloo were put on the
trail where the coats were found. The dogs followed a course through
pastures and cornfields and crossed both the Illinois Central and Omaha
tracks. They went readily as far as the Wood school house on the way to
Seney, where they seemed to be at fault and followed several leads a short
ways and then faltered. The theory is that the bandits scattered.
In the afternoon dogs were taken out again to a point between Struble and
Craig after a report was received in town that two bareheaded men had been
sighted in a corn field. This quest proved futile and the dogs were brought
back to town and taken east in the evening.
CAPTURE ALL FIVE
ASSASSING ARE CORRALED BY POSSES YESTERDAY
TWO ARE CAUGHT AT MAURICE
Escaped Jail Breakers Hid in Corn Fields in Day Time and Barns at
Night—Are Taken to Sioux City for Safe Keeping
The five bandits, who broke jail on Friday night, after shooting Sheriff
Maxwell and his son, William, were captured yesterday and are now lodged
in the Woodbury county jail for safe keeping.
On Sunday evening about 8 o'clock a telephone message was received that
a young son of Joseph Stinton had been held up and robbed, while leaving
his father's farm, near Struble. The young man is a deaf mute. He was
husking corn at the Bullington farm the past few days and was returning
there after spending Sunday at home. He was driving a horse and buggy
when a short distance from the house was stopped by two men, who pointed
guns at him. They took his watch and a few dollars. He said the men
were masked or had handkerchiefs over their faces.
On receipt of the news of this hold up, the supposition arose that
members of the Convey gang had perpetrated this fresh outrage. New
posses started out for the Stinton place.
Thinking this would prove a new clew on which blood hounds could be
used, a telegram was sent down the line to Ross C. Baldwin, of Waterloo,
to intercept him on the road and bring back the bloodhounds, which he
had taken east after working them here on Sunday. The message got him
at Storm Lake and he returned to LeMars yesterday morning. The dogs
were taken to the spot where Stinton was held up and started on a trail
which led to a school house a little ways off. Here the dogs seemed
puzzled and were casting about for a scent. Dick Stewart of LeMars
appeared on the scene and informed the members of this posse that two of
the members of the Convey gang were corralled in a bunk house on the
Great Northern railway at Maurice, by a party of Maurice men.
Stewart added that he was on his way from LeMars to Ireton and stopped
at Maurice where he learned two men had been seen to enter a bunk house.
He left the Maurice man on guard while he went to the Stinton place to
inform Mayor Eilers.
Sheriff Groneweg, of Council Bluffs, says when the LeMars men arrived at
Maurice they found Convey and Lee Barrington had been captured by men in
Maurice. Convey appeared cowed and was shaking and shivering and was
suffering from frost bite. There were brought to LeMars in R. B.
Dalton's car, he having driven the officers out. Near LeMars Convey and
Barrington were switched into a car which skirted the outlying part of
town and taken by Deputy Sheriff Sickler and Cecil McGruder to Sioux
City to avert possible mob violence which had been threatened by some.
Barrington was talkative and answered some questions. Convey remained
silent and acted as if he was scared to death.
Philip Deuschle, section foreman at Maurice, was in LeMars yesterday.
He said he was startled when going into the bunkhouse to find five men
in there. They had evidently slept there all night and built a fire at
which to warm themselves. They wanted him to get them something to eat
and said if he squawked it was “dead or alive.”
The posse immediately took up the chase for the three outlaws who had
escaped, O'Keefe, Smith and Cullon, who had gone on up toward Sioux
Center and bout three or four miles up the track came up with them. The
men were lying at the side of the railroad partially hidden by when a
rifle was brought to bear on them, rose up and surrendered without
offering any resistance. There were hungry and cold and broken in
spirit by the experience of the previous three days and looked like
whipped curs. There were loaded in cars and brought to LeMars and put
in jail, arrive here about 12 o'clock. An hour later they were taken on
to Sioux City in the same care that had brought them in, L. H. Hatiliop
at the wheel and Chas. Lewsberry, Carl Witt and C. A. Lowell, an
Illinois Central special officer, having them in charge. These men were
armed when captured but had no fight left in them.
A crowd of several hundred people had gathered at the jail and shouts of
“hang them” were heard from the crowd as the prisoners were brought
ought and the officers drew revolvers and waved the crowd back.
[the rest of the newspaper microfilm for this paragraph about the crowd
is extremely faded.]
TO HONOR DEAD YOUTH
MILITARY FUNERAL WILL BE ACCORDED WILL MAXELL
To serve his country during the great war with credit and honor and to
return safe and meet death at the hands of dastard was the fate of
William Maxwell, who died from bullet wounds he received during the jail
break on Friday night. He passed away on Sunday morning.
William Maxwell was born in Plymouth county and lived here all his life
until called to service. He was born on May 5, twenty-two years ago and
was educated in the country schools and the LeMars school. He enlisted
when 19 years of age and served in Company K on the border and went to
France with the Sandstorm division and returned home seven weeks ago to
the day he was killed.
He was a fine young man, liked by everybody and his death is mourned by
his family, his friends, and host of friends.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 1:30 from the house and at 2
o'clock at the Presbyterian church. The funeral will be under military
auspices. The order of the procession will be as follows:
Colors.
Band.
Escort – One Platoon.
Clergy.
Hearse.
Family.
Service Men.
Friends.
The pallbearers will be friends of his with who he serve in the army:
Ben Thelles,
Fay Terpenning,
Otto H. Heeren,
Luther C. Green,
George Hes___?
George Pech.
All the business houses and offices in the city will be closed during
the hours of the funeral in honor of the deceased.
LeMars Sentinel
Nov. 21, 1919
GET LIFE SENTENCE
FIVE BANDITS PLEAD GUILTY TO MURDER CHARGE
THEY ESCAPE THE DEATH PENALTY
Desperadoes Were Brought to Court House in LeMars Under Cover of
Darkness and Hurried Away After the Sentence is Pronounced
Lee Barrington, Harry Smith, James O'Keefe, William Cullon and William
Convey must sever the rest of their lives in the Iowa state penitentiary
at Fort Madison as punishment for the murder of William Maxwell, who was
killed by the five men when they escaped from the county jail here last
Friday. There were sentenced by Judge C. C. Bradley, of the Plymouth
county district court at 8 o'clock Wednesday after the grand jury at
LeMars had returned indictments of first degree murder against the five
men at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. It is the first time in the
history of the state that so great a number were given life terms for
one offense.
The men were brought to LeMars under cover of darkness and as soon as
sentence was pronounced the prisoners were taken back to the Woodbury
county jail. They were taken from there under a heavy guard yesterday
morning to the penitentiary at Fort Madison.
The formal court proceedings occupied less than half an hour.
J. W. Kindig, of Sioux City, deputy state attorney, was retained by the
state to assist County Attorney Bedell. J. W. Parsons, of Des Moines,
also was here, representing the State Banker's association to take a
hand in the proceedings.
The rapid disposal of the men came after J. W. Kindig, special
prosecutor, held a conference with the men and secured their promise to
plead guilty. All of the bandits accepted the murder indictment,
although it is the option of several officials that not more than two of
them would be made to answer for the killing of young Maxwell. The men
feel satisfied, however, and are appreciative of the protection they
received from the civilian posse that captured them and did not want to
risk any further exposure to a mob at a trial.
Three automobiles carrying the bandits, and guarded by Sheriff W. H.
Jones, of Sioux City; Sheriff Harlow, of Onawa; Sheriff Groneweg, of
Council Bluffs; Sheriff Myers, of Logan; Deputy Sheriff Jackson, Special
deputies Ed. Crook and Lee Glew and State Agents Risden and Van Wagnen,
left Sioux City at 6:30 and delivered the me to LeMars and returned them
to jail at Sioux City at 11 o'clock.
Sheriff Maxwell was consulted in the matter and inasmuch as capital
punishment has rarely been enforced in the state of Iowa, acquiesced in
the disposal of the men.
Only court officials were present at the dramatic scene which was
enacted in the courthouse. The prisoners, guarded by officers were
heavily manacled and presented a coward, craven appearance. There were
apparently glad to save their worthless skins.
Citizens on the street yesterday expressed their gladness that swift
punishment was meted out to the desperadoes but regretted that the
murderers of William Maxwell would not hang.
LAST HONORS PAID
FUNERAL OF WILLIAM MAXWELL ATTENDED BY VAST CONCOURSE
SERVICE MEN IN UNIFORM LEAD
Business In City Practically Suspended While Citizens Gather from All Over
County to Pay Last Tribute to a Gallant Youth
The funeral of William A. Maxwell, who was killed by assassins, was held on
Tuesday afternoon and upwards of three thousand people gathered to do honor
to the memory of a gallant youth who lost his life while on duty, and to
express their sympathy and sorrows for the bereaved father, mother and
sisters.
Business in the city was suspended during the hours of the funeral and all
public offices and stores were closed. In point of attendance the funeral
was the largest ever held in LeMars. It is estimated that more than 2,000
persons viewed the remains after the services at the Presbyterian Church and
fully that number viewed the cortege as it left the home and joined in the
procession which accompanied the body to the burying ground. It was an
impressive sight and hundred showed visibly the mingled emotions they felt
as they thought of his untimely end and the tragedy brought home not only to
the family, but to the community.
The funeral was in charge of the soldiers of the American Legion and service
men from all over the county the following posts being represented: Wasmer
Post, LeMars; Horschler Post, Akron; Nash Post, Kingsley; Pieper Post,
Remsen; and Oleson Post, Merrill. Three hundred former service men headed by
six former service officers, all in uniform, escorted the body of the dead
young man. The line of march extended from the armory to the Sheriff’s
house, then to the First Presbyterian Church, and to the LeMars cemetery.
The LeMars Military band led followed by the colors, with a G.A.R. color
guard, Members of the American Legion were next in order, followed by a
squad of Sioux City policemen, state detectives and a detail of Sheriffs
from surrounding counties, the court house officers and city officials.
The Pallbearers were former service men of the squad which Will Maxwell was
a member at the time the LeMars troops went to Deming to join the Sandstorm
division.
Hundreds of floral tributes, many of most beautiful design adorned the
chancel and banked the grave. The casket was draped with the colors under
which he served and fought.
At the grave side after a few brief words, taps were sounded as the body was
lowered to its resting place.
The services at the church were conducted by Rev. H. V. Comin and the choir
rendered appropriate selections. Mr. Comin said in part:
William A. Maxwell was born in Westfield township, Plymouth County, on the
4th of January, 1898. He spent his early life on the farm from whence he
attended the country schools. When the family moved to LeMars, he entered
the city schools and would have graduated with the high school Class of 1918
had he not heard and answered the call of his country to serve in the hour
of her greatest need. He volunteered his services on the 1st of May, 1917,
was inducted into our own Company K, was sent to Camp Cody at Deming, New
Mexico, on August 27, 1917, where he spent a solid year with the Sandstorm
division, sailing for France in September, 1918. He had already enlisted in
the army of King Jesus. Before the sacred desk where his body now lies, as
he stood on the threshold of young manhood, he dedicated his life to the
service of God, December 26, 1915. With the same frank and fearless
overflow of enthusiasm which characterized everything he undertook to do, he
made that confession before many witnesses and I regard it as one of the
rarest satisfactions of my ministry to have received him into full
membership of this church. Thenceforward life moved rapidly for him and
crowded into three or four years at the end were experiences such as men of
the past have been called to meet in a long lifetime. So that if you ask
for an explanation of William A. Maxwell’s untimely taking off, I answer
that life is not a matter of long years, but of purpose and depth and
intensity.
“That life is longest which is best;
Tis ours to work; to God belongs the rest.”
With the manner of his going we are all quite familiar and therefore need
not concern ourselves with that now, Suffice it to say as “taps” were
sounded, marking the end of his brief earthly day, the last notes were
blended into sweetest harmony with the Sabbath morning reveille of
everlasting rest.
He has answered, “Here” to the last roll call,
Has been mustered out of these earthly ranks
But his life goes on as the curtains fall
Twixt him and the friends on these hither banks.
He has gone to join that shadowy _____.
Whose call rings loud and clear to us,
To you from falling hands we throw the torch,
Be yours to hold it high;
If ye break faith with us who died,
We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Rest in peace, thy warfare ended;
All thine earthly conflicts won.
All good deeds shall be commended,
Hear thy Master say, ‘Well Done.’
William A. Maxwell died in defense of those same ideals for whose
maintenance he offered his life two years ago just as truly as if he had
died on the battlefield. This tragedy opens our eyes to the fact that the
war which began on the other side has got to be finished right here at home.
Alas that so many who found it easy to die if need be in defense of ideals
should not now be willing to live for them also. Of the two services, the
latter is most difficult. William A. Maxwell did both at one stroke.
Whether living or dying, he gave all he had in defense of those principles
which we all hold dear. And, to me, the most heartening circumstances in
the world situat5ion which now confronts us is the fact that our disbanded
service men are almost a unit on the side of law and order. They will make
a short shift of sporadic revolution, and yet they will do it in orderly
ways. But, alas, that we need such blows as this to teach us the lesson of
needed vigilance! The forces that are seeking to overthrow law and to
substitute license for real liberty, are every whit as dangerous foes to the
world as the autocratic powers we have just put down; and the fight in which
William A. Maxwell lost his life is a challenge to every red-blooded
American to re-consecrate his all to stamping them out.
The tragedy occasioning this concourse cries aloud for greater speed in the
prosecution of our criminals. American justice is proverbially slow and it
is just such delays that makes justice miscarry and subjects a great many
more and innocent people to the menace of reprobate men like these. We
shouldn’t prosecute in the heat of passion,--we cannot atone for one crime
by committing another,--but better that some innocent man should suffer than
the safety of society should be imperiled by the constant threat of a crime
like this. If the man who shot Detective James Britton in Sioux City had
been prosecuted while his crime was fresh, no mandlin sentiment would have
swayed the jury to even disagree on the vote for conviction. Such methods
only serve to encourage crime and to add to the number of evil doers, as the
wise man predicted long ago, --“Because justice and judgment are not
executed speedily against an evil work; therefore the hearts of the sons of
men are fully set in them to do evil.” Every drop of William A. Maxwell’s
shed blood cries for sure and speedy justice to be meted out to those who
cared no more for his promising life, than they would have cared for the
life of a dog. Let an orderly process of law consign them, as soon as maybe,
to the place where they belong. No, I’m not going back to a barbarous age
for a law which exacts the extreme penalty. I am still representing the
Price of Peace, who, while he was merciful to all penitents, poured never
such devastating vials of wrath on those who had hardened their hearts when
he said, “Ye hypocrites, ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how can ye
escape the damnation of hell.”
There is a rod which was spoken by the man of all men—the ideal of man of
the human race—which has been ringing in my ears ever since this tragedy
occurred: “The hour is come.”
You remember that in the earlier part of his ministry, when friends were
warning him against certain dangers, suggesting that he make fewer
sacrifices and, in general, take a little better care of himself—he
answered, “Mine hour is not yet come,” indicating that for him, on the great
clock of destiny some definite hour was to mark his doom. And when that
time came, he repeated the assertion again and again, “The hour is come.”
Likewise for every many there is a fatal hour, and whether or not his life
is long or short cannot be determined by the number of his years; for some
men live longer in a minute than others in a month. It is the richness and
depth of life that counts and “Every man is immortal till his work is done.”
So William A. Maxwell could say of his life, “The hour is come,” as he gave
us his life in the line of duty.
DEATH OF MISS TYLER
HAD BEEN A RESIDENT HERE SINCE CHILDHOOD
Miss Mae Tyler, a resident of LeMars since early childhood, died at her
home, 612 Clark street, on Monday night, following an illness of twelve days
from pneumonia. Earlier on the day of her death, he condition had apparently
become better and the news of her death came as a shock to her many friends.
Miss Tyler was a resident of the city since coming here in 1880 with her
parents, was educated in the city schools and graduated with the Class of
1892. After completing her education, she followed the profession of music
teaching and her many pupils can bear witness to her faithful work and
conscientious effort and her kindly sociable ways.
Mae Carrie Tyler was born at Cleveland, N.Y., on July 7, 1878, and was a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Tyler. Shortly after her birth, her parents
moved to Lowell, Mass., and when she was seven years old the family moved to
LeMars which has been her home since then.
Miss Tyler was a devoted daughter and since the death of her father six
years ago, has tendered with assiduous care her mother, who is in poor
health. Miss Tyler was imbued with a pleasant and cheery disposition and
faced life’s trials and sorrows, of which she had her share, with a brave
heart and smiling face. She was affiliated with the Baptist church of this
city for more than twenty years and was organist of the church and a worker
in the Sunday School and active in the religious and social life of the
community.
She leaves to mourn her death her aged mother. Her only other near relative
is Harold Carpenter, of Cedar Rapids, who came to attend the funeral which
was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Baptist church.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
November 25, 1919
ARE BEHIND BARS
BANDITS IN SEPARATE WARDS AT STATE PRISON
-----
CONVEY IS A NERVOUS WRECK
-----
LeMars Jail Breakers and Bank Robbers and Murderers Are Put Where They Will
Cease to Be a Menace to Society Forever
A dispatch from the Iowa prison at Fort Madison dated Saturday says:
Five men, who shortly after midnight surrendered their names at the gates of
the Iowa prison in exchange for numbers, awoke behind steel bars this
morning, no longer outlaws, but state charges with a life time of enforced
restraint ahead of them. William Convey, W. Cullon, Lee Barrington, James
O’Keefe and Harry Smith, the Northwestern Iowa desperadoes, checked their
names in the warden’s office and became convicts Nos. so and so. For the
first time in many months, the outlaws awoke without that haunted fear that
pursues criminals outside the pale of the law. For, when the bandit quintet
passed through the gates, figuratively inscribed with the warning, “Abandon
hope, all ye who enter here.” They did so with a feeling of relief. The
fear of posse and lynching party that had haunted them for nearly a week was
left outside.
Northwestern Iowa sheriffs, deputies and the five bandits arrived at the
Fort Madison prison this morning at 12:15 o’clock, after an eighteen hour
ride in grimy day coaches. They were met at the station by Deputy Skyles
with the prison cars and reached the prison at 12:30 o’clock. Warden J. R.
Perkins, formerly pastor of the First Christian Church, of Sioux City,
personally received the party.
The prisoners were tired and silent. The prison night force searched the
bandits carefully and listed their money and belongings. At 12:45 o’clock
the prisoners were ready to enter the yard. Sheriff Jones and the other
officers waved goodbye and left the turnkey’s office for the hotel.
“All ready, boys,” said Night Captain Winters.
The men filed into the prison yard, followed by the night force, the warden
and deputy wardens. They were taken to the bathhouse, stripped and searched
again.
Convey was nervous. He clasped and unclasped his hands, fidgeting and gave
many indications of being worn out physically and mentally.
Smith, Cullon and Barrington were moody. O’Keefe was the only affable
member of the party. He appeared to be in splendid physical shape.
“Any of you a native of Iowa?” asked Warden Perkins.
Each man shook his head.
Cullon was particularly evasive when questioned. Smith was respectful and
timid.
The new convicts were dressed in prison clothes and started for the cell
house at 12:55 o’clock. Rain was falling dismally in the semi-darkness of
the prison yard and the newcomers looked about curiously. The big cell house
with its 400 prisoners was silent. Guards came and went noiselessly.
“Convey first,” said Captain Winters, and the first of the bandits stepped
into his cell at 1 o’clock. The door slid back noiselessly and the prisoner
stared through the bars. Barrington was second on the same range. A guard
mounted to the second range with Cullon and Smith. O’Keefe was last and
moved more quickly than the others.
The long corridor became silent except for occasional coughs.
“Place each man in separate departments,” instructed Warden Perkins.
“All right, Sir,” said Deputy Skyles.
This was the final order of the night, giving each man an eight-hour a day
task for life.
CLAIMS A TRUE REPORT
SAYS NO OFFICERS OR DETECTIVES WERE AT THE CAPTURE.
Speaking of the outlaws who killed William Maxwell and were captured near
Maurice, the Maurice Times says:
On Sunday night they reached here and all five took up their quarters in a
bunk car near the Great Northern section house. In the morning the crowd
split, three of them going north and the other two tried first to get food
from the section foreman, Philip Deutchler, who understood the situation and
came up town to report. A bunch of the Maurice boys commenced to gather up
arms with the intention of capturing them which they did without a bit of
trouble, or without the assistance of any of the authorities who were not
even in town at the time of the capture. The following are the names of the
Maurice boys who freely offered their services and who are honestly
responsible for the capture of the first two of the convicts, and who were
willing to take chances of life or death: P. C. VanDriel, who first ordered
them to surrender; Andrew Hop; Ira Hop, who helped search them; F.W. Holt;
M. VanGorkam; Paul VanOort; E. C. Cole, who helped search them; Dick Smith.
Philip Deutschler, who first reported, is also one responsible for their
capture by reporting.
The names of these two men were William Convey, the leader of the gang and
the worst of the bunch, who a reward of $1500.00 was offered for him dead or
alive, and Lee Barrington, the other for which $1000 offered dead or alive.
This is a report of the above and there was none of the detectives or other
officials at the time. These two were caught in a pasture near the Great
Northern overhead bridge south of the depot and then marched up town in
front of the opera house. Shortly the officials came into Maurice from the
north in autos and the two were turned over to them and bound with ropes,
hands and feet, put in an auto and taken to jail by some of the officials.
FIND A TRUE BILL
CULVER KENNEDY IS INDICTED BY THE GRAND JURY
IMPLICATED IN BANK ROBBERY
Wilbur Siglin, Who With Will Convey, Made Murderous Assault on Sheriff and
His Daughter, Pleads Guilty and Gets Eight Years.
Culver Kennedy, of Sioux City, who was arrested with Barrington, Cullon,
Smith and O’Keefe, the Westfield bank robbers now doing time at Ft. Madison,
and bound over to the grand jury under $7,500 bond, was indicted by the
Plymouth County grand jury last week on three counts. He is charged with
entering or attempting to enter a bank with intent to rob, the maximum
penalty for which is life imprisonment in the penitentiary, with larceny,
the penalty for which is five years, and conspiracy to commit felony, the
penalty for which is three years. His bonds on the counts aggregate
$15,000, which was furnished. County Attorney Bedell does not expect the
case against Kennedy to be reached at this term.
The Plymouth County grand jury made its final report on Saturday afternoon
at 4 o’clock and the members were thanked by the judge and discharged for
the year. The work of the grand jury was unusually heavy at this term in
view of the crimes recently committed in the county.
In addition to the crimes which have recently stirred the community, the
grand jury probed a number of other matters which have not yet been
divulged. While in session, the grand jury investigated the county jail
building and recommended that some alterations and additions be made to
strengthen the jail and make it a safer place in which to detain
malefactors.
On Saturday evidence in the case of M. R. Faber against R. Van Zyl was
concluded and arguments by opposing counsel will be submitted later in the
term.
On Monday the petit jurors convened. About 7 or 8 of the panel were excused
on various grounds.
In district court yesterday Wilbur Siglin was brought up for trial from
Sioux City, where he has been in jail since the Convey gang broke jail here
and he refused to go with them.
Siglin pleaded guilty to two charges, one, assault with intent to commit
manslaughter, and a second charge of conspiracy to commit a felony. Judge
Bradley sentenced him to five years on the first charge and three years on
the second charge. He was taken to the reformatory at Anamosa last night.
Siglin was with Will Convey and other members of the Burzette Gang on the
night of June 21. The men were running a car loaded with booze and when
Sheriff Maxwell and his daughter, Fern, went to arrest them at a point south
of town, the bandits opened fire and made their escape, after the oil in the
Sheriff’s car, which was pursing them, gave out. Siglin refused to leave the
jail the night of November 14, when Convey, O’Keefe, Barrington, Smith, and
Cullon made their escape after shooting Sheriff Maxwell and his son,
William. This fact is doubtless what caused a mitigation in the severity of
his sentence.
BIG GAME ON THANKSGIVING
Le Mars and Cherokee Football Teams Meet Here on Thursday.
The LeMars high school football team went to Rock Valley on Friday and
played the Rock Valley high school. The score resulted in a tie 14 to 14,
after a heard and evenly fought game.
The big game of the high school football season will be played here on
Thanksgiving day when the high school team will meet the Cherokee team. The
Cherokee team will be accompanied by a large number of rooters in a special
train.
The game between Cherokee and LeMars on Thanksgiving day has become an
annual event and always creates a large amount of interest among
footballists and followers of the game.
COACHES ARE DERAILED
Accident to Passenger Train on Great Northern Road.
The passenger train going south on Sunday morning from Dalton at 9:45 on the
Great Northern railroad was derailed near Merrill. Two passenger coaches
left the track but fortunately none of the passengers or train crew were
injured. The track was torn up. The train did not arrive at its
destination in Sioux City until nearly 5 o’clock.