| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from
microfilm of the Calhoun Chronicle dated 2/19/1895.
This is a wild, wooly and rambling tale by the newspaper editor.
Last Tuesday morning Joe Givens, a farmer residing about one and
one
half miles from town came in and gave information that on the evening
before
a man had been at his house and asked for a nights lodging, and on
being
refused asked permission to stay by the fire until the moon raised,
which
permission was granted, and while thus waiting he told Mr. Givens that
he was a detective and was after a man by the name of Richardson who
was
wanted in Ohio.
He also asked particularly if there was anyone
at
Grantsville who followed arresting men, etc., etc. No sooner had
Mr. Givens given the information than J.T. Waldo, the chief of terrors
to violators of law, and ye brave (?) little Editor, who acted as high
private in the rear rank, mounted horses and started in the direction
the
man seemed to be going. His trail was first struck at Chapman
Johnson's,
on Bull river, which was followed to the mouth where he crossed the
Little
Kanawha river on the ice and proceeded up said river toward the mouth
of
Steer creek.
After crossing the river a hot chase of about four
miles
followed on horses before we came in sight of our man, and when we did
see him it was in a bend of the road a distance of three-fourths of a
mile,
he seeing us about the same time and started on double quick, took to
the
river where he crossed on the ice, thence through the snow drifts in a
field and up a point where it was never supposed anything but a goat
could
climb.
Arriving at the point where he took to the river and
hills
ye scribe dismounted and gave chase on foot, being particularly
careful
to keep a safe distance behind, and Chief Waldo aided by Jacob
Hershman
and Jas. Hayhurst, who had joined in the chase by this time flanked
him
on the right and headed him off.
The fellow, not realizing our
intention
to keep a safe distance behind, conceived the idea that by taking off
his
shoes he would be the better enabled to make his escape, and while
pulling
off his shoes Chief Waldo got close to him and at once fired two shots
from his pistol to give others knowledge of his whereabouts and then
the
chase began in earnest.
Our fugitive being in his sock feet, and
Waldo fresh only added to the already speedy chase so down over the
hill
and cliffs they came, sometimes standing on one end and sometimes on
the
other and at other times laying full length in the snow.
Richardson
fell over a cliff and lost his shoes, likewise Waldo and lost
his
hat, but not deterred by this and on to the river they went like mad
cattle,
where Richardson again crossed on the ice.
Waldo, realizing that
his man was outwinding him and gaining ground, again set up fire with
his
44 caliber Colts, which seemed to make no change in Richardson's
business
except to make him run faster and more determined to escape.
By
this
time, however, Jake Hersman had gotten astride of one of the best
little
saddle animals in all these regions round about, and being in an open
field,
soon came upon the desperate man where he had fallen in the snow
completely
exhaused.
He was helped to his feet and taken to a house near by
where his frozen feet were bathed and refreshments served after which
he
was brought to town and lodged in jail where, at this writing, he is
awaiting
the arrival of the Sheriff of Athens county, Ohio, who will take him
back
where he will have to answer for a charge of blackmail, theft,
breaking
into a car at Torch, Ohio, and for breaking jail, etc.
Richardson
was raised in Gilmer county, and has rather a bad reputation.
He
outran a posse of men and escaped arrest at Kanawha Station last
Monday,
but we believe he will remember the chase near the mouth of Steer
Creek
if he should live to be old.
In justice to Richardson we give space to the following which is
substantially
the statement made by him in reference to the crime for which he is
wanted:
"I am a detective belonging to the National Bureau and I had a warrant
for the arrest of a young man and so informed Sheriff Riley, who
accompanied
me and in fact made the arrest, and took what money the young man had
and
afterwards gave the same to me."
"I started with the prisoner and
about
the time the train pulled out he jumped and made his escape, and then
swore
out a warrant for me. "All the Sheriff has in following me is to
keep
out of trouble himself. I intended to go back and stand trial as
soon as I could go home and make arrangements for some important
witnesses.
If I get justice there is nothing against me."
LATER - A thing having more the appearance of a beer bloat than a
man,
representing himself to be the Sheriff of Athens county, Ohio, arrived
Friday evening, and took Richardson away early Saturday morning.
From his narrow contractedness, we infer that there is no wonder
prisoners
escape from his custody. He played the letter G., compass and
square
for all they were worth. | 
