Then followed the escape from jail by Ed, the first escape in the county in which there was a fight. It occurred August 28, 1876, and while no one was injured, it was only because the Maxwell boys were unable to procure weapons. Captain Venard was Sheriff at the time, and on the night in question he went to lock up the prisoners in their cells, James Blazer standing as door guard. As the sheriff stepped inside the corridor, Ed Maxwell, who was standing back some distance from the door to deceive the sheriff as to his intentions, started to walk away, throwing him off his guard. Maxwell suddenly turned with a spring like a cat and jumped on the sheriff. Lon Maxwell at the same time sprang at him and Charles Robert jumped for Blazer. An exciting tussle followed, but Ed Maxwell and Roberts succeeded in getting away, Lon being held. The chase that followed for Maxwell is one well remembered by every old citizen. Alexander McLean was Mayor at that time, and it so happened he was just passing as Maxwell darted out the door. Instantly surmising what had occurred, he gave chase after the fleeing outlaw and the race, while it lasted, was an exciting one. However, Maxwell was the fleetest and was soon lost sight of. Instantly, almost, the town was aroused and gave chase. Captain Farwell, Marshal Karr McClintock (both now deceased) and George Kink mounted horses and rode through the country notifying the farmers to be on their guard, as Maxwell would more than likely steal a horse, one of his old tricks, and endeavor to escape. Notwithstanding the warning he succeed in stealing one of Elijah Welch's and made his escape. Lon was sent to the penitentiary and Ed was afterward recaptured at Stillwater, Minn., his dare deviltry attracting attention up there, an investigation was made as to where he was wanted, there being a reward of $350 offered for his arrest. He was decoyed into a stable and arrested, brought back to Macomb, taken from the train to the court house, pleaded guilty and was off for Joliet in less than twenty-four hours to serve a six years' sentence. After serving their time they were released and came back to this county, but except for one short trip of robbery through this part, they did not remain long, being too well known. On their last trip, they stole a horse, then a horse and buggy, and drove from here through to Fulton County and disappeared. Their description was sent all over the country by this time, and an effort was made to capture them for horse-stealing they having stolen a horse in Henderson County which they drove through here. At Durand, Wisconsin, two men named Coleman attempted to arrest them on suspicion of their being the men wanted here for horse stealing, and both were killed. This was the first murder directly traceable to them, although they were accused of killing a sheriff in another county in this state. A posse was called to arrest them for this double murder, but they whipped the posse off. The militia were ordered out to arrest them and they too were beaten back by the two outlaws. By boat, foot and stealing horses they at last eluded all their pursuers and disappeared for months. So daring were their deeds that they gained a national reputation and were the subject of stories in the dime novel trash. They were known in Wisconsin as the Williams brothers, and under this name were the heroes in the novels. The capture of Ed was affected at Grand Island, Neb., Nov. 9, 1881, and was the result of more of an accident than anything else. The boys were representing themselves as hunters and were both heavily armed. Their actions aroused suspicion and the officers being notified, visited the house where they were staying and approaching them unawares, grabbed Ed and overpowered him. Lon was alarmed and got one shot at the officers, but notwithstanding his wonderful skill, missed his man. The officers then ran for him but he turned and ran and was never afterward seen alive. Ed wad fully identified as the man wanted, although he denied his identity. Brothers of the murdered men in Wisconsin accompanied the officers and positively identified him as the man who killed their brothers. He was taken back to Wisconsin, November 19, 1881, and taken to the court house for trial. The work was short and swift, however, and justice speedily meted out. He was surrounded by a mob of men who threw a rope around his neck and started down stairs supposedly to hang him to a tree. This was done but he was dead long before he reached the tree, as he was dragged down stairs at the end of the rope. The coroner's jury viewed the body, examined the necessary witnesses and returned a verdict that he came to his death by falling down the court house stairs, with which verdict the courts were well satisfied. Lon's death was not so sensational but well did he pay for his misdeeds. He died in a box car in a western city, alone, unattended, with a black past to view and a blacker future to contemplate. Both of these boys were remarkably fine shots with gun and revolver. Lon was particularly skilled, and stories of their remarkable powers are told. Ed feared nothing, was more like a panther than a human. He was small and swarthy and as treacherous as the animals whose actions he imitated. He was an inveterate liar and naturally mean and vicious. Sometimes he expressed a claim of intended reformation on account of the love he bore some woman, but he never gave evidence that he had adopted a better life. Lon was an arrant coward when not with Ed and gave evidence of it when Ed was captured. Had it been Ed who got away instead of Lon, the officers making the capture would never have reached the jail with their prisoner, Lon was big and strong, and effeminate in his actions. Much space has been given to the notorious Maxwell boys, for the reason they were the most prominent examples of the worst element of this section of the county. There were great readers of the yellow-covered literature, and became fully possessed with the idea that they were Dick Turpins, James Boys, and all the other list of degenerates. This account is given at length to show the natural end of such violent, reckless lives.