Hilton Captured

Maud Hilton, a Barry County soldier who deserted from Camp Funston when given a furlough for a visit home last November was captured Saturday night after midnight at the home of his father-in-law George Woodhouse, by Capt. C. E. Garrison in the U.S. Army and assistants. Hilton was brought to Cassville Sunday morning and placed in jail. Sunday evening he was taken to Camp Funston by the army officers.

Hilton was heavily armed and had repeatedly told his family and neighbors and sent word to the county officers that he would die before he would be taken. He carried a gun with everywhere he went. The army officers proved too much for him and he was captured without the firing of a shot.

Two Winchesters, a shotgun and a large revolver were found in the house where Hilton was taken. The guns were brought Cassville with the captured man.

Friday evening Capt. Garrison, Sergeant Seeple and E. Powell, a war correspondent, landed in Cassville. Saturday they checked up county upon the various war activities and spent a good deal of time at the sheriff's office. Saturday evening about 8 o'clock, they, in company with Deputy Sheriff Van Zandt and Burl Reed started in a car to get Hilton and other deserters in that section of the county.

Upon arriving in the neighborhood where Hilton lived in Mountain Township and finding out that he was at the home of his father-in-law, George Woodhouse, they left their car and proceeded on foot to the Woodhouse home going through the timber most of the way and dodging all residents.

Capt. C. E. Garrison, an experienced military man, went after his man with military tactics. He gave each of the the four assistants instructions and stationed them about the Woodhouse home armed and prepared to prevent an escape. Capt. Garrison approached the house and after telling who he was, demanded admission. He was answered by Woodhouse who said there would likely be somebody killed around there. Garrison informed him that it it would be none at his party and told him that the house was surrounded, that they had come for Hilton and he was going to take him dead or alive. Hilton was ordered out of the house with his hands up and although armed and had contended that he would shoot the first man who dared to try to take him, he walked out of the room where he was sleeping with his hands up. After being told that if the move was made by anyone that he would be shot forthwith, Burl Reed made a search of the house and brought out Jack Garner who was there for the night and was sleeping in an up stair room. Garner had twice refused to appear when called by the local board to go to the training camp. Garner was turned over to the local board to be sent to Jefferson Barracks.

Hilton is a married man and now has a child. Since last November he has been defining the officers. He has worked most of the time at a sawmill and has kept himself armed every hour of the day. He said continuously that he would not be captured. Considering the approach of the house by moonlight and the way Hilton was armed the capture was one of unusual daring. Capt. Garrison displayed the nerve of the true army official in the discharge of duty. He and the other men with him deserve much credit for their good work in bringing the deserters from their hiding places and turning them over to the army authorities.

Capt. Garrison complemented Burl Reed very much for the nerve he displayed.

After the capture of Hilton the officers searched three other houses for Ben Garner, another deserter who has been harbored in the neighborhood. He was not found but noticed he was served upon his father that Ben must be turned in at once. Monday Ben came into Cassville and turned himself over to the officers.

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Cassville Republican, Thursday, Oct. 24, 1918

Hilton Gets 25 Years

Maud Hilton, the deserter who defied the officers for so long, but who was finally captured by army officers and deputies Sheriff Vanzandt and Reed a few months ago in a night raid at the home of Hilton's father-in-law in Mountain township, has been sentenced to 25 years in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan.
A letter received by the sheriff here Saturday gave the information.