One of the male passengers refused to keep his arms up until one of the bandits explained that if he continued to disobey their order a bullet would be sent through his head. The passengers were then asked to place their money, watches, and jewelry in a grain sack. A goated old gentleman who admired the robbers horses told the bandits that he had served in the confederate cavalry during the Civil War. Before leaving the scene, a large bandit, believed to have been Cole Younger, returned the man's purse to him. After unhitching the team of horses from the coach and driving them away with gunshots, the robbers quietly rode away.
Amounts taken by the gang in the robbery vary greatly.
When the coach finally reached the Sumpter Hotel several hours later , Sheriff Little was notified and a posse was formed to search the mountains around Hot Springs. Since the James and Younger brothers were well known by this time, it was simply assumed by the passengers that they were robbed by the James - Younger gang. Official documentation of the bandits true identity would not come until some eight years later when Jesse James was killed by Bob Ford at his home in St. Joseph, Missouri, April 3, 1882. A gold pocket watch identified as one taken from Hot Springs coach passenger was found among Jesse James' person effects. Trains, Banks, Stagecoaches. . .