, 1868-09-18
The Boise stage Robbers.
Doc. 5. AustIns statement.

From Doc. 8. Austin, one OF John Hailey's
stage drivers, we get the following interest
ing account Of how the stage robbers and
murderers, who lately robbed Wells, Fargo
q Co., and the U. s. Mail, were found out
and captured. We have been personally
acquainted with Mr.. Austin for eight or ten
years, and know him to be truthful and
reliable person. He most assuredly deserves
great deal of credit for the bravery he has
displayed in bringing this band of outlaws
10 1nstice.- We hopeIfhat.the Gsnosal auv.
eminent aud Wells, Fargo & Co., will reward
him handsomely. From this statement it
appears, that Billings is the man who muir
dered Welch last Fall on the mountains be-
tween Lemhi and Boise. John f. Wheeler
is desperate man, and has been connected
with nearly all the robberies and murders
that have taken place in the Boise section of
country for a number of years. The remoy,
ing Of the treasure from the treasure-box by
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Agent, was a very
foolish move, and might have cost the lives
OF both the messenger, j. Sheppard, and s.
Austin, the driver, had they (the robbers)
entertained the least doubt of Austin's
fidelity:
81 commenced driving stage for John
HALEY on the 18th of October, 1867, from
Umatilla to Meacham's summit of the Blue
Mountains. l continued driving on this
route until the l4th of November, same year,
when | was transferred to tine Mountain
Route from Meacham's to Union Town, east
side of Grande Ronde Valley. had driven
but few trips when l met several of these
nartiea now arrasfad ond baoon,o ,..:.c
my own mind from the manner in which
they conducted themselves that they were
getting a livelihood by unlawful means.
From this time l commenced watching every
move they made, and did all l could when
meeting them to make them believe that I
was friendly inclined towards them. On the
10th of June, 1868, j. F. Wheeler arrived
at La Grande in pursuit, as be said, of two
thieves, on his way to Portland, representing
himself as Deputy U. S. Marshal from Boise
City. On the 18th of June, '68, l quit
driving for short vacation, and on the 18th
went on a visit to Walla Walla. The second
day after my arrival there, found DR.. La
burr and wife. l have been acquainted with
these people some nine or ten years, having
first met them when they lived near Rock
OlulJ On JhlN6Ej oregon.
was anxious to have private conversation
with Laburr and so took advantage Of the
first chance. l went with him 10 a watch
and jewelry store, where he sold between four
and FIVE hundred dollars worth of dust, he
stating to the storekeeper that it came from
q camp near the Shasta mines-giving it
name, which 1 knew to be false as there was
no such place in that section of country.
Before he had got the money for his dust 1
walked out of the store, and as soon as he
came out L again met him and entered into
conversation with him as usual. In the
course OF our talk he asked me if had quit
driving l told him had not quit entirely.
but that l expected to soon, that had been
in the country nearly eighteen years aud al
ways worked for every dollar got, and that
l had become tired of hard work and intend.
ed soon to resort to some other means of
making living. He then asked me if
thought Of taking unfair means to make
raise. l answered that 1 did. He then
wanted to know if was really getting des,
perate, and 1 told him that was, and that I
was satisfied that the boys knew enough. and
if they would only give me a few points 1
would soon be all right. Whereupon he told
me to ask John, (meaning j. F. Wheeler)
when he came up for a few points, and be
was satisfied John would give them to me as
he liked me very much 1 then left him,
and on the 28th of June, '6S, l again took
charge of my stock. And on the same even
ing on arriving at La Grande, l learned from
Melvin Bailey that Wheeler came up the trip
before 1 returned, and had gone down to
DR.. Laburr's, his brotherin-law. Next
morning 1 crossed over the mountain as
usual, and on my return next day 1 met
Wheeler in La Grande. After supper we
took walk around the town, when he CONS
meuced talking of the conversation had had
with DR.. Laburr at Walla Walla. He told
me then that he wanted me to go in with
them and become one of the band. l told
him that that was what | was on, but did
not like to 90 in with man if be could not
stand up to the work. de said need not
be alarmed for he had been in some tight
places, and that he would be true to me to
the last. then accepted of the position and
was considered as belonging to the band.
During the talk he told me be had taken part
in great many highway rObberies he was
one of the band that robbed Wells, Fargo 4
Co., near Virginia City, Nevada, in the spring
of 81, and iH Montana in the fall of '67, and
several other robberies of less importance
He then told me that his business down was
to pick out a place to rob Wells, Fargo &
Co.'s Express in the Blue Mountains, and
that the place they had chosen was a mile on
the road from Pelican Station towards Mea-
cham's. He was going direct home to Boise
City, and would send the boys right down
and that they would be there in two weeks
at furthest; that they would come scattered
along one at time and all meet at DIR. La
burr's ranch in the Valley, aud that he would
tell them that was one of the band The
last thing he said as we parted was: BE
careful Doc and look that everything goes
right told him l would do So Melvin
Bailey, who was barkeeper at Our House,
in La Grande, informed me from time to
time of the arrival Of the boys at Laburr's
ranch, who had all, four in number, arrived
there By the 25th of July. Dave johnson
having lame back when he arrived at the