The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-04-03
Atheas Cost.
Athens, Friday, April 8, 1874
Sketch of the Gad's Hill Robbers.

Louis detectives who were sent unto
them. are in many respccts extraordina-
ry men. They have impaired dignity
and romance to their profession which
II had long since LOST, and have lifted IL
above the degrading depths of petty
thievery. They recall the times when
Dick Turpin and Gland Duval figured
In England, before railroads or telegraph
wires were known and when fast horses
afforded security against capture. They
are perhaps the best types of highway
men now living, and will likely at
tract the attention Of more countries
than this before their exploits are
brought TO an end.
From sketch OF The leading members
OF the band recently published IN the
Washington Capital, from the pen Of n
writer who had known them personally,
itseems that the party consist of Arthur
Mccoy. the Younger brothers, the James
boys, and Will Shepherd. They are all
intelligent, and most Of them well edu-
Gated and well raised. Arthur Mccoy,
who appears TO be the executive officer
wac, before the war, resident Of ST.
Louis, where he occupied respected
position In society for some time, bnt
which he partially lost BY his desperate
and lawless behavior just previous TO
the war. He was regarded as formid.
able character to deal with, and having
no regard for his own life became the
terror Of his associates. During the war
no served as a Confederat spy--a school
from which he emerged aihorough des.
perad0. The most dangerous of all ene-
ia N bp atI oh III In
10 his own life, and Mccoy regarded his
as worth nothing. With an iron nerve
no united clear and accurate sight.
His pistol was rs unerring at forty PAGES
as the arrow of an Indian. A large for.
tune has been offered for his head but
he ia still in possession OF it, and will
keep 1t for good while yet. Few men
are ambitious of making the fortune.
Many have tried The experiment, but
they have all fallen before his steady
hand and trained eve.
The Younger brothers, John and Cole,
are fit associates for Mccoy. Alert,
quick, daring and remorseless, they have
contributed largely TO the notor:ctv Of
the gang. They are ardent aud roman
tic, and have often sent communications
to tho Kansas CITY Times complaining
that injustice was done them in chasing
them with ordinary thieves. On one
occasion they called ut the Times Office
late at night, and while the rest remain
ed on the street with the horses one Of
the Younger boys went to the editorial
rooms and talked with the night editor,
telling him while they had no odds to
ask of society. they wanted fair show.
Ia 10, 10
and never picked mp anything in sly
or sneak'ng way. When they wanted to
make war on society they went on the
highway, and fought for what they'got.
This was Just after the band had ridden
up to the ticket Office OF the Kansas CT
ty Exposition Grounds and robbed the
gato-keeper'in broad daylight in the
presence Of ten thousand people. This
was done, too, within twenty yards of
police station.
The few persons who happened to br
standing in the immediate proximity to
the scene OF course said nothing, know
ing TINT each one Of the robbers had
cooked revolver under the long cape
which hung over their shoulders. The
younger boys arc from Cass county,
where II Is said they have very respecta-
bio and influential relatives. The wri.
ter adds:
The James brothers, Jesse and Frank,
ale the ornaments Of the party. Jesse,
the elder, is the administrative leader of
tho gang. He manages it's finances, car
ries on its diplomacy and devises its
strategy. lie Is altogether paradoXi-
cal fellow. Outside of journalism or
the learned professions there 10 not n
better writer nor more fluent alkcr
than Jesse James in tho trans. Mississip.
pi country that know Of lie is about
five feet nine inches in hight, slendprly
built, OF u ford complexion, reddish.
brown hair, bluish.gray eyes, aud has
rather sharply defined features. lls
home, or his mothers residence, is near
kenrney station, in Clay county, aud
his fnmilv IL ono Of the most respected
In West Missouri. His uncle, Mr.. n.
NJ. James, isa wholesale merchant Of
Kansas City, and one Of the most sub.
stantial citizens. | have no idea what
made Jesse James the terrible despera-
do and outlaw he is. There Is nothing
essentially savage in his nature, aud on
tho Other hand no is "a generous, good
hearted fellow. In tho time when he
was member Of society, and before
every mans hand had been raised
against him, and his against every man
In retaliation, he was rs genial aud in
offensive young man as there was TO tc
found. and ono who gave ne good prom
ise OF useful career. But has become
aterror aud n scourge, and seems MI the
more dangerous by reason of tho IN.
telloct that ought to have fitted him to
adorn rather than curse his generation.
Such Is sketch Of the band, on
whose heads there Is reward Of So
600 offered by the Governor OF Mis-
souri,, $1,000 nv the Post Office Depart.
ment and $1,000 BY the Governor oil
Arkansas. The robberies they have
committed are too numerous to men.
ton. They capture station, aud when
the train gets ttorc, they quietly "go
through" II, get all the money and jew
elry from the passengers, aud let II pass
on. Their haunt Ia IN remote, and In