The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-09
THE MoDERN CLAUDE DUvAL.
[From the Kansas oitv Times. !

The community was startled on lasi
evening by report which was wide.
ly circulated that the James boys were
in town and had committed a series
of bold and daring robberies. On in
vestigation the reports proved to be
in the main correct.
j. A. Hamlin, agent in this city fol
Halls Safe and Lock Company, was
the first party honored with vista
ton. He, in company with young
lady. was returning home in car
riage from Westport, and when ar
irving just inside the city limits, was
/ stopped by three horsemen, all we'll
mounted and wearing masks which
half concealed their faces. They COM
manded him to aIlght from his car
riage, and presenting their navy re-
! volvers, politely requested him to
hold up his hands. He says that he
recognized their influence and readily
obeyed, and stood quiet while one
went through his pockets, another
standing in front with pair of navies
which he seemed disposed to use with
out invitation. The secured $50 from
Mr., Hamlfn, giving him back SI.25
with the remark that he might want q
drink when he returned to the city.
When through with him they di-
rected him to turn around and drive
away from the city, informing him if
he "squealed on 'em" they would
shoot him on sight. The lady was
not troubled, and the cracksmen were
as cool and polite as highwaymen of
the olden time. They were well
mounted, heavily armed, and well
dressed. The chiet of the party was
a tall, well formed man of about twen-
ty-five years of age. and wore a slouch
hat.
Concluding their little businesswith
Mr.. Hamlin, they passed along and
tackled a party of Germans, from
whom they obtained only 50 10. A
well known citizen, whose place of
business is on the corner of Fifth and
Main, was relieved of SO.
General Darr and Mark Crane were
stopped, and Darr's watch and chain
was taken, but returned, DR.. Wocher
was the loser of his pocket-book and
number of valuable papers. r. S.
McIldutf and j. III. Lipscomb, promi-
nent lawyers, were met and command
ed to fork over, but having been out
bathing, they fortunately had nothing
with them, and the robbers passed on.
Other parties were served in the
same manner, and the gentlemen of
the road, after all this, escaped and
rode safely away into the country.
From their appearance and thorough |
manner of conducting business, their
GOODNESS and recklessness, people are
eertrin that they are no other than the
celebrated james boys. Whether this
is true or not it is certain that they
were old hands at their calling, fully |
experienced and amply possessed of
all the peculiar charactics which go !
to make up the modern Missouri ban
d;tti.
A posse of policemen was sent out |
to capture them, but no. trace of them I
was discovered, and it is probable that
they will escape an arrest. The peo-
pie at the Exposition grounds, on
hearing the news, became greatly ex-
cited, thinking an attempt would be 7
madeto capture the large amount of
money taken in atthe gate.
The affair was the theme of CONVEX
sation on the streets up to late hour,
and feeling was manifested to give
The villains summary punishment
should they be apprehended.