The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-18
Hiding Place of the Texas Train Rob-
bers.

The Dallas Commercial Of the 9th
says: After most thorough investiga-
/ ton of all the circumstances attending
the late railroad robberieS and a care
full following up of every clew, the de-
tectives are fully convinced that the
band of robbers who perpetrated these
daring deeds are located in Denton
| County. The direction taken by the
band in the three successful robberies
established the correctness of this con-
clusion beyond doubt.
The fastness in which these highway
men have each time successfully taken
refuge is an extensive tract of woodland,
full of underground, and very difficult
of ingress. 1t is described as place
where man could live for year and
nobody ever see him. This forest con-
tains many log cabins standing among
the trees, and in such isolated places
that nothing but long search can dis
cover them. 1t is believed there are
some good people among the inhab-
itants, but fear of their desperate neigh
bors compels them to keep their lips
closed. They are afraid either to in
form on the desperadoes or to assist in
their capture, as their property or lives
would pay the penalty. But most of the
people are thought to be more or less
in sympathy with the gang. Their
houses are always open to them, and
when compelled to stay in the woods,
they carry them meals and
act as spies for them. A detective fully
acquainted with the character of the
people says that there are women
among them who would ride fifty miles
in a night to warn one of the gang of
approaching danger. 1t is so, too, that
they have courierS scattered through all
the neighboring country, who keep
them constantly informed of every
movement of the authorities. Some of
these couriers are supposed to be here
in Dallas, and constantly act as spies to
gather and report the sentiments of the
people. They are believed to have reg
ulaT lines and stations extending as far
west as Palo Pinto, and to the north
west to the Indian Territory.
As is well known, Bass, Underwood,
and Jackson, who were implicated in
the Union Pacific robbery, live in Den
ton County. Underwood, alias Nixon,
was arrested some time since and taken
to the scene of the robbery for trial; but
two weeks ago he made his escape and
is now at home again. Not long since
this gang went into the town of Denton,
and hearing that the authorities were
trying to capture them, they retired to
mill near the town and sent word to the
officers and the whole town of Denton
to come out and take them.
The Texas express and railroad COM
panies have spent large sums of money
in ferreting out the robbers, and the
duty now devolves upon the State to ar
rest or break up the gang. Detectives
can do no more, for they have traced the
robbers 10 their hiding place, and can
almost name the guilty parties. The
local authorities are pOwerless to capture
the robbers, therefore the matter should
at once be taken in hand by our State
authorities and sufficient force should
be sent into Denton to arrest the guilty
parties or drive them out of the country.
The companies are now compelled to
keep heavily armed guard on all lead
ing trains. This, of course, involves
them in a very heavy expense. The adj
ditional expense of the express company
alone is said to be a hundred dollars per
day As these companies are engaged
in a legitimate business, they should be
protected by the State, no matter what
the expense.