The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
A DESPERADO'S CAREER.
The Romantic and Criminal Vicissitudes
the Lifo ofReddy; tho &" Road Agent"


tho Life ofReddy; tho s Road Agent"
The Chicago Inter- Ocean prints the
story of the life, crimes and recent cap
ture in Ohio Of Robert McKammie,
known on the Western frontier as "Lit.
tie Reddy." He was born in Highland
county, Ohio, and began his career by
stealing pocketbook from justice ol
the peace, but was not prosecuted. Al
the breaking out OF the war he enlisted
in the Federal army, and his regiment
went to Texas, where freddy" desert
ed and joined gang of horse thieves.
From Texas he went to Utah, where be
killed man and was sent to the penl'
tentiary for fifteen years. After serving
two years he escaped with several fel'
w.prisoners, one of whom killed the
prison warden. This escape was two
or three years ago, and freddy" at
once became associated with company
of robbers and murderers known as
.'road agents." The gang occupied it.
self with much success in robbing wagon
trains on the road between Cheyenne
and Deadwood, and got much booty,
principally in gold dust. The citizens
about Deadwood becoming very much
in earnest in their desire to rid them.
selves of these freebooters, they made
it improbable and uncomfortable fo1
the robbers, many of whom were caught.
In August of last year freddy" was
heard Of in Philadelphia, where he sold
q large quantity of gold dust at the
mint. The trace by the detectives was
then lost, but o few days later he ap.
peared at his old home in Ohio, and,
"like good Citizen" says the Inter.
Ocean, "he put his money in the near
est national bank. he dressed in the
latest fashion, and seemed most sue
cessful young man. Rainsboro is about
ten miles from Hillsboro, where Red
dy circulated the story that he owned
q large stock farm in Texas, and told
all his new friends about his ranch down
in the Southwest. AlcKammie was at
once voted a very clever fellow, and
soon won many friends. To add to his
in that quiet community
he Joined the church, and as the Muir
ply temperance movement was carrying
everything before it, he donned the rib.
bon and became an easy and enthusias-
tic convert. The folk about there pet
ted him; but some OF the cooler, older
heads fought shy of the boy. He was
invited to all the parties and social
gatherings OF the neighborhood, and all
that sort of thing. The prejudice of the
old men continued, and was not dccreas-
ed when Reddy ran off with young
slip of O thing, sixteen or seventeen
years old. CLARA Ferguson was an Or
phan, and the rich fellow won her heart.
The elopement occurred December 27,
1877. Her guardian was very much
opposed to the match. The day after
the marriage the runaways returned,
and then began to talk of settling. It
was quite romantic for a gay and dash
ing fellow, with plenty Of money and
cheek, to elope with young lady fresh
from school. The Benedict concluded
be would become sedate. old-fashioned
farmer, and to purchase place he had
in view he drew 81, 900 out of his bank,
and the farm was his. He never lived
upon it, however. In two weeks he had
it traded off for country store in Rains
boro, and made a new start, this time as
q rural merchant.
Meanwhile the stage company Of
Deadwood had been doing it's utmost to
ferret out the road agents. Sheriff
Bullock heard of 'Reddy,' the news
coming from Texas. But the bird had
flown. This official trailed him to st.
Louis, and then to Philadelphia, where
there was a running stream, and WHERE,
Of course, the trail was lost. The chase
was given up for a time. When MIR.
Bullock was on his way West he met
detective at Omaha, who gave him de-
scription of crooked man who was
living in Ohio. This was near enough
what the Deadwood sheriff was looking
for, and he started at once for Highland
county, which he reached January 18,
1878. With a deputy United States
marshal he proceeded to Rainsboro,
where they called on the reconstructed
robber. The sheriff scarcely knew him,
and would have passed him but for the
piggy, white-lashea eyes, which told
better than any other description that
Reddy' was corraled. The captured
criminal had money and legal ability to
aid him, and for two weeks he fought
The Black Hills officials. But the judge
decided McKammie was Mr.. Bullock's
prisoner. An appeal was taken to the
supreme court, Ohio being the only
State in the union where such thing
could be done. This gave Reddy' a
thirty days. lease. The Western man
Knew the slippery Jim he had to deal
With, and wanted Bob chained to the
door. To this the gentle jailer objected,
and 'Reddy's' youthful bride was al
owed free access to her bandit husband
IS often as she desired. Reddy's'
restless disposition once more showed
itself, and one fine evening he broke
Jail, shot one of the keepers in the face,
and was ont OF reach of the law in his
usual style. Sheriff Bullock was at that
time visiting in Michigan, waiting for
The thirty days to elapse for the hearing
in the supreme court. 1t is scarcely
necessary to add that the court is still
waiting to hear that appeal.
"Not long after McKammle's sudden
disappearance the Ohio authorities be-
came alarmed in Pike and Ross and
Highland counties by the deeds of a
gang of daring masked men. Rewards
we're offered for the apprehension OF the
guilty persons, and the utmost vigilance
exercised to obtain their bodies, dead or
alive. Detective Norris, an experienced
officer, caught three of the gang, who
revealed the whole thing. They con-
'essed that the band to which they be-
Ionged consisted of twenty-five men,
and that Little Reddy' was the chief.
"The hunt was renewed. Sheriff
Bullock was telegraphed for, as Nc
Kammie was said to bave remarked that
10 man but Seth Bullock could take
1im. The counties infested with the
gang were thoroughly aroused.
While some men were in the more
,parsely settled districts in that section
# country they discovered smoke issuing
rom an old cabin, and wondering who
,ould live there approached to make
,loser inspection. By this time the
find of the strange, dilapidated log
tut was telegraphed around and $50
nen collected. One man entered the cabin
md stood face to face with 'Rsddy
McKammie. The visitor was in jiffy
he prisoner of the outlaw, who was
.rmed with brace of murderous' look
ng revolvers. Bob showed his face at
he windows of the hut and hunter
olazed away, but without effect.