The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-03-11

the season, not only in Columbus, but
the country over.
THROW UP YOUR HANDS.
RecolIetions of n Famous Califor.
mia HfghWayman.
Second only in notoriety to the
cruel and bloodthirsty Joaquin Muri-
eta, among the Knights of the Road
in the pioneer days, was Tom Bell.
His true name was Thomas Hodges,
a native of Rome, Tenn, where he
was born about 1926. His parents
were excellent and respected people
and gave young Hodges a thorough
education. He graduated from q med
ical institution, and shortly after re-
ceiving his diploma he Joined q regi-
ment and proceeded to the seat of
war in Mexico, where he served hor-
until the close of the struggle. Like
thousands of others, he was attracted
to California by its gold alurements,
began life as miner. The hard work
and privations of life in the mines,
coupled with, a lack of success caused
him to follow the footsteps of many
whose loose moral ideas led them into
gambling as means of subsistence.
Soon firing of this he took to the
road, where he continued his games
of chance by simply stalking his re-
volver against whatever loose coin
his victims had about them.
He was convicted of grand larceny
in 1855, aud sentenced to five years in
state prison at Angels Island. Here
he pretended to be sick, and was trans
ferred to the county Jail at San Fran
cisco, where he could receive proper
medical attendance. On account of
his apparent feeble condition but very
little restraint was placed upon his
actions, and one day he vanished like
a beautiful dream He soon reap
peared on the stage of action as Tom
Bell, the highwaymap.
At this time Hodge was about thir-
ty years of age, strong and active. He
was quick and restless, and possessed
of great physical courage. His hair
was of a sandy cast, and his chin was
with goatee of the same
color. His beauty was somewhat
by nose once shapely and
then smashed in at the bridge
level with the face.
At first Bell was alone in his travels,
but soon gathered around him a band
of choice spirits, whom. by his super
ior education and ability, he was able
to control. He is said to have worn q
suit of armor under his clothes for
protection, but this is probably untrue.
His band soon became thoroughly or
ganized, and used as q talisman bull
let, curiously marked with holes and a
cross, the possession of which was a
sign of brotherhood among them.
One of the bullets obtained from
of the gang, was used by an
officer in first gaining some informa'
ton fro m others, and then arresting
them. There were in the gang about
fifty men, those in the extreme north
being under the leadership of Monte
Jack,a bloodthirsty villain Of repulsive
appearance. Their retreat was in the
recesses of the mountains, from which
they issued in small bands to commit
During the spring and
of 1856 scarcely night passed
but some lonely traveller was permit
ted to stare into the muzzle of per-
suading revolver while he was being
of his portable property. The
largest enterprise undertaken by them
was the robbing of the Marysville
and Camptonyille stage. The stage
was near Dry Greek, on its way to
Marysyille, the treasure-box contain
ed 100000. Six mounted men con-
fronted it and ordered the driver to |
stop, threatening to kill any who re-
sisted. Dobson, messenger for Lang
toms express, fired on them, when an
shooting Immediately |
commenced between the passengers
and the robbers, in which some forty |
shots were fired. The robbers were |
to retreat, some OF them
severely wounded.