Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-28
TOM BELL, KNIGHT OF THE
ROAD"
RecOlIectt0ns Of One Of the Most
Famous Of Californian High
waymen.

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 educa-
ton. He graduated from a medical
institution, and shortly after receiving
his diploma he Joined a regiment and
proceeded to the seat of wal in Mex
leo, where he served honorably as a
non-commissioned officer until the
close of the struggle. Like thousands
of others, he was attracted to Cali
fornia by its golden allurements, and
began his life as a miner. The hard
work and privetions of a 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 a means of subsist-
ence. Soon firing OF this, he took to
the road, where he continued his
games of chance, simply stalking his
revolver against whatever loose coin
his victims had about them.
He was convicted Of grand larceny
in 1855, and sentenced to five years in
the State prison at Angels Island.
Here he pretended to be sick, and was
transferred to the county jail at San
Francisco, where he could receive
proper medical attendance. On ac-
count of his apparently feeble condi-
ton but little restraint was placed
upon his actions, and one day he van
ished like a beautiful dream" He
seen after reeaappeared on the stage Of
action as Tom Bell, the highwayman.
AT THIS TIME
Hodges was about thirty years OF age,
strong and active. He was quick and
restless, and possessed Of great physi-
cal courage. His hair was ola sandy
cast, and his chin was ornament
ed with a goatee of the same shade.
His beauty was somewhat marredl by
a nose once shapely and classic, then
smashed in at the bridge level with
the face.
At first Bell was alonein histravels,
but soon gathered about 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 a
suit OF armor under his clothes for
protection, but this is probably UNI
true. His band soo became thor
oughly organized, and used as a tails.
man a bullet, c%uriously marked with
holes and a cross, the possession OF
which was the sign of brotherhood
among them. One of those bullets,
obtained from a member Of the gang,
was used by an officer in first gaining
some information from Others. and
then arresting them. There were in
the band about fifty men, those in the
extrems north beingunGer the leader
ship Of Monte Jack, a blood-thirsty
villain of repulsiye appearance. Their
retreat was in the recesses Of the
mountains, from which they issued in
small bands to commit their depreda-
tions. During the spring and summer
of 1856 scarcely a night passed but
some lonely traveller was permitted To
stare into the muzzle of a persuading
revolver while he was being relieved
of his portable property.
THE LARGEST ENTERPRISE
undertaken by them was the robbing
of the Marysville and CamptonvillC
stage. The stage was near DryCreek
on its way to Marysville, the treasure
box containing 100000. Six mount
ed men confronted it and ordered the
driver to stop, threatening to kill an,
who resisted. Dobson, messenger fol
Langton's Express, fired on them, anC
an indiscriminate shooting immedi
ately commenced between the passen
gers and robbers, in which some fort,
shots were fred. The robbers werI
compelled to retreat, some of then
severely wounded. When the stag
was ready to proceed a mounted Mex
lean began firing upon them from tn
other side of the road. His fire wa
returned by Mr.. Dobson, and tn
Mexican was endorsed, %whereupon b
beat a precipitate retreat with tw
others who had been concealed in th
thicket. One of the occupants Of tn
stage, a lady, was killed, three other
we're wounded, and the stage itse
completely
RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
The band ranged through the foo
hills, chiefly in Yuba, Nevada an
Placer counties, and terror was sprea
through the whole region. Afavorit
resort was the Mountain house, keI
by Jack Phillips, between Aubur
and Folsom; another was the Wester
Exchange, on the Nevada and SacrI
mento road, kept by Mrs. Cullers an
L. H.. J..-IA..