The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-15
THE DAILY STAR
A NEMESIS IN PETTICOATS.
How q Woman has Tracked Her
Brothers Murderers.
kansas City Times.l

small part of which she related to thu
Chief Of Police, aud was in effect tina
she was chasing man who murdered he
brother five years ago last April. From
the facts which she asserted there wert
only two conclusions to be drawn, ant
those conclusions were that she wa
either phenomenal liar or most won
derful woman.
Her story is told in her own words
and is to the following effect:
"My husband was Surgeon Duprez, Of
the Regular United States Army, and he
died some years ago. have daughter
at present in Denver. She is sixteen
years of age, and very pretty. Five
years ago, in Houston, Texas, in the
month OF April, ! was stopping at the
Hutchins House, and was expecting the
arrival of my brother, J. w. Laforce
Before his arrival | heard of homelike
boarding-house, below the Masonic Tenn,
pie, and sent my negro servant to secure
rooms there, as thought it would be a
pleasant place to welcome nay brother.
A few days afterward he arrived from
Kansas City. He had large sum of
money-nearly ST., ,000-with him, which
fact became known to three desperate
characters, who laid a plan to
kill and rob him as he was
crossing one of the two bridges.
"One of the men, Charley Howard,
watched the iron bridge over the bayous
and met my brother. He sprang up and
foully murdered him, stabbing him in
several places, after which he secured the
money and threw the body into the
bayou. Some days afterward the body
was found and recognized by me. To
render it more terrible, it was committed
by man whom my brother had edu-
Gated and lavished money upon as he
would on son. | found out the names
of the three men upon whom the crime
rested. and swore an oath that | would
foilew them to the death. That was five
years ago, and l am still on the trail.
While pursuing my self-imposed task, |
became acquainted with every outlaw of
note from Denver to the Rio Grande and
have friends among them, hundreds |
might say, who would dare anything for
me in return for what have done for
them.
''At one time I visited the camp of the
famous outlaw, Sam. Bass. 1t was in
Indian Territory, and boldly went into
his camp and presented to him letters of
recommendation from mutual, friends. |
sat on stump some distance from the
fire, and held long conversation with
him. Charley Howard, my brothers
murderer, was also there, but did not rec
ognize me, as | wore false beard and
was dressed in mems clothing. Bass
took my letters, and went to the fire to
read them. When he returned I asked
him if he knew me. He said he did not
when, with one sweep, l tore the disguise
away and let my hair down. He stepped
back and surveyed me, after which he
passed compliment on my bravery.
Collins, afterwards concerned in the
great Union Pacific robbery at Biz
Springs, was also my friend. There was
another man in the gang-a young man
named Bill Scott; also man named
Frank Snow. On account of informa-
ton which gave Bass he discharged five
of his men, Charley Howard among the
number. This was what l planned for,
but I did not make anything out of it,.
Snow was suspected by bass, who feared
that he meant to give them away, which
he could easily do. The gang had their
programme arranged to the most minute
particulars for months ahead, and as
Snow had the knowledge of even where
the gang would be at certain hours they
resolved to get rid of him as an easier
task than changing the programme. By
substituting another mans clothes for
Shows while he slept, the latter, on wax
ing, put them on and was Immediately
arrested and placed in an underground
cell in Sherman where the heat
was so great that the skin upon
his hands cracked open. When it
was learned by the officers that the pris-
oner knew of Bass movement, he was
treated better, in hopes that he would
squeal. From Snow learned of the
future movements of the Bass gang.
Their intention was to kill and rob an
old man who possessed large sum of
money, and lived near Fort Worth.
hired out. to him and saved his life.
They also intended killing a planter who
lived on the outskirts of Eagle Ford. !
knew of their plans, even to knowing
under what bushes in the yard they
would conceal themselves. / Itooksuppel
with the planter on the night of the pro
posed robbery and saved him. | knew
in advance of the Mesquet robbery, the
Eagle Ford affair, the robbery Of the
First National Bank of Dallas, and the
Fost-office at Shreveport. further
know where there is peach basket full
of money, the fruit of the famous stage
coach robbery in the Black Hills. 1t is
in gold and silver, and buried in a certain
spot.
"A second time I entered Bass camI
secretly, and lay in the brush looking al
Howard, who was fashioning woodel
sword out of red cedar. Howard after
ward went out with the militia afte
Bass, as blind, he being a member O
the gang all the time. ! was shot onc'
by Howard, and have been shot alto
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