Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-01
A WESTERN STAGE noBBER.
" "Gentiemen. Please Climb Dswn''-A Read
Agent With "a Record.


and sweet as q woman's, and the
stranger who meets him il instinctiyely
drawn toward him by his clear, blue
eye, soft voice and gentle smile. And
yet that very man is accounted the
shrewdest, sharpest and most "nervy"
prisoner of the lot. The fact that two
officers rode over Il thousand miles with
him handcuffed and shackled and con-
stantly watched is proof of the above
assertion. When they turned him over
at last to the custody of the superin-
tendent, they left the following record
on the books:
Prisoner has been engaged in one
train robbery at least and in half
dozen stage and highway robberies.
Has broken Jail three times and
bears the scars of several wounds.
Has the reputation of being
shooter and a fighter; has killed at
least three men was q pal of Wild
Bill is supposed to know all the lead
ing outlaws Of the far West. Is sharp
and crafty and has great nerve. Look
out for him. 0Hense Highway rob.
berry"
The "Smiler" has not yet exhibited
the slightest desire to see the outside
walls of the workhouse, but is reported
as one of the most orderly and quiet
prisoners in the institution.
" oRSrLRfKS, PLRAsK CLIMB DowS."
The first Deadwood line stage robbed
was the work of a single man, aud IL
that man was not the prisoner we write
of then he has a twin brother. The
robbery occurred just at sunset six
miles from Deadwood. The stage CON
tanned seven men, all well armed. II
was just rounding a thicket when a
man stepped in front of the horses,
halted them, and quietly said to the
driver:
eff you phil n line until 1 am
through I'll send bullet through your
head r.
This was accompanied by such a soft,
bland smile that the astonished driver
yelled back
"stop your fooling, or I'll run over
youl'
THAT pEcEIvHo SMILE.
But the smile was deceivinR. Up
came a navy revolver on line vith the
drivers eye. and his teeth chattered as
he loosened the reins and soothed the
horses. Iells and shouts we're heard
inside the stage. but none of the pas.
sengers suspected what was happening
until the road agent pulled open one
Of the doors and called cut:
"Sow, then, gentlemen. please climb |
down."
"Who the deuce are your vas
shouted at him by three or four in |
chorus. and his smile was honey itself |
As he answered:
"Tll introduce myself directly. |
Come, gents s-these shooters are in a |
hurry to hurt some onei'
He backed of few feet, a revolver
in either hand, and the passengers be-
gan climbing down.
Leave your arms in the stage i'
shouted the " "Smiler." "Tn pop the
man who brings out any sor, of weapon
With him Come, now-sun's going
down fast r.
There we're seven revolvers and three
Winchester rifles among the passengers.
but that one man had the bulge on the
crowd. Men are half disarmed when
surprised. Coop them up in addition
to the surprise aud pluck is gone. The
road-agent knows this, and the fact Ia
A. good as half dozen men behind
him. One by one the seven climbed
down and stood in . row, and as the last
man left the coach the "smiler" con.
fronted the line aud softly remarked:
II will nov trouble you to deposit
your watches and money on the groundf'
with many groan aud curse and
sigh the request was complied with.
Those Who had wallets lost all; those
who had divided their money In dif.
ferent pockets saved half. Two Of the
seven had no watches 10 lose. After
the last man had deposited" the rob. |
Der pointed to the open door Of the |
stage and said:
"It's = tough country and won't |
take your weapons. Please climb in"
As the last man mounted the step the |
robber slipped behind the coach and |
called to the driver 70 go on at . gal. |
lop, at the same time firing three bull |
lets over the coach to start thing with q |
rush. HALF mile away the coach
halted and khn aavau ,vketsvv.n t,......aa /