Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-06
/ GENTLEmANLY FOOTPAD
Thirteen Full Grown Men Quietly
Robbed by a Mellow Voiced
Brigand.
Little Rock Democrat, Al

Little Rock Democrat, Al
The Denver (ColoradO) Republican
gives an account of the alleged ban
dit, II. NJ. Burton, who has been
operating in that State. 1t will be re-
membered that Burton is supposed to
have been one of the men who robbed
the stage running between Alma and
Fayetteville, in this State. The Re
publican says that Burton is now in
the Denver Jail charged with rObbing
the stage running between Del Norte
and Alamosa, about midnight on the
night of June 20. The robbery was
one of the most audacious in the an
nails of highway robbery, and links
the name Of the perpetrator with that
Of Billy Leroy. The story of the
deed is best told in the words Of J. b.
Mcmillan, one of the victims of the
robbery He said in substance:
"There were eight men and one
woman inside the coach, and four men
besides the driver on top. | was
among the latter, sitting beside the
driver. 1t was about midnight, |
should think, and about twenty miles
from Del Norte, when we were halted.
1t was very dark, and we were Just
turning bend in the road when the
go ID came to halt. There was only
one man visible, to the left and about
ten feet ahead of the coach. The rob
Der was standing behind a piece of
canvass stretched alongside the road,
aud had revolver pointed directly at
myself and the driver. He told us
calmly to deliver ourselves and he
would not harm us, but if we made a
bad break he would shoot. | was on
the side next to the robber, and | i'm
mediately got down from my seat fol-
owed by the driver. After We got
down, the robber came from behind
the canvas and placed over our heads
a cloth cap, which came down to our
shoulders and completely blinded us
Hethen ordered us to stand still, and
himself went to the stage door and
ordered the occupants to come out,
one at a time, and take their positions
In line alongside the driver and
myself.
He told the passengers not tOmake
any unnecessary movements, as they
we're all covered by the guns of his
men in concealment, and their lives
we're in jeopardy. Aitcr the passen-
gers were all in line, he put caps SINH
lar to mine over their faces, tied their
hands behind their backs, and then
proceeded to rife their pockets. He
took nothing but money. Everything
else he would replace just where he
got it from. / do not know how much
money he got. From me he got about
$40, which he took from my pocket
book, replacing the pockethook after
taking the money out. He has a
light burning in front of the canvass,
behind which was a reflector, which
shed the rays directly in our faces
Fe occupied about fifteen minutes in
the search. He then ordered US to
kneel, which we did, all
in row, and he proceeded
to rife the mail bags. The woman,
at his bidding, held the light for him
while he did this. He opened only
two sacks, | believe. He kept us
kneeliHg about half an hour. He
kept talking all the time, using good
language. In fact, during the whole
time of the robbery he was very gen
tlemanly.
HE had soft, mellow voice. He was
not nervous or quick, but did thework
in business-like manner. He was a
man nearly six feet in height, smooth
face, had a heavy ligh. mustache,
and would weigh perhaps 165 pounds.
He had on a dark hat and coat, and
was not disguised in any way. After
he had robbed the mail he skipped
of into the darkness. Whom we
found he had left we removed our
caps, united each others hands.
picked up the remnants Of the mail
and the mail bags and proceeded on to
Alamesa. 1t is my opinion now that
he did the work alone, and that his
comrades being in the woods WINS all
a hoax.