The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-18
Thirteen FuIIgrown Men Quiet
Iy Robbed by a MeIloW-Voiced
BYiQand.

III VI. Purton. the alleged stage rob
Der. who was arrested in Puebblo and
his prelim nary examination before
Judge Brace yesterday. b robbery
was one Of the most audacious IN the
annals Of highway robbery. The story
Of the deed - best told in the words
off b. Mcmillan of Del Norte, one
Of the victims OF the robbery.
There were eight men and one
woman inside the coach, ami four men
bcsi les tEe driver on top. was
among the latter. sitting bsSIde tue
driver. Ii was about midnight | sh0uld
think and about twenty miles from
Del NDrte. when We were nailed. IL
was very dark. IA we were Just turn
ing a bend in the road when the word
came 10 halt. Therr vas only one man
visible To the left ana about ten ieet
ahead of the coach. The robbcr was
standing behind a gie7e OF canvas
stretched alongside the road, and had
\ revolver pointed directly at myself
ard the ~lriver. He told US calmly to
deliver ourselves and he would no farm
a.. out that If we made q bad break
ne would shoot. was on the side
next TO the robber, and | Immediately
oo down from nv seat. folio we'd by the
driver. After we got down, the Dor
her came from behind the canvas ana
placed over our heads a cioth cap.
which came down to our shoulders ana
completed, blinded US. He then ORDERED
US 10 stand STILL, and himself went 70
the stage door and ordered the occn-
pants TO come out, one at q time az !
take their positions in line aiongsiit
the driver and myself.
"He told the passengers pot to make
any unnecessary movements, as tney
were all covered by the guns OF MS
men in ~concealment, and their ilVes
were in jeopardy. After the passen-
gers were all in line, he put caps SIMMER
10 mine over their faces, tied their
hands behind their backs and then
proceeded to rife their pockets. lie
took nothing but money Everything
else he would replace just where ne
cot it from. | do not know how much
money he got. From me he got about
$40. which he took from nv pocket
book. replacing the pocketbook after
taking the money. He had a light
burning in front Of the canvas, behind
-
which was reflector, winch sheo Tue
RAYS directly in our faces. he occupied
about fifteen minutes in the search.
He then ordered US TO kneei, wnlch we
did. all in a row, and he proceeded t
to rife the mail bags. The woman, at
his biding, held the light for him while
be did this. He opened only two sacks,
/ believe. He kapt US kneeling about
half an hour. He kept talking all the
time, using good language. in tact,
durlng the whole time ct the roopery
be was very gentlemanly.
He had a soft, mellow voice. tie
was not nervous or quick, but did tbs
work in q business-like manner. liz
was . man nearly six feet IN hight,
smooth face, had a heavy, light
tache, and would weight perhaps l6(
pounds. He had on a dark hat and
coat. and was not disguised in any way
After he had robbed the mail he skip.
ped off into the darkness. When We
found be had left we removed our caps
united each others hands, picked vi
the remnants Of the mail bags and TIT
mail, and proceed on TO Alamosa. !
is ms opinion now that he I'D the WORK
alone and that his comrades beng II
! the bushes was a hoax