New-York tribune., 1881-12-12
SEEKING A BRAVE WOMAN.

whiskers registered his name at the Fifth Avenns
hotel yesterday morning. After taking his break
fast he called for the New-York Direc-
tory and then started down town. Atel
two or three hours he returned, looking
somewhat discouraged and worn. His name Is p.
7. Wilcox, and he is the United States Marshal of
Colorado. He is searching for Mrs. Smthson, of
Denver who is visiting in this city, and his purpose
is TO pay her $780, rs reward for assisting him IN
Michigan last week in recaptuIing a notorious
stagc-robber, Henry W. White alias Burton,
whom he taking to the Detroit House
of Correction. Mrs. Smithson gave him
her address in NowYork, but either he made mis-
take in taking it down. or she has not yet arrived,
for his inquiries Yesterday at the place she said she
would be were fruitless. He will renew his
search for her to-day. Mr.. Wilcox last night with
some reluctance told TRIBUNE reporter the story
of this wOman's bravery.
White or Burton, the she prevented from
escaping, is of the most accomplished rascsls
III this country, and was born in Barton County.
Texas, his father being cat lie dealer He was sent
TO Houston TO he educated. and there it that he
committed his first crime. He in a liquor
store one day and some one made some dispi raging
remarks about his father. Without word White
drew pistol from his pocket and shot the calumu-
ator dead. He did not stop TO see what course tho
poce would take, but left the State immediately.
lie then went to West Virginia, and as he was .
man of pleasing address and much ability he soon
won good position there and made himself useful
to some prominent politicians But he committed
some crime and sentenced, during President
aycss Administration, to the State Prison fer ten
years Influential friends obtained q pardon for
him, and he returned to Texas to begin his career as
"A stage robber.
In his White was eminently successful His
methods were somewhat peculiar. Most of his ex-
plots were without confederates, or only with the
assistance of a woman He would select
some lonely place Oh q stage route for the
scene Of his operations svi' and then stay, ~
passengers came along which gave good promise
Of plunder, he would ride to the place he had 50
lected, his outfit consisting of pistol or two
dozen masks without eyes and some canvas bags.
He always planned TO attack stages which would
reach the lonely spot he had chosen IN the nighs
iIme Arriving there an hour two before tho
stage White would build a barricade of logs and
place the bags behind this stuffed in such way
that in the darkness they looked like men.
When the stage arrived the rObber would call 70
the driver TO stop, covering him with his pistol.
lhen he would address command to some imagin-
ary comp mons behind the barricade to cover the
uTIver, while he went forward TO the coach. Point
ing pistol at the passengers he would order them to
get out one by one. AS they did SO he would mask
Them after robb:ng them of all their valuable
articles and money. During all this time he would
keep giving his orders TO his comrades behind
the 6arricade In all his exploits q
woman at least in the coach. He never rubbed Der,
but usually made her hold the candle while he did
bis work. 1t was supposed that the woman who
thus present when he robbed coach was al
ways the same one, and that she was a confederate
of his ; bat this was never proved. White always
succeeded IN io9hng the stage PASSENGERS ipio
ii band of rulians who were ready
10 shoot them down If they stirred and this decep-
ton he practised The more readily as he had coDsa
| cradle powers of yentroqulsm. For short uiaa
while be in Texas he led respectable life, hs
father having died end left him his cattle But 10
sold these and when the proceeds were tx-
hausted in dissipation he returned to stage robbns
Finally he became too well known in Texas, and hs
went to Colorado where he committed the crime fox
pvn oh Ina
| About FIVE months ago, White robbed the stses
coach going from Alanosa to Lake City. Colorado.
and one woman. The tactics were the same that ho
had employed in ali his robberes, except that he
was not able to blind all the passengers as he bad
not masks enough with him. After putting the pas
sengers in circle, and telling them that II they
stirred they would be shot, he made his escape IN
the dark having about $1,700 for booty. lie bad
hired horse in AIauOsa to 20 to the place where ho
committed the robbery and after it was reported tho
stable-keeper made mp his mind thathis patron va:
the robber, lie furnished description TO MARSHAL
Wilcox and Deputy Marshal Desmond, G Pueblo mes
White and arrested HIM two days after lie had only
500 III his possession, aud the belief Is tat ne had
already divided with his confederate whoever She
OF he might be. The rObber was taken to Denver,
and alter trial lasting about week III the United
States Court he was convicted and sentenced inf
lie TO the Laramie City Penitentiary. This Vas
chosen in preference b. the Denver Prison as IL was
thought to be more safe, and the managers charged
the Government nothing for his keeping IN Laramie,
while board was 81 q day at Denver Iho
Pententiary at Laramie. however, had only
wooden fence around It, and at Marslai WlIcofs
suggestion IL was decided TO remove " hlte to tho
Detroit House of Correction. Mr.. wilcox was as
signed the task of taking the prisoner TO Detoit
with the assistance OF two guards HIS respect Ior
the prisoner such that his first preparation Nss
TO make his will, and yet Wilcox himself is con-
sidered of the most daring and determined men
in Colorado.
Everything went well until the party reached
Pokagon, Mich, about p.m on December 4. Mt
Wilcox was then alone with the prisoner, uss
guards having gone forward INTO the sl0kihg car;
Suddenly White Jumped up and struck the Marshal
on the head with his handcutfs, which ne nsd
unlOOSened with a toothpick sayl as nc dld 80
"lou give me your revolver and let ne go or
White Struck Mr. Wilcox again on the head, stuE-
ming him so that he fell on his knees. wilcox
recovered himself however, and the two grappled.
Meantime the fourteen men and i've women IN tie
with Inc exSSp1On Scpn Wbe " s seaed the ocs
revolver and putting 1t to his breast pulled
the trigger but il did not 90 off. The two men thnn
fought Tor the revolver desperately Mrs Smlthson
had by tins time seen how things going, aad
she pluokily grasped the robber around The meek.
For two or three minutes the three fought over the
seats and on the floor, with the seli-cocking aix.
shooter liable 10 &c Oft at any time. Finally one OK
lie guards came back from the smoklng-car, and
White was once more put IN chains. Mr. WILCOX
was half stunned, and he had cut Two mches lh
length on his head, while White had bitten largo
piece out of Mira Smiths ms arm. That night they
arrived at Detroit and Mr.; wilcox went wen 20 tne
House of Correction, where he locked tine door on
White. to his own satisfaction. Whites last words
to the Marshal were:
- | shall get cut sone time, old man, and then
will get even with YOU"
White robbed nine stages and thirty-one passen-
gers in all and thls done IN nearly every easo
without any assistance. he seldom rODDed Women,
and IN one instance he gave d poor iiLinlgrans
woman $3.50 to enable her to reach her husband.
lie was a rather handsome man, with blonde hair
and moustoches about five feet eleven inches, and
nowerlnlly built When being taken from Pueblo
10 Denver he escaped by iunpingoh the tram whiis
II was in motion. lie was shot, however, by Mar
shal Desmond and recapture,l. When he attacked
Marshal Wilcox it was Whites intention he said, 10
obtain the pistol and rob the train.
ftp