Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-04-08
SATURDAY, APRIL s, 1882.
Train Robbers Confession.

Kansas Clty, April l.-lhe confession
Of John Land, the train robber, was
given to the press to day. It's the same
as anticipated in Il previous disdatch
and inculpates the James boys, Miller,
Little, Bugler, Cummings, Matt, Arm
strong and Creed Chapman, 1t is as
follows: At 3 o'clock a. m, two men
came to me. They were John Buglcr
and Creed Chapman, and said, John,
what do you wantt to work SO hard for ?
we don't work, but get lots Of money
easy" Bu.ler said: How would YOU
like to go help us rob a train?' | said,
81 am working for so "a month and
don't believe l will make more money
robbing a train than digging wells"
Bugler said, IF you will 90, We will in
sure you more money" | said, "Boys
who is going in with your Bugler
said, Jessie James, Frank James, Dick
Little, James Cummings, Ed. Miller,
Henry Bugler, John Matt, Charley
Deerduf, Armstrong, Creed and my
self" | said, "All right, | will go in
with you" i quit work at once and all
three OF us started up the railroad to-
wards Glendale. After walking a short
distance they left me and struck across
the country while | went on to Glendale.
! think it was about 8 O'clock when /
reached the platform Of the station. /
went inside and John Matt was there.
We had. a short conversation about a
drill which l wanted to use, und then I
stepped out of the depot to the platform
and saw a man riding down the road to-
ward the depot on a large bay horse.
He hitched his horse, came up to Us,
shook hands with Matt, and turning to
me, said, "Mr. Land, l will introduce
you to Jessie James" Immediately
after shaking hands, he and Matt walk.
ed away to the other end Of the plat.
form and held a snort conversation
Jesse then came UP to me and said
"Mr. Land l understand you are going
in with us to rob the train tonight
/ said, "Yes sir Jesse said, "Have you
any armsw l answered, "A breech,
loading rifle" He said, "Be sure and
bring it with you. Meet me at the cut
back Of Jacks Coles farm as soon after
8 O'Clock rs convenient come alone
when you get within 800 or 400 yards OF
the spot, signal us by whistling twice
Tho apexrac will no anon I thn, f,rr
ell and went back home. My folks, ex.
cept my brother, who was not at home
at the time, retired soon after shutdown
A little after s o'clock l got up, took
down my rifle, and slipped out in my
stocking feet, and got away without rails
ing any of the family. Upon arriving
at the cut, l gave the signal agreed upon
| was answered. and stepped forward
and was met by Jesse James. All of the
old gang were there, six in number, and
Armstrong and Deardut, who l know
before, and who had joined the regular
gang a short time before, but l was the
only one of the neighborhood boys who
had got there. Shortly after Greco
Chapman and John Bugler gave the
signal and came in. Following them
came John Matt alone. Pretty soon the
train was heard coming, and Jesse
James said: Boys, we who are Older
hands at the business, will stop the train
and 60 through the cars and get what
there is there. You fellows run along
outside and fire fifteen or twenty shots
apiece to scare the passengers" Jesse
stood upon a pile Of rocks on the track
andswunga lantern and the train came to
a stop within a few feet of the obstruc.
ton. Chapman, John Bugler and my
self stood on the south side of the track
while John and Matt and two others
were on the other side. The first thing
they did was to break into the express
ear. We all had on white masks, and as
! began at once to fire and the excite
ment raised l did not notice who it was
went into the cars. Before we had been
long at work / saw a man come from
the train with a lantern anu start on a
run east. John Bugler says, Look there!
what does that mean?' Creed Chap
man at once fired at him, followed by