Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-04-07
A Train Rohher,s Confessinn-


A dispatch from Kansas CITY saws
that the following confession has been
given to the press:
Laird's confession is as follove: "At
three o'clock in the morning two men
came to me (they were John Bueler
and Creed Chapman) and said: John.
what do you want to work so hard for ?
We don't work but get lots of money
easy Bugler said: How would YOU
ike to go and help Us rob a trainY 1
said: Pm making $40 per month, and
don't believe / will make any mere
money robbing trains than digging
wells Bugler said: IF you will so
we will insure you more money |
said. Boys, who is going in with you p
Bugler said, Jesse James, Frank
James. Dick Little, James Cummings,
I'd. Miller, Henry Bugler, John Matt,
Charley DeerdorfT. Armstrong, Creed
and myself said, All right, l will
so in with YOU l quit work at once
and all three of us started up the rail
road toward Glendale. After walking
short distance they left me and struck
off across the country, while went on
to Glendale. | think it was about 3
o'clock when | reached the platform of
the station. | went inside and John
Matt was there. We had a short con-
versation about drill which WANTED
to use, and then stepped out of the de-
pot on to the platform, ard saw 81
man riding down the road towards the
depot, on large bay horse. He hitch
ed his horse, and came up to us, and
shook hands with Matt, and turning to
me said, Mr.. Laird, l will introduce
you TO Jesse James, Immediately
after shaking hands he and Matt
walked TO the other end of the plat
form and held short conversation.
Jesse then came up to me and said
Mr.. Laird, understand you are go
ing in with us to rob the
train tonight. | said, ives sir.
Jesse said, Have you any arms |
answered, Yes, a breech-loa6ins
rifle He said, BE sure and bring il
with you; meet us at the cut back OF
Jack Coles farm as soon after eight
o'clock as convenient. Come alone
when you get within 200 or 500 yards
of the spot signal us by whistling twice
the answer will be once / then turned
and went back home. My folks. ex.
cept my brother, who was not at home
retired soon after sun-down-we had
no timepiece. | think my brother got
home about O'Clock. then went to bed
with him, he on the back, and on the
front side. As near as l can Judge, i,
was little after S o'clock, when l got
up, took down my rifle, and stepping
out in my socks, got away without rails.
ing any of the family. On arriving al
the cut, gave the signal agreed upon
1t was answered, and | stepped for
ward and was met by Jesse James; al
the old gang was there, six of them
and Armstrong and several Of whom
had known before and who had Joined
the regular gang only short. time be.
fore; but | was the only one of the
neighborhood boys who had gpt there
Shortly after Creed, Chapman and John
Bugler gave the signal and came in
| following them came John Mat
alone. Pretty soon the train was
heard coming, and Jesse said
"Boys, We who are older hands 81
the business will stop the train, 60
through the cars, and get what i,
! there. You fellows run along the out
side and fire 10 or 20 apiece to scare
the passengers" Jesse stood upon i
pile of rocks ON the track, swung q
lantern, and the train came to STOP
within a few feet of the obstruction
Chapman, John BGyler and myself
stood on the south side .Sof the track,
while John Mott and two others were
on the other side. The first thing they
did was to break into the express car.
We all had on white masks; and as |
began at once 20 fire and the exci,e-
ment raised, did not notice who il
was went into the cars. Before
we had been long at work,
saw q man come from the train
with lantern and start to run east.
John Buglcr called out, "what does
that mean ?" Greed Chapman at once
fired at him, followed by Bugler and
striking him the third shot. Just then
some one called out from the train:
Don't shoot him, he is going to flag the
freight" After that the men in the
cars got through and came to the head
of the engine and were joined by those
on the north side and then all of them
came over and Joined us on the south
side.