The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-17
A Mall Robbers Story.

With heavy gives clanking IN duh, metallic
ring at each movement, Henry w. Burton,
confessed murderer and mail robber sat wea-
rily on the bench in IA cell in the Central
Station where he was brought from the prison
IN Detroit last evening by United States
Marshal Matthews, OF Michigan. Burton
never smoked cigar or pipe, or used tobacco
IN any other form, nor has he ever taken a
drink OF intoxicating liquor. He never swears,
and he said last evening that the sound of an
oath cuts him like q knife, He was born IN
Texas My father was ranchman, said he,
chs name was White, and my right name is
Samuel White. When | was thirteen years
Of age my father was shot by James Rown in
a quarrel. II was when | was twenty.onc
years of age that l met Rown for the first time
1t was in camp in Rockdale county, Texas.
was told who he was Stepping IN front OF
him | exclaimed, You are my fathers muir
derer,' and before he had time to draw a
pistol shot HIM through the heart. | was
arrested afterwards for the otfense, and served
a short term of imprisonment. After my dis.
charge | began my career as mail robber,
or train.agent. | worked without any assist
sncc whatever; always alone. In April, 1875
| stopped mail express in Rockdalc county
Texas. There were fourteen passengers in
the stage. You would hardly think 1t possible
that one man could intimldate so many, but
erected dummies that in the dark looked like
men surrounding the vehicle. Then | made
the passengers step out Of the coach, one by
one, after first attending to the driver and
the guard by Gripping them with shot
apiece from my rev Oliver AS the passengers
alighted | threw black hoods over their eyes
and fastened their hands behind their backs
got $4,000 from this haul, but was arrested
soon after and sentenced to an imprisonment
for life. / was pardoned through the influence
OF friends within two years.
went to Colorado. | cannot tell how 1t
was, but after drifting about for time | re.
turned TO my old pursuits. One dark night
about year ago learned that the stage on
the road between DreadnOught and AramOsa,
III Colorado, was full of passengers and carried
rich mail. | erected several canvas tents
and built dummies looking like men on both
sides OF the road. | barrcaded the road with
two poles fastened forkwise. Shortly after
midnight the vehicle came dashihg along the
road. The horses caught on the stakes and
rolled to the ground. One by one | ordered
the driver and passengers to alight. There
were fourteen passengers, any one of whom
could have knocked me down, for | am
cripple, remember; but out they came, as
gentle as lambs, looked at my dummy men
and trembled with fear. After my trial at the
September term Of court, 1881, in Colorado
was being taken from Chicago to Detroit
when dlsarmed the sheriff and his two dep
uties who had me In custody. This was IN
the cars had the sherlffs revolver pointed
at his head. In an instant more | would have
blown his brains out but passenger Miss
Alice Smith, lady whom had never seen
before and whom l have never met since,
threw herself upon me, begging for the sher.
IFS life. think | am too tender.hearted.
Escape was open for me, but Miss Smith called
out, Think OF the mans wife and children
Without word handed the revolver back to
the sheriff and submitted without sound of
complaint to having shackles placed upon my
hands and feet."-Phaladelphid Press.