The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-09-22

than l0 states have been visited by sthe i
dustrious workers in this field. Below W
be found the principal events in which Il
members of the band were engaged:
THEIR FIRST ORGANIZED BANK RoBBEF
occurred at Liberty, NO., where, Jan. 2
1866, an even dozen desperadoes, armed |
the teeth and superbly mounted, swoope
down upon the city. The Clay Count
Saving Bank was their objective point, an
it was only a minutes work to oyerpowe
the cashier, a Mr.. Byrd, and his son, an
TO stuff the contents Of the safe, some $72
900, into pair of saddle-bags. Murde
showed it's horrible front in this inaugurs
of the series of bloody enterprises Whic
closed ut Winston, Mo-, an innocent bo
named Wymore, who ran off to give tn
alarm, being fired at by the robbers an
instantly killed, his body pierced by sevel
bullets. On the steps of Mount Gilea,
church the robbers divided the money. at
ter which they disappeared, most of then
going to Iowa, where some arrests Wer
made, which were not followed by con
victions. In June of the same year al,
members of the same band attacked the In
dependence, Mo-, Jail in order to liberatt
some prisoners, but, though they killed the
jailer, they failed in their attempt LII
October of that year another quintette cap
tured the banking house of Alexander
of Mitchell & Co., Lexington, Mo-, IN
timidated the clerk in charge, and stole
$4,000, the whole transaction occupying
only few minutes, and being as quiet and
expeditions piece of work as the despera-
does ever accomplished.
THE FIRST OF THE TRAIN RoBBERIEs
occurred near Louisville, KY, in .Noyem-
| Der, 1868, when band of ruffians ditched
| train. killing one man and injuring
number of others, and robbing the express
car Of $l2,0 900, The whole band was sub
sequently arrested, and Bill King and
Abe Owens were convicted of murder.
while eight others were prosecuted for
robbery.
Richmond. Mo-, was the next scene of
desperate exploit. Here, on the 23d of
May, 1867, a splendidly equipped and
mounted band of IA men, under the COM
mand of Payne Jones, swept into the town,
cleared its streets of citizens by shooting
at all who ventured to remain out of COW
er, and proceeded to plumber the banking
house of Hughes & Mason, where they Sc
cured 81 900. Mayor Shaw attempted to
organize body of defence, but was shot
dead while running across the street to
rally some citizens. The band then attack
ed the Jail, which was only defended BY |
the jailor, B. G. Griffin, and his son. both
of whom fell while fighting at their posts.
The gallant defence of the Jail saved it,
and the robbers retired without the loss of
a man. They were followed by the citi-
zens, who caught anG hanged Dick Bnrns.
Andy Mcclure and Tom Little, but failed
IN their attempt to capture Jones, the
leader, who, being cornered on one occa-
sion, dashed at his pursuers, killing one of
hem, and escaped. Among the suspects
b'Atc oSSssEt1h |
'rother-in-law Of the James boys, who is
low resident of Texas, but has been
ately trying to help Frank James out of . !.
lis difficulty.
There is hardly any doubt that Jesse ,
nd Frank James were
THE CRUEL MURDERERs !
# Cashier Sheets of the Gallatin Bank. I
DEC. Z, 1879, two horsemen rode up to the
Der of the Daviess County Savings Bank =
this place, one of whom dismounted =
nd quickly entered the bank, where Cash O
II John w. Sheets and customer named
leDoWen We're the only ones present. t
he stranger gave Sheets bill to change, a
nd as the cashier turned to accommodate c
I'm he shot him twice, first through the t
cart and then through the head. Nc 8
lowell was easily intiinidated into SUBJ =
lission, while the robher went behind the !
ounter and plundered the safe and till of u
700. The citizens had in the meantime II
rganlzed, and when the murderer made Il !,
is exit from the bank they were fast ap- :,
reaching. Just as he placed his foot in v
he stlrrup his horse plunged and the rob- C;
ar fell and was dragged so feet along the I.
'adway. The citizens opened fire upon :, :,
IN, when the mounted robber turned. i
'de back to his companion, who had freed hi
mself by this time, and waited till the o.
tier leaped behind him, when they gal sr a.
ped off together on the same mount. 70
Z the outskirts Of the town they met ca
tizen riding good horse, which they a
'nfiscated at the revolver's point, and in VI
few minutes they had
DIsTANcED THEIR PURsUERs. :"
ne abandoned horse was fully identified
the property of Jesse James. June 8, -
II, occurred the robbery of the Oboeock th
'os.' bank at Corydon, Iowa, which was "
in the more business-like io
" which had begun to distinguish the ~
er raids from the heller skelter affairs -
earlier days. The gang numbered six M
n. three of whom mounted guard out an
le while three entered the bank, bound We
, cashier hand and foot, and secured W W
900. They then rode over to political TT
eting in progress on the outskirts of the as
vn and interrupted the speaker, Henry Il
" Dean, long enough to entertain the .es ".
Hence, who believed they We're joking, ins