The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-22
-srAGE.RoBBrsG ROMANCE

"A tall heavily bearded man, with the
swinging stride peculiar to western men,
walked into Sergeant James room at
the Tombs yesterday and asked for
Officer Speieht. The venerable officer,
who is a brother of the late Inspector
speight, was pointed out, and the
stranger, approach ing him, said:
'eHow are you Uncle"
"Go away, now" said the old officer;
lyon can't play any bunco game on mel"
But | am Yotlr nephew, and / have
lust returned from California, where l
have been since 1916. You may recall
nv name-Harry N. Morse
The speaker was the famous California
detective, the captor of Black Bart, the
stage robber. Officer Speight jumped
from his chair, warmly grasped his
nephew's hand, and said: est down and
tell us all about you self"
Detective Morse leaned back in his
chair and said: "Well, first of all, Pm
glad to see my native city again. The
only place that still seems familiar is the
Ninth Ward. l have seen a great deal
of life since l left here iii 1916. l nave
been miner, store-keeper, li~quor.dea|er.
householder, sheriff OF Almeada county,
chief of police, United States special
agent, and detective. Now that I have
finished up my last job and captured
Black Bart l mean to take a good rest"
What kind of a man is Black Bart?n.
! asked Sergt. James.
"Well. he is the most daring road
agent and stage robber the west has ever
l onnr He n.p, ~ n ,,a rots1,,, L., .oLLs--.
the Fort Rose and Russian River stage.
August 5, 1877. He always wears a -four
sack thrown over his head, and an old
slouch hat. He jumps IN between the
horses heads, and leveling his shotgun
at the driver orders the box thrown out.
The stage goes on, he breaks open the
box with an old axe and takes out the
contents.
"After the first robbery came the rob
berry of the Quincy nnd Orville stage,
July %, 1878; Laporte and Orville stage,
July 30. 1878; Cahto and Ukiah stage,
Oct. 2. 1878; Corvello and Usish stage,
Oct. 8, 1878; 1reka and Reddin. stage,
Oct, % 1873; Alturns and Redding stage,
Oct. q, 1879; Meaverville, and
Yreka and Redding stage again. Oct. S.
1881; Altlrus and Redding stage again,
Oct. IL, 1881; Downieviile AID Marys.
vile stage, Dec. Is, 1881; San Juan aud
| Smartsvilie stage, Dec. ~, 1881; Ukiah
and Cloverdale stage, Jan. %, 1882; La
porte and Orville stage again. July ID,
1882. Tins time George Hackstt; Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s messenger, fired two shots
at the robber without effect. The Yreka
and Redaing stage was again robbed on
Sept. Ii. 1882. and on Nov. 81, 1882, the
Lukeport and Coverdale stage WAS held
up. There were other stage robberies,
but it was certain that Back Bart was
responsible for these, as he lett his sig
nature behind him. The county con-
| stables could do nothing, aud the ex-
press company secured my SERVICES.
There was a reward of sStD in each
case, making a total of Sl2, S0O-a sum
'Eorth earning. On making inquiries,
myself and my man found that the
robber had called at farm houses for
meals, and that he always carried a rolt OF
blankets. in VIII CHI was his shot gun. Lit
tie by little we found that he was anAmer-
lean, over fifty years OF age, five feet, ten
inches in height, prominent cheek bones,
gray hair, dropping gray monstache and
| goatee, two front teeth missing, COM
plains of threat disease, great lover of
coffee, wears No. s boots, and Is of re-
spectacle appearance and manner. That
description cost us months of hnri work.
We we're narrowing down the circle
when he played INFO u hands. On
November Sd last he stopped the Sonora
and Milton stage, near Cop perapolis,
and carried off gold worth 81, SH;;, and he
left behind three pairs OF cuffs and a
perfumed handkerchief, bearing the
marks of laundry. There are ninety.
one laundries in San Francisco, and we
finally found the right one kept by Nj.
yNara IN Rl10h StrADt MIR NVurn coil
that the handkerchief was the property
of Mr.. G. E. Bolton, of No. 81 I'd street.
Just then Bolton came along, and | was
Introduced to him as Hamilton. I said
| wanted to have n few moments con-
versation with him about mines, and we
walked to Wells, Fargo & Co.'s office,
where he was cross examined for three
bonrs by Mr.. J. b. Hume. He was ele-
gantly dressed, and stood the ordeal
well. But myself and De ective Tnack-
er had searched his room and found d
fumed with the same odor, aud also a |
letter, the handwriting Of which was
identical with the writing of Back Bart.
His real name, Charles E. Boles, was |
shown by an inscription in u pocket BIZ
BILE, which read: Presented to Charles
E. Boles, first sergeant, company B,
1l6th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, by |
his wife. as a New Years gift, 1856"
He still maintained his innocence, and
was locked up
II then found he was known to a great
many policemen as Charles BarlLw, they
having met him at a restaurant where he
boarded for five years past. Next morn
ting we took him to stockton to u hunter,
known as ''Oid Martini, who had seen
and conversed with tho robber. No
scorer did Martin see him than he said,
That's he.' He was locked up In the
Stockton jail, where 1 had a talk with
him, which resulted in his making a fail
confession and Offering to restore the |
treasure Of the Copperapolis r1bbery,
which he had con called in his lair n the
mountains Horses were procured. aud
| never shall forget tiiat nights ride of
thirty miles through the mountains.
Boies showed the genial side of his nl-
ture, and joked, told stories, and even
sang. We reached the place at last. 1t was q
hollow anong the rocks, where Boles
could Law on his blankets, sweep tue
country round with his glass. and see
the approaching stage miles away. He
stopped down, showed away some earth
ana brought up the gold, My task was
ended, aud | returned to San Francisco.
Black Barl's now in the san Andreas
Jail, where he will remain until his re-
moval to the state prison at San Qaen-
tice.''
.'How much will he get?" inquired an
attentive policeman.
'Oh | suppose about twenty years" |
answered Mr., Morse. ~ don't know
whether I will return to California, for /
mad some idea Of settling down here,
where / was born"
Men have commenced work clearing
away the debr.so of the large hotel, which
uoS br,rpa1 Oh Termination or thu I'm at