Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-15

cation and maintenance OF societies oil
all sorts, benevolent, patriotic, social anG
economic. There are nearly one hun
/ dred of these organizations, supported
almost entirely by the laboring colored
peonle. 3 81 rs s5 55. 1 +S gs$g% =,
STAGE-ROBBING 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 brother Of the late Inspector
speight, was pointed out, and the
stranger, approach ing him, said:
"How are you Uncle?'
go away, now" said the old officer;
"you can't play any bunco game on mel"
But lam your nephew, and I have
Just returned from California, where I
have been since 1916. You may recall
my 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: "sit down and
tell us all about yourself" :
Detective Morse leaned back in his
chair and said; SWELL, first of all, I'm
glad to see my native city again. The
only.place that still seems familiar is the
Ninth Ward. I have seen a great deal
| of life since I left here in lS46. 1 have
been miner, store-keeper, liquor-dealer,
householder, sheriff of Almeada couuty,
chief of police, United States special
agent, and detective. Now that have
finished up my last job and captured
Black Bart mean to take good rest"
"What kind of q man is Black Bart? "
asked Sergt. James.
"Well, be is the most daring road
agent and stage robber the west has ever
seen. He began operations by robbing
the Fort Rose and Russian River stage,
August 8, 1877. He always wears -four
| sack thrown over his head, and an old
SLOUGH 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 aud takes out the
contents.
"Alter the first robbery came the rob-
berry Of the Quincy and Orv,lle stage,
July 25, 1873; Laporte and Orville stage,
July 80. 1878; Cahto and Ukiah stage,
Oct. 2, 1873; Corvello and Ukiah stage,
Oct. 5, 1878; Yreka and Reddiny stage,
Oct, % 1878; Alturns and Redding stage.
Oct. 81, 1879; Weaverville, and
Shosta stage, Sept. l. 1880;
Yreka and Redding stage again, Oct. s,
1881; Alt1rus and Redding stage again,
Oct II, 1881; Do wnieyille az Marys-
vile stage, Dec. Is, 1881; San Juan and
Smartsville stage, Dec. ~, 1881; Ukiah
and Cloverdale stage, Jan. 25, 1892; La
porte and Orville stage again, July 10,
1892. This time George Hackett, Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s messenger, fired two shots
at the robber without effect. The Yreka
and Reduing stage was again robbed on
Sept. II, 1882. and on Nov. "a, 1882. the
Lakeport and Coverdale stage was held
up. There were other stage rohberies,
but it was certain that Black Bart was
responsible for these, as he lett his sig
stables could do nothing, and the ex-
press company secured my services.
There WAS a reward of $SN) in each
case, making total of $l2,800-a sum
worth earning: On making inquiries,
myself and my man found that the
robber had called at farm houses for
meals, and that he always carried rol; Of
blankets, in which was mis- shot gun. Lit
tie by little we found that be was anAmer.
lean, over City years OF age, five feet, ten
inchesin height, prominent cheek bones,
gray hair, dropping gray monstache and
goatee. two front teeth missing, COM
plains of throat disease, great lover of
coffee, wears No. boots, and Is of re-
spectacle appearance and manner. That
description cost US months Of har work.
We were narrowing down the circle
when he played into our hands. On
November 80 last he stopped the Sonora
and Milton stage, near Coprerapolis,
and carried off gold worth 81 SOC , and he
left behind three pairs Of Cuffs and q
perfumed handkerchief, bearing the
marks of a laundry. There are ninety.
one laundries in San Francisco, and We
finally found the right one kept by Mr.:
Ware, in Bush street. Mr.. Ware said
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, /, said
I wanted to have few moments con-
V0ESALIOu Will lllul dUVUt luAlACO1 anu "C
walked to Wells, Fargo & Co.'s office,
where he was cross. examined for three
bours by Mr.. J. B. Hume. He was ele-
gantly dressed, and stood the ordeal
we'll. But myself anu Detective Thack-
or had searched his room and found q
counterpart of the handkerchief per-
fumed with the same odor, and also a
letter, the hand writing of which was
identical with the writing OF Black Bart.
His real name, Charles E. Boles, was
shown by an inscription in 4 pocket BIZ
ble,, which read: .''Prese nted to Charles
z. Boles, first sergeant, company B,
l6th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, by
his wife, as a New Years gift, 1855"
He still maintained his innocence, and
was locked up. .#,
II then found he WAS known to great
many policemen as Charles BarlL they
having met him at restaurant where he
boarded for Eve years past Next morn
ting we took him to Stockton to hunter,
known as ''Old Martin, who had seen
and conversed with the robber. No
soo~er did Martin see him THAN he said,
That's he.' He was locked 10. in the
Stockton jail, where I had 3 talk with
him, which resulted in his making fail
confession aud offering to restore the
treasure OF the Copperapolis robbery,
which he had con ealtd in his lair in the
mountains Horses were procured. aud
/ never shall forget that nights ride OF
thirty miles through the mountains.
Boles showed the genial side Of his na-
ture, and joked, told stories. and even
sang. Wereached the place at last. It was Q
hollow among the rocks, where Boles
could lay on his blankets, sweep the
country round with ills glass, and see
the approaching stage miles away. He
stopped down, showed away some earth
and brough hit up the goti, My task was
ended, and returned to San francisco