Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-16
THE MEANEsr KINDoF RoBBER
lie Induced George sykes TO bold Up q
Stmge Three Times in one Day.

| a man named Gordon betrayed his part
ner. has a great interest to an inmate OF
the Jail here named Tom Kline. Kline is
in trouble about a stage robbery himself,
aud he claims to know all about Gordon,
who was represented in this Montana
robbery as conspiring with the authorities
to get q Well-knOWn road agent named
Jackson into trouble. The Montana stage
was robbed by jackson and Gordon OF
$4,000, but, owing 10 the fact the au-
thorties were quickly on their trail, both
were captured before they could secrete
the money, Jackson going to Jail and
Gordon receiving $500 and freedom.
That's the way these fellows work, d"
said Kline today "They have done more
to break up the business than all the
detectives that were ever put on the road.
You hear every once in while how some
man goes into the staging business alone.
Well, that's because there's nobody that
you can trust. 1t is about the only way
that man in this line can have any
safety at all.
- knew Jim Gordon 10 years ago when
he was operating in this state, and a
neaner cuss never breathed. He has
jagged some Of the best men on the road.
When lie first began operations nobody
suspected him. In 1874 he was captured
three times over in Calayeras county, but
got away. though his companions did not.
We never thought there was anything
singular about it, but just attributed 1t 10
his good luck. A year or TWO later he
was caught again, and once more the
officers failed to make out case against
him. just then be was thrown in my
way. One day he suggested that we
ought to be at work, and more blood
thirsty man | never saw. He wanted TO
IrfNar nd n ba
Mokelumne road, and was so desperate
that | began TO be afraid to operate with
him. Finally he cooled down and we
went into business together.
eve held up two stages in two days
running, and the third day we got sailed.
He claimed 10 know that the stage due
that day had big bullion box on it, and
said that the driver was an old friend OF
his, who would stand in with US. When
the wagon rolled up to where we were
we jumped out, and Gordon fred his gun.
got scared, because | thought he was
going to overdo the matter, and | said
of warning nature TO him.
He pretended that his gun had gone of
accidentally. just then we discovered
that there was nobody in the stage, and
Gordon called the driver by name.
The latter said there WAS no use OF killing
him. He had a bullion box, and would
give IL up if we would divide. Gordon
winked at me and said OF course we
would, but he must drive on and trust to
our generosity the next time we met. He
and drove on, and Gordon and
| began to break open the box. We had
not been at work more that ten minutes
when there was a whoop and a yell, and
about a zen regulators had us corraled.
When we came to trial the prosecuting
attorney said he feared he did not have
evidence enough TO convict Gordon, and
he dismissed the suit, but he sent me up
for seven years. | got to thinking about
that thing when | was in San Quentin.
and ! figured it all out. Gordon had been
at work on me and had done me up for
the benefit OF the Stale. resolved to kill
him when l got out, but l never found
him.
1.-TWO years ago heard Of him again in
the northern part Of the State. He then
went under the name of Simmons, be-
cause all the boys hereabOuts had got him
marked. He played it up there on old
George sykes in worse way than he did
on me. George had been in the business
ever since the State was settled. and he
rather prided himself on his ability to
keep out of Jail. He often used to say
that the detective hadn't been born yet
who could down him. One day he fell III
with Gordon. At that time Gordon was
passing himself of as member OF the Jesse
James rang who had been compelled to
move West because Missouri wns too hot
for him. l don't believe any other dodge
could have caught old George. He was a
great admirer OF Jesse, and Gordon put
him to sleep every night for month with
anecdotes of that great man. Having
gained the old mans confidence in this
way. it WAS not long before Gordon had
him at work planning a stage robbery.
Nearly everything that George suggested
was unsatisfactory to Gordon, who would
say that Jesse James wouldn't soil his
hands or his conscience with such little
jobs as that. George got an idea that he
WAS travelling in pretty fast company, but
thinking that it was time for him TO take
lessons ne left the details Of the robbery
TO Gordon.
Gin all OF his talks Gordon said that his
idea OF doing things was 10 paralyze the
country. He wanted to rob two or three
stages in one day, or, better still, TO rob
the same stage two or three times, in or
der, as be said, to have fun as we'll as
profit. The old man finally agreed 70 the
latter proposition, just to have little
sport, as he put it, and they made their
arrangements accordingly. They knew
that the Oroville stage was a good one,
"
Gordon had received, they agreed to strike
IL early in the morning, again after din
ner, and once more for luck after supper
When they stopped ii first old George
was delighted. There was q full load
Of passengers, several mail bags.
and some treasure, and they got
big haul without any trouble at oil.
Then they rode around, and headed it of
again. BY this time there were one or
two new passengers and another mall
bag. and they made some ot the original
passengers come down again. George
said be never had so much fun In his life,
and he began TO wonder what they would
say whom they We're put through the third
course of sprouts IN the evening. Gordon
told him that that WAS nothing 10 what he
would show him i'm the course of time.
They would run the whole State and some
Of the Territories. While they were rid
ing around in front Of the stage for the
third hold up Gordon told George that
Jesse James and his crowd frequently
committed their Tobberies without firing
gun or showing weapon. and he said
that II would not be necessary for them
to do any shooting with this crowd. They
had felt OF them twice, and they were
clearly tenderteet whom il won d be no
credit 10 hurt. They would just have fun
with them in the dark. 10 was agreed
that Gordon was TO stand ready to use his
gun II necessary, and that George was 10
search them. The coach was stopped. the
passengers brought out and put in line,
and old George, snickering ali the time,
proceeded TO 20 through them. just rs he
grabbed the first man he felt a revolver
Fu Il IN..a Ia Ill -