Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-03-21
THE DURBIN GANG.

publish. the evidence which we took at
the preliminary examination. Tie
evidence of George Gill was strongly
supported III almost every material
point, by outside testimony. The
uncle of the Durbins, Mr.. Elias Ash
craft, who bought the goods that were
shipped to Kentucky, was here, with
an inventory Of the goods he had
bought, but, as the gang plead guilty,
his testimony was not given. The VOL
untary confession of Jim Shipley, to
Mr.. Blackwell, and by him reduced to
writing, also corroborates Gill in many
particulars.
When the prisoners were being SEN
fenced, Judge Young made strong
appeal for mercy on behalf Bent. Bar
ker, as he believed Barker to be in
nocent of any participation in the rob-
berries. The whole gang stated to him
that Barker was innocent. But ON
their way to the pen. the gang found
that lying would do no good, and free
ly confessed that Barker was as deep
in the mud as any of them. The coll
fession of Shipley also implicated him.
The gang confessed to the guards that
they were all guilty, but said that there
were four others yet left up here, who
deserved punishment as richly as they
did. and freely gave their names.
The various indictments against the
members of the gang were as follows:
Burglary I'd degree and grand lar
cenv against Amos and Pres. Durbin
for breaking and robbing car, July 20,
1854. Stole boots and shoes.
Burglary I'd degree and grand lar
ceny against Amos Durbin for break
ing and robbing Car Sept. 10, 1854:
Stole one hogshead of lard. Took lard
to Amos Durbin's house.
Burglary I'd degree and grand lar
ceny against Plus Durbin, Jim Shipley,
John Durbin, Pres Durbin, Sile Dur
bin, Will Durbin, Sept. 20, 1884.
Breaking cars and stealing 3 barrels
of whisky and lot of miscellaneous
goods. Took goods to John Durbin's
house.
Burglary and grand larceny against
Plus Durbin, John Durbin, Pres Dur
bin, Sile Durbin, Will Durbim and Jim
Shipley, Sept %, 1884. Breaking car
and stealing 2 barrles of whisky and
miscellaneous goods. Taken to John
Durbiu's house and shipped to KEN
lucky except whisky.
Burglary I'd degree and grand lar
ceny, against Jim Shipley, Sile Dur
bin, John Durbin, David Washington,
Pres Durbin, Will Durbin and Butler
Barker. Stole IL boxes OF oysters, one
box of dry goods, bale OF dry goods,
2 boxes of boots, 4 cane bottom rock
ing chairs, Dec. 81, 1884. Taken to
SHE Durbin's house and divided that
night.
Burglary 2d degree against Will
Durbin, John Reed, Amos Durbin and
Bent Barker. Cut seals and entered 1e
cars, but found no goods, Dec. l, 1854
Attempted burglary against john
Durbin, John Reed and Plus Dulhin
Jan. Z, 1885. John Durbin and John
!, Reed arrested in the attempt.
Following is the evidence taken by
: our reporter at the preliminary exam,
ination:
, George Gill; lived at Mrs. Peggy
Durbin's and am acquainted with al
the members OF the gang. We gener'
ally met at Odessa, OF at John Dur
? bins; sometimes met at Widow Dur
Y bins; we followed the business of bleed
ing the G.. & A. railroad; at Widow
Durbin's we laid the plan of going oi
s the railroad; Amos, Pres and nysel
Il were present; Amos and were TO g
| to COrder, break into a train ,and throw
:. the goods off at Walnut Grove school
, house; Pres was to be at the school
! house; we broke into three cars ant
d found nothing; at Odessa we broke in
+ to car and threw out two boxes o
+ boots and shoes; we carried them t
e Mr.. Longs gate, three quarters of
g mile from Odessa, and went 10 Wainu
Il Grove for Pres Durbin; we got o
r horses and went back to Longs; W
IL put the goods in sack and burned tn
II boxes, Pres and went to Widow Dun
n bins; about 4 o'clock in the mOrnin
II when we got there; fine boots. butto
'e shoes; Am;,s went home; we took
d knife umd cut seal OH the car and wei
Il in; some cars we broke were sealet
" some not; next time we went bleedliI
r. was about 3 weeks after; Amos wa
.
to drinking; went to the O'cloc
freight and cut 2 seals; found SON
y. barrels; didn't know what was in them
I. we rolled off hogshead OF lard;
p September or October we took lard
"a Amos Durbin; we took it in wagon
i got TO Amos at o'clock a. IN; we pI
ID the lard in jars and barrels and brougl
AN it to Lexington and sold il; sold
tn htI
it (Williams); took sample to the hotc
~ woman said it was good, but fivort
re- with cocoanut; sold the lard; Am'
er did not want to be known al Sun
ID mers'; sold S. worth at Old Tow
of divided the balance Of the lard bt
a tween the Durbins; old lady did III
I'm want any of it; / don't think it Wi
d. good lard; too strong; did not lii
h. biscuits made of it; next time we we
tv bleeding was about month after:l al
mt John Durbin, Pres Durbin, VIM. Du
nd bin, Plus Durbin, Sile Durbin and Ji
n. Shipley; met at John Durbin's; met
il. 20 to railroad; Jim Shipley and Pill
in went to Corder on the train; Pres toe
,d horses and went TO Odessa; balance
ht US went in wagon to Walnut Gro
av schoolhouse; when the train came
az the goods were thrown off; two ba
o. rels of whisky, worth at least 50
,s- s. SO gal on, also box OF cott'
flannel, box Of dark calico, bale COZ
forts in gunny sacks; this was all; .Jl
Shlpley and Plus Durbin got of
lth Odessa and came back to the schoC
ed house and walked us all up; we we
ok and put the goods in the wagon; t
les shipment of goods to Kentucky W
'e, made in October; John Durbin W
Wo gone three weeks; shipped by Paci
as. railroad at Lexington to some town
llk Kentucky, perhaps Richmond; DO
ess Durbin said he saw man ana ga
or him money to pay freight; he i
nd money but did not know the cost: :;
he LETT $50 or S35: MIR. Ship!ey sold
ere share OF the whisky to John Hurii
lde the last whisky we all sold to Pi
18th Durbin, and he sold to Herr, Heri
her Herd in Dallas county, Mo. Plus w
les with the whisky about the 29th
ton August; | went to Illinois on that ds
or Dulbin took the whisky to Herd 5,
jim 8 and put 1t i'll straw stack: Y
!. in Dallas county four days ago; lou
one barrel full and one barrel with )
4 gallons; took it TO Marshfield 8
shipped 1t to ST. Louis: the barrel v
ton buried in straw, six feet from The sta'
AN. one barrel was covered and one ab'
in half out; and Mr.. Burr got the Will
ity. from the stack; | recognized both b
Il, Il