Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-16

Z
graph of the mysterious criminal did not
seem to aid them at all in the search for
him. The rewards by November. 1883,
had reached the handsome sum of S1s,-
400. Every robbery was committed in
precisely the same way. The mail. bags
were always cut Just below the lock in the
form of letter L, and the ak with which
the express box was broken open was left
on the ground.
BABT's LAST ROBBERY.
Peri APPS he would still be levying on
the stages in this state if il had not been
for bit of carelessness on the morning
of November 3, 1888, when he robbed the
stage between Milton and Sonora, in Tu-
olumne county, about three miles from
Copperopolis, on the old mail road from
the Yosemite. Ii was his twenty-third
stage robbery, and he had become so ex
pert that he used & poserful pair of
field glasses to detect whether any armed
messenger was on the stage. On this day
Mcconnell, the driver, had allowed boy
of the neighborhoci, W. had q gun, TO
ride with him, but the lad got down just
before the stage was stopped and had
gone into the woods to hunt. When
Bart halted the stage he asked Neon
nell what had become of the man with
the gun. The driver told him the truth,
when Bart ordered him to throw down
the box and to unhitch his horses. Then
Bart went through the box like an old
hand, getting $4,400 of amalgamated
gold, 81 ounces of gold dust, and $3.50
in coin packages. He gathered these up
in his arms, said "good-byo' to the driv
er, and was scarce one hundred yards
away when the boy with the rife ap-
peared. Mcdonnell snatched the rifle
and fired four shots at the retreating rob-
Der, but the thick brush prevented him
taking good aim.
PECULIAR CLEw.
When the detectives explored the scene
a few hour after they found the remnants
of Bart's camp fire and near it slouch
hat, a silk handkerchief, and linen cuff,
with a blood stain On it. What delighted
them, however, and furnished the first
real clew they had ever gained, was a
laundry mark on the cuff. Is was a mark
used by one of the city steam lauudries,
and the detectives at once secured San
Francisco for the man who handled this
mark. They found him to be laundry
agent in this city and he identified the
cuffs as belonging to G. e. Bolton, q man
who had clothing awaiting MIN at the
Office, His description of Bolton tailed
pretty closely with the appearance of the
Bart. SO the detectives lais for the APP
pearance of the stage robber. He return
ed in exactly week from the date of the
robbery, and was arrested as he called
for his clothes, He professed great in
dignation at his arrest, but search of
his room led to the discovery of his real
name, and to the finding of a number of
articles of clothing with the identical
mark on cuff. His real name was Charles
Il. Bolles, as it was found N family
Bible and in q discharge from the regular
army il which he served during the war.
RECOVERY OF THE AMALGAM.
Bart was taken e. Stockton, where he
was picked out OF a crowd of 200 men, by
a hunter who saw him few hours after
the robbery. This Identification rather
staggered Bart, but he 5til laughed at the
officers, until 5hat night when Detectives
Thorn and Stone laid before him all the
evidence they had secured.
Can you prove all thet9" quietly asked
the prisoner.
II cam returned Thorn.
"All right said Bart, lets travel"
Without a word Thorn went out, order
ed team, and at l O'Clock in the morn
ing three officers and Bart started for the
scene of the robbery. Bart acted RS
guide, and took them to hollow buck
eye, not far from the road, where the
plumber was concealed. Here everything
was found except the coin, which Bart
declared ne had spent. He was brought
to this city and locked up. He pleaded
guilty TO this one robbery, but strenuous
ly denied that he was the famous stage
robber. He made an APPEAL to the court,
declaring that it was only urgent neces-
sIty that drove him to the crime, and the
result was he received only six years in
san Quentin. He was sentenced Novem
Der Il, 1888, just fortnight after his
last robbery.
IN HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER.
When the aliases under which he was
known here were published, a large num-
Der of people recognized the stage-robber
as q man whom they mad known for five
years. HIS laudlady had been acquaint-
ed with him all this time. He always
paid promptly. He boarded at a restau-
rant, where he was won't to entertain his
friends with army "reminiscences. He
claimed to have been Captain in aR Ohio
regiment. and he was good story.tellsr,
More than q dozen policemen knew hirl,
and had frequently talked with him when
a small fortune was awaiting the man who
should arrest and identify him as Black
Bart. The story appealed to the popu-
lar Imagination, and created great sen
sRtiou here.
HIS PRISON LIFE.
When Bart was finally transferred to
San Quentin he made no secret Of his
identity, but he refused to talk of his pre-
vious exploits. He declared that he had
robbed his last stage, and that when be
got out he would lead an honest life. He
has been model prisoner, giving no
trouble TO the officers. He has worked.
during the greater part Of his imprisou
ment, in the drug department Of the
chemist. Officers WHO have had long ex
perience with criminals are doubtful OF
the highwayman's repentance, but he is
so well known now that it would be use
less tor him 10 operate as q road agent on
this coast. Whether he retires from the
road or not, he still remains one of the
phenomenal criminals of the age-a man
L ! 1.