The morning news., 1889-05-04
MNEAL THE BANDIT.
4 History of the Most 1ewless Des-
-,arado Of the Arizona Frontier.


From the Denper Ners.
rbsn the Atlantic and Pacific train was
ha1d I'D and robbed AT Canyon Diablo on
the Atlantic and Pacific road on March p
last there was e very general impression
among the people through the section of
a-f7ona in which the robbery was COM
-,i++ed. that a noted outlaw known as Nc
Neal was the man who had planned and
s~ecuted the robbery. AS it tnrns out
there is nothing to implicate McNeal in the
affair, although Swift, one OF the quartet
of robbers CAPTURED in Utah, and now on
their way to Arizona IN charge OF Sheriff
O'Neill and posse, was riding one OF Nc
Meals horses when captured.
Sneakiug of McNeal yesterday, Deputy
Sheriff st. Clair, of Flagstaff, Ari., said:
"He is the nerviest and most desperate
outlaw now at large in the frontier region.
7 had rather fight the whole gang that we
have lust captured, single-handed than to
tackle McNeaL
McNeal's moduS operGndi in the busi-
ness Of appropriating to his own uses other
neoples cash, goods and chattels is peculiar
He has never, So far as known, had any
copfederares. There are suspicious, of
oorrsa that he is the head OF we'll organ
iza6 gang, and that the stolen horses which
found their way to point of rendezvous at
Lees ferry, on the line between u ah and
Arizona. pass through his hands So far as
his public appearance is concerned, how
ever, he is always alone and single-handed.
He has performed some of the most daring
robberies on record. He first attracted
nnhic attention, or in other words, made
his debut in Arizona something over year
ago What his first name is nobody seems
70 know; in fact, McNeal is only one of a
number Of aliases, johnson and Wallace
being professional names under which he
has Travelled more or less. Where be had
had been operating before he came to Ari-
IONA Is a question, although he had been
heard of at one time aud another in New
Mexico, Texas and the Indian territ ry He
is described as young man, not more than
o years Of age, tall and rather slender,
wearing dark mustache and short cropped
bair. Whenever he has had occa-
sion to show himself to the puplic,
which has not been infrequently, he
was carefully dressed and always wore
Nedcan straw sombrero of the richest and
most expensive pattern.
When he came into Arizona he first en-
gagged in the horse and cattle business.
That is, he engaged in the business of mar
keting the horses and cattle of the Arizona
ranc6men without their knowledge or con-
sent, the Aztec Cattle Company being the
most frequently drawn upon to supply his
demands. So bold was he in his operati ons
that he would every now and then ride into
Hobrook on one of the stolen horses, trans
act such business as he desired and disap-
pear as quietly and mysterlously as he
came in.
One evening when he was making Pc
riodical visit to Holbrook 1t occurred to him
that the little town ou hit to contribute
something to his revenues as we'll as t q
surrounding country. He accordingly
called up one Of the Schuster Bros, firm
doing me chandlZing business in Holbrook,
and info med him that he was in need of
what money there was in the store, and
also Of various kinds Of wearing apparel and
such other articles of value about the place
as could be conveniently carried away by
man on horseback. Schuster of course
demurred, but the gentlemanly manner in
which the request was made, backed by the
persuasive effect of 44-caliber gun, in
duced him to comply and he handed over
TIDE cash first. While he was gathering up
some other trinkets for the bandit, Schu5-
ters brother made his appearance with a
double-barreed shotgun. which he was in
the act of leveling at McNeal, when quick
as lightning the latter placed his brother
between himself and the shotgun. As Schus-
ter could not fire without killing his brother
GcNaal compelled him to throw down his
gun and made the two brothers follow him
outside with ''hands up" He then mounted
bis horse and rode away.
At another time he made an excursion to
j
time the bartenders in one of the large
saloons were changing shifts he took a no
ton to carry away with him the contents Of
the safe and the proceeds Of the days bust
neess
He entered the saloon at a time when
several gentlemen were taking an evening
MP, with gun in each hand, and while
one Of them was brought to bear on the
bartender, the other was leveied at the
guests who were requested to arrange them
selves in line at ne end Of the bar They
we're informed at the sa Ge time that the
slightest hostile demonstration on their
part would result in their 'lights ing in
stantly put out" While the bartender was
IN the act of honoring McNears drafts, two
odlcers who were looking for the robber, or
al least had notion that they wanted to
und him, stepped in, Being no respecter Of
persons, McNeal ordered them to take their
places IN the line Of spectators. ard some
thing about the fellow overawed the min
lois OF the law to such an extent that they
ooeyed the order without stopping to argue
tle point When his business with the bar
tender had been transacted McNeal backed
out OF the saloon and made his escaoe.
,iS Is SAID that these are but specimens Of
AcNesIs style Of doing business in Arizona.
anu tnat be has executed a number Of
equally daring and successful robberies
Atom time when Sheriff Owen Of Apache
IToqnty, was IN the east end Of the county
ooKlhg Tor him, they UNEXPECTEDLY came
.og7ther and stopped over night at the same
mouse The sheriff did not know his man,
II ana dld not have an accurate description Of
Il nm OF found him thoroughly disguised. At
1oy rate, they not only slept in the same
-o1se out IN the same bed, and McNeal dis
oussea himself and his robberies with toe
an m woo vas seeking to effect his ca pture.
me this noted bandit is looked upon as
s-9 nos5 desperate character in Arizona, so
II "a. Is 1ne officers know, he has not fund it
Iecsssary in the pursuits of his profession
Iua. section OF the country TO take hui
L --au NE, He is accused of having killed
-9 or Two, or perhaps more men in other
oDalIles, but in Arizona be has managed
" seI along without suffering any bodily
uJIIy 20 himself, or inflccing such injury
eFDu any Of those with whom be has had a
.alcy Ior dol business. He is, however,
10y oadly wanted in several other places
- tne gentlemen who want him are not
. a..cuIar whether he comes In dead or
..s-' provided always that he is in the Gus
.ly OF somebody who will be resposi le
nIs conduct The rewards offered for
'' 4p1ure aggregate 81 $50.
suburban Station Advocated.
1"'tor Morning NetUs. II the Savannah.