The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-05-07
MART COPELAND.
WACO ENJOYS THE DISTINCTION
OF HAVING IN JAIL
One of the Most Notorious and Desperate
Horse Thieves In All Texas-A
Bit of His History.

| Special to the Gazette.
WACO, TEX, April 30.-One of the most
| notorious as well as desperate, daring, alb
solutely fearless and persevering horse
| thieves of Texas is in the county Jail of this
| county at present awaiting transfer to the
state penitentiary, there to serve out sew
eral sentences from different courts and
await trials in other courts still. He
is no other than the notorious Mart Cope
land, whose standing among professional
! robbers ranks among the foremost of the
world.
A few days ago one of those numerous
dispatches announcing the arrest Of
Dunlap, or of Melton, was re-
| ceived by Sheriff Ford This one
came from Burnett, and proclaimed
the arrest there of Dunlap. Deputy Sheriff
Burke was sent to Burnett to investigate, and
if as reported to bring back Dunlap. Ar
irving in Burnet, however, the deputy dis
covered that it was not Dunlap, but Mart
Copeland, and that he had been tried al
ready there for two cases of
horse stealing, receiving Il sentence Of
seven years III one cSSe and five in the
other. Deputy Burke arrived OPPORTUNITY,
in spite of the fact that it did not prove TO
be Dunlap, for Mart Copeland was also
wanted here, and so badly wanted in
Van Zandt was already there, and the
sheriff of Giddings had wired that he
would be on hand in day or so. Sheriff
Burke. however, had a bench warrant for
Copeland, and Copeland was taken to
Waco.
1t will be remembered that he was wanted
here for the theft of two horses taken from
Mr. F. B. Williams ranch. situated some
ten miles above this city, on the Brazos.
One Dick Cummings, his alleged partner in
this escapade, is now under $500 bond to
answer the same charge here.
Copeland pleaded guilty this morning in
the district court, and was sentenced to
five years in the penitentiary
Sheriff Blackwell Of Van Zandt was pres
ent to transport Copeland at the
conclusion of his trial here to
Van Zandt, but the next session
of court in Van Zandt is not held before Oc-
tober, and the probabilities do not favor the
theory that the Van Zandt jail could hold
Copeland that long. In consequence, he
will be consigned to the state prison until
the time set for trial.
Copeland is about five feet eight inches in
height, somewhat slight in build, has q
dark complexion, prominent cheek bones
and black hair and eyes. He wears a
moustache, and the keenest set of eyes to
be seen. These are always fixed in
tently upon his companion, restless and
never leaving him. He seems somewhat
shattered in health now. An eel fresh from
the pond is not more difficult to keep in
hand than is Mart Copeland in custody, rs
he has demonstrated again and again
to officers of the law. He has
been captured repeatedly, and as often has
he effected his escape. He has been
cornered by officers at different times in
manner seemingly precluding the barest
possibility of flight and yet has eluded them.
He has reached that stage of the game now
when any attempt at concealment is futile,
and consequently he no longer attempts
such, but is quite frank in relating any Of
his past escapades.
His history truly related would discount
the widest dime novel.
Deputy Burke, when he placed Copeland
within the train, said to him: ''Well, just
for the sake of comfort, I think III have to
handcuff you to this arm of the seat"
Copeland, who has very small hands and
needs close-fitting handcuff, laughed and,
in peculiar basso voice, said:
"Well, you know your business is
to keep me if you can, and my business is
to get away from you if CAM
The prisoner was retained until the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas reached Waco only
by being handcuffed TO the seat, and very
little mapping was done on the way.