Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-14
NOTED TEXASOUTLAWS
SOME EPISODES IN THE CHECKERED CAREER
OF KINCH WEST.
Escapes From Judge Lynch-Ahsr Being West
ern Terror For Years, He Settles
Down to Quiet Life,

For several years following the war
the counties of North Texas, bordering
along Red River, were overrun With
desperadoes, who respected neither hu-
man life nor the rights OF property.
When at times the people rose in their
might for the purpose OF dealing out
Justice in the most expeditions manner,
the mountain Businesses and dense for
est Of the Indian Territory, which Dor
dered on the northern bank OF Red
River, afforded a convenient and safe
shelter, writes correspondent from
Paris, Texas.
Among the most daring OF all the out
vs. who then infested the country was
Kinch West he was native OF Mis-
souri,, and when the war came up he
was an impetuous youth of eighteen.
Joining Quantrell he followed the for
tunes of that famous guerilla chieftain
until the close of the war. When it
ended Kinch West came to this conutry
with band Of as great dare-devilS as
ever roamed the border. Their means
OF a livelihood was stealing horses, and
their amusement killing and terrorizing
negroes. They were continually on the
20, and roamed up and down either side
of Red River. from Fulton, Ark, to
Gainesville, Texas
A UNIQUE coURTsHP.
West was as handsome as he was dar.
ing and his courtship was unique and
sensational. One day he met pretty
woman on horseback while on scout
in Western Arkansas. he dotted his
hat and made some inquiries about the
country and the roads. In questioning
her be pretended to discover that he
was going in the wrong direction and
turned back and rode along with the
Young woman. After going a mile or
two be abruptly proposed to her that
she elope with him, frankly telling her
who be was, bis mode OF life and all
about himself.
The young woman had become most
favorably impressed with the man be-
fore. but now her distorted fancy saw
In him a veritable hero-a knight Of
the olden time-and she unhesitatingly
consented. 1t was long, rough journey
of three days through the wilds Of the
Indian Territory TO the Texas border.
Late one afternoon in the autumn Of
1867, they arrived az the residence Of
MIR. Frank BarfanO, two miles north OF
this city, and asked him to procure a
marriage license and preacher for them.
He complied. The woman was con-
stantly with him In sll his subsequent
wanderings over this country. Time
and time again has she thrown the Of
fcers or the vigilanteS of the trail and
saved the life OF the outlaw, whose
fortunes had been so Economically linked
with hers.
ESCAPES THE vIGILANTEs.
In 1867 Willie Parish, an ex-Uniou
soldier, and a quiet, unobtrusive citi
zen, was murdered and robbed while at
work in the woods near this city.
There was no proof as to who did it,
but the crime was laid at the door OF
West and his band Of marauders. A
vigilance committee was organized for
the purpose Of wiping out the gang.
One dark, rainy night the house where
West and his men made their headQusr-
tiers was surrounded. West and two
other men were there. A fight ensued,
in which one Of the men was killed and
the other wounded and captured. West,
however, got under the floor and es-
capped In the darkness.
As soon as the vigilates had disposed
of the captured and wounded outlaw,
which was done by hanging him to the
most convenient limb, they set forth
again In search OF West. He was again
surrounded and again escaped. and took
refuge by climbing a tree, under which
his pursuers soon afterward sought shell
ter from the elements. remaining there.
until iaybreak, when they rode away
without discovering their man.
TIE GANG SCATTERED.
Vests gang was somewhat scattered
time, and he deemed IL the bet
I'll tot Valor to leave the country.
w srumors came back her