The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-08-16
DALTON BOYS AS BANDITS.
Remarkable Crime Record of
Three Brothers From
Kansas.
OutriFalled the James Gang In
Robbery and Murder.

ever, have been identified with The
industry of robbing trains, banks, ex
press cars and killing people. Georg-
is q moderate farmer. living on little
ranch in the southwes part Of Kan
sas, where he is respected by hi,
neighbors as an industrious, law-abid.
ing citizen.
All the boys were born and raised
in Kansas, and not in Missouri, as ha:
been charged in the press SO many
times, aid their parents were liked
for miles around for their honesty.
charitable deeds and other good qual-
tiles.
Bob and Frank first began to slide
iuto deeds Of outlawry by running off
cattle in the neutral strip and selling
them to herders in Colorado. They
continued at this business for several
years until it got SO warm for them
they were compelled to flee III.
country to d. prive the community OF
the festivities Of a lynching bee. This
seemed to be the turning point in the
lives Of the boys, and since that tim
there has been no crime too daring tor
them to commit.
The first heard of the boys after
leaving their Kansas home was in
California, where they were accused
of robbing a train, waylayiDg stage
coaches and numbering several people.
They continued their desperate lie
in California for two years, until one
of the boys was captured for a muir
der committed in stage coach affair.
and after a desperate fight with the
courts Of the Golden State, narrowly
escaping the halter. the boys left The
state about the time of the opening
OF Oklahoma in 1889, and since that
time their deeds of outlswry in the
Indian Territory have equalled, if not
the famous James and
Younger boys in their palmiest days
of plunder and murder.
After their return to Oklahoma
from Callf:rnia the boys came a"d
went as they pleased, being seen and
recognized at nearly every town in
the Territory by friends and acquaint-
ances, and at one time in Kihg.fi her,
while in that place buying some sup
plies for bis mother, Bob was recog-
nize by a prominent United States
and cOnversed with the officer
for more than an hour.
1t is said that Bob one day in Cub
RE actually saluted Governor Steele
IN the street and afterwards j"ked
about it while relating it to crowd
If friends in q neighboring saloon.
The mother Of the boys, accompan.
ed by George, entered Oklshoms at
he time of the opening and located a
lain about three miles southeast of
George assisted his mother.
low widowed, in proving up her
lain, and then he returned to his
'anch in Kansas. The fact that the
mother lives alone on her claim gives
Use to many assertions that il is done
or the purpose Of giving the robbers
IN opportunity for a rest when hard
pressed or making a long ride or wal
ng for recruits, and the proper time
o commit a robbery, as was the case
q the Ell Reno bank affair, when they
we're notified at the homestead by con-
ederates.
The report that the boys would not
OBJ q man or institution who was rot
BILE to lose it is not borne out by the
acts. While making their escape
fter doing the Red Rock job on the
'anta Fe road, the boys role up to a
title country postoffice and compelled
he lady who was in charge at the
ime to hsni out all the money in the
Iouse, in all Sc.
Their first real attempt at train
obbing in the territory was at the
title way station at Wharton, about
wo years ago, on the Santa Fe. The
'oys had received the information
rom some of their confederates that
large sum of money wss being
hipped TO Fort Reno for the purpose
f paying of the troops at that post
others say that the Daltons were in.
ormed of the intended shipment of
he money by persons living at the
ort and who knew about the time the
rain and money were expected. Be
hat as it may, the band appeared at
Wharton and waited around in the
'icinity several days.
The night it was expected the train
would pass bearing the money, and
ust an hour before the train was to
rive, the robbers appeared on the
'latform and demanded of the oper-
tor that he open up the door. They {
7anted to know if the train was on
ime, and the operator informed them