The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-17
HEROES OF BRICAyDACE.
The More or Less Romantic Bandits
Of History.

Duval-Don Giro, the Priest-Robber.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
For many years the history Of the
western states has been spriuklei with
stories of daring and deeds Of rashness in
the pursuit of treasure or revenge. The
long line of desperate adventures with
which the James boys regaled newspaper
readers has been followed by others of al
most equal interest. until IL has seemed
that the world must stand in awe of this
branch of human effort as well as Of more
honorable forms. The wild lands Of Ar
kansas, the reaches of Colorado desert,
the level plains Of the Cherokee Strip and
the deceptive hills Of Northern
Texas have all furnished their
quota of reckless men, who
have some tin accomplished their at
tempt on life and property. But none
excelled and few have equaled the acts Of
the historic bandits of other days, who,
with a more hardy though less complex
civilization to deal with, laid a heavy
hand upon all with whom they dealt.
''There were giants in those days" APP
plies to the deeds Of wrong as well as
those of right and few who read of a
Dalton train robbery or bank hOld-Up
know that there was as much or more de-
fance of law and the rights OF property
far back in the centuries. The bandit is
by no means q creation of modern civil
ZatiOu. Famous names have earned the
title during the past 800 years.
AS far back as 1926 lived and thrived
the Golden Farmer" His real name
was William Davis and his boon COmpan-
ion was Thomas Simpson, known through
cut England as old Mob" The two
were cronies, and their exploits filled
the tight little islandf with awe. Davis
was born in Wales but early in life he
settled in Worcestershire, England. He
began his brigandish career early and
until his death waged a steady warfare
upon terrified travellers. His first re
corded escapade was when he held up,
singlehanded, the carriage of the Duchess
of Albemarle, defended by the cOachman
and three servants. In this instance he
even stripped the rings from the duchess
pudgy fingers, and insulted her by his
parting remark so that she went into
a faint When Davis could not find
would compel them to give him an order
on bank or merchant, and leave them
bound hand and foot until the paper
could be cashed. This he did with Sir
Bartholomew Shower, and so incensed
was the nobleman that he wanted the
army turned loose to hunt down the rob
Der. Gadbury, the astrologer, was a vic
tim of the Golden Farmer on one occas-
ion and all his wisdom did not enable him
TO trace the bandit. Together with "Old
Mob" DAVIS once evolved a daring
scheme by which two brothers, jewelers.
and bachelors, We're deCoyed from their
shops by fictitious reports Of each others
death, and the shops robbed of $1,000 in
jewelry. Davis received his tile be-
cause of his always having plenty of
gold and paying all debts in it. He was
captured and executed in 1899; his part
ner was beheaded year later.
The combination of all the robber class
Of a country into one great horde has
never been accomplished but once-in
India, during the early part of this CEN
fury, and Cheetow was their chief The
as they called themselves,
were men eff every caste and every de-
gree of criminality During the latter
part of seventeenth century, they had
gathered in force along the northern
boundaries of India, and when in 1905
Cheetow became the head OF the com
pany with the title of the Pindarry
Prince, they were in their zenith Their
fierce raids upon the rich and fertile val
leys, not to conquer and subdue, but to
plumber rob and outrage, were the most
severe trials the government had to en-
dure. At one time they had $4,000 or
more cavalry with which the raids were
made. In 1874 a combination of Indian
princes was formed to defeat and wipe out
this horde, but Cheetow, in an admira bly,
planned expedition swept down at the
head Of 5000 hOrsemen, divided his forces
into two parties, rified the valleys and
made sorties into the villages and re-
turned into the mountain Businesses with
plumber estimated at $500 600 in value. In
1916 similar, but less profitable raid
was made on GuntoOr. and then the Brit
ish government, thoroughly alarmed, sent
out its forces to stop this soourge. After
two years of fighting and skirmishing
Cheetow's band was broken up, but all eff
forts to Stay the leader seemed useless.
Like magic he escaped all snares and as
sassins. Finally he fed from his pur-
suers, and in attempting to penetrate a
jungle was killed by tigers, a death as
tragical as was his vicious life
The king of the Road" as Dick Tur-
pin was called, could have gwen pointers
to the Stars and Daltons Of to-day He
was born in 100, and begon his ill-starred
career by stealing sheep and cattle From
this he progressed to house breaking, and
made life a burden for the gentry of
Essex, England. Lady Laughton was
one of the first victims of 1urpin and his
companions, known as the Essex gang.
When she protested that she had no
money they roasted her before her fire
until she told them where e400 was hid
den. Upon another occasion they entered
the house Of the Hon. James Saunders.
member Of parliament, while he and a
number of friends were enjoying a game
of cards, and, binding the whole party
except the host, compelled him
to point out TO them his valu-
ables. Over 300 pounds in gold and plate
was secured. Employees of the Duke of
Newburgh soon after captured the
party in an ale house, but Turpin escaped
by leaping from a window. Three of the
gang were hanged. Turpin's adventures
for two years made him known all over
England. He robbed houses. beset stages,
held up Travellers and always seemed in
capable OF injury or of being captured.
Rewards running up into thousands OF
pounds were offered for his head, and he
dared not live in the towns.
So with a comrade he took up
his dwelling in a cave. While rob
bing house the officers came
suddenly upon them and in the melee
that followed Turpin shot his friend ac-
cidentally and escaped. He was pursued
with hounds, but escaped again and left
that section, going to Yorkshire. where
be set up as a wealthy farmer. He was
invited 10 the homes of the gentry and
enjoyed their full confidence. He kept
up hls robberies, making long trips for
the purpose. Finally, for a quarrel with
a nelghbor, he was arrested, when his
whole history came out He was cOD-