Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-02-01
THE TRAIN ROBBERS.
Only One in Jail The Fate of
Willis Brown.

Willis Brown.
There ia little more to be said Of the
train robber capture episode than was
known last week Bob Rogers came
back from IT. Smith under an $4,000
bond a very few days after he left
here This was. OF course, conflrma-
iion Of the belief that he betrayed his
confederates into the hands OF the
officers. II is said his uncle, living in
Arkansas gave the bond. IL is pre-
sumeJ he will plead guilty and get of
with a comparatively light sentence.
Willis Brown was brought back in
coffin Sunday morning and turned
over to his parents who took him out
into the country for burial. lie died at
~. Smith Thursday from the effects
OF the shots he received in capture
and before his death made q couiess-
ion admitting completely in most IL
not all the crimes charged to him,
including the Mound Valley bank
robbery, ths robbery OF the Valley
train at Seminole, and the robbery Of
the station agents at Chelsea and
Bluejacket.
"Kiowa's" name was Turner aud az
stated he came from Eureka, Kan.
dispatch was received from his folks
directing that he be given a decent
burial and the instructions we're car
ried out Sunday morning.
Thursday evening the box which
contained the remains was stood up
against telegraph pole and photo
graph taken, at the instance of the
deputy marshals.
Some of the rewards offered will be
paid at once but as is usually the case
when outlaws are killed, some Of those
who have offered them decline to pay.
1t is remarkable how each one of the
officers did all the work. First il was
Bruner aud Smith, with the poslotiice
and railroad officers on the retreat,
but as soon as they got around to the
telegraph Office 1t was largely the
other way. On the robbers side, one
Of them stated that had they not been
drunk they would not have been cap
tured at all.
1t is possible they did not under
stand clearly at that time that Bob
Rogers, their leader, had led them
into a trap.
OF the man now in Ft. Smith Jail
nothing is known Of consequence. He
went by the name of dynamite Jack"
aud il is not likely was a,brother or
even a relative of "Kiowa's."
In the fate Of Willis Brown there is
a lesson to all those young men who
are forming bad habits and have not
the stamina TO 10 right for rights
sake alone. Last May or June this
man tirst became generally known as
n thief, though his conduct before waE
probably not above reproach. From
that time until his capture 1t is doubt.
| iul IL he ever spent night in bed with
any feeling Of security. At all hour
and in all kinds of weather he and hii
comrades were on the alert, for the
officers were after them almost con
tinually. No cowboy, no mail ride
on night line, ever worked so hare
or endured 80 many hardships. Wha
vas his reward? Barely enough to ea
and drink empty pockets, despised an'
feared by all men, betrayed by hi
associate and death in Jail from
wounds received in capture. Had h
lived, long term in the penitentiar.
with his companion in crime AWAITED
him. Boys, young men, If for a mo
ment you are ever tempted to go Il
stealing for living, put the though
from you. Aside from its being sinfu
in the sight of God and man, il dom
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