The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-11-01
ABOUT COOKS BANDITS
1T is THE TOUGHEST CROWD
EVER ORGANIZED,
Composed of Men of Various Nationali-
ties. There Being Few Members With
Indian Blood in Their Veins.
Officers After Them.

| AAhLEQUA, L. L., Oct. 29.-Jlm
Cook, brother Of Bill Cook, who has
terrorized the territory for the past
three weeks, is to stand trial here to-
day for murder of Cherokee deputy
sheriff year ago. His trial has been
set three times and has cost the Ia
ton $4,000 as the judicial expenses of
attempting to try him. The members
OF the Cook gang of desperados have
gained a greater amount of lotoriety
in few months than any outlaws In
this territory. Five months ago Bill
Cook the leader was known only to
his friends and neighbors. Today he
is known and feared as worthy sue
cessor to Frank and Jesse James or
Dalton gang. There are two of the
Cook boys, both young, not over %
years of age. The younger of the two,
Jim Cook, who ia now under arrest
here being guarded by five men, in
accordance with the Cherokee law,
awaiting trial for murder. He was
wounded ana captured in a fight be-
tween the Cooks and CherOh 90 dep.
uty and his posse. This was the be-
ginning of The Cooks career. The
Cook boys aud the deputy sheriff were
on Cad terms whom they met ole day
and q bloody battle took place, re.
sultlng in the wounding and capture
NJ Jim Cook. In the mean W lille, since
this first tight, Bill Cook has become
taLhous as the leader of one of the
most daring and reckless bands of
desperadOes that ever disgraced the
western frontier. He has gathered to
his side and commands fugitives from
justice of almost every nationality.
The belief that seems TO have gain
ed currency, that the Cook gang IL
composed chiefly of half breeds is a
mistake. Bill Cook himself, and pos
sibly one or two others of the gang,
are The only ones with Indian blood |
in their veins. Bill is perhaps one.
sixteenth Cherokee and the balance
Caucasian. He was left an orphan
when child and WAS brought up by
DR.. Robe Fite of this city. Both OF
the Cook boys grew up with the idea
that they were born as subjects OF inn
position for the rest of the world, and
nave wound up at last in stubborn
rebellion against law and order aud
the most of mankind. Abe Goldsby,
a Creek Indian, Is Cooks
first Lieutenant, and ia the best
shot and the most dangerous
member of the gang He handles q
winchester with the rapidity of light
ming. He shoots by the angls system
and never takes time to catch sight
along the barrel of his gun. He shoots
on the same principle that Que would
throw stone at an object. He seldom
misses or never misses his mark. He |
killed several men before he joined |
Cook, and large rewards are offered |
for his body dead or alive.
Although O reward of $500 is off red |
for Bill Cook by Judge Parker of the
Fort Smith federal court, it Is pre-
dicted by those who know him best,
he will never be caught alive, and the
only chance to get HIM will be to in.
duce some one of his own gang to lead
him into death trap.
ON A TRAIL.
FORT SMITH, Ark Oct. 20 United
States marshal Crump received tele-
gram this morning from Indian a gent
Wisdom at Muskogee in which A gent
Wisdom says he has reliable informa4
ton that Bill Cook and gang, number.
ing q men are near Tallasha mission,
nine miles northwest of Muskogee.
The conductor who brought the train
this morning from that country brings
the same news. He says further that
the pursuers have captured the horses
of the robbers and have the men sur
rounded, Notwithstanding these &C.
counts officials here believe it to be a
ruse of friends of the bandits to attrac,
away from other parties
Six deputies hastened to Cameron
Friday night in ans wer to a telegram
saying the bandits were there.