The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-28
BILL DALTON DEAD
Sensational Story to That Effect
From Oklahoma.
WAS KILLED NEAR INGALLS,
Courier Reports n Duel to Death Between
United States Marshals and tho
Gang of Outlaws.


PERRY, o. T., April PA dust COW
cred and worn out courier has arrived
here with the report that a battle to
the death has occurred between United
States marshals and six members of the
famous Dalton gang, headed by Bill
Dalton. The fight is reported to have
taken place sixty-eight miles southeast
of here near town called ingalls,, near
the line dividing the Greek Indian reser-
walton from Oklahoma. Bill Dalton,
Bill Doolan, ''Bitter Creek Kid" "Three
Fingered Jack Boone" and two unknown
allies constituted the outlawed gang
and posse of eight United States dep
uty marshals were the opposing party
to the deadly fight to death. The mar
shals were headed by City Marshal
William Tilghman of Perry and Heck
Thomas, assistant city marshal. Both
men are commissioned deputies under
United States Marshal Nix and are
known from the gulf to Nebraska as
men of unerring aim and iron nerve.
The reported fight has been brewing
for some time and the disposition and
determination of both parties were so
well known to the people of the terri
tory that nothing less than the bloodiest
of battles was looked for at any time.
Bill Dalton is a cousin of the famous
Daltons, two Of whom were killed at
Coffeyville, Kan, one in California, and
one in the Creek country, near Fort
Smith, Ark.
They were cousins of the Youngers,
who terrorized Missouri so long, and
were all killers and men of most des-
perate and daring characters. 1t was
the gang which is now reported exter-
minated that plundered the depot at
Woodward, o T., some weeks ago, OBJ
tanning $4,000. Their crimes are too
numerous to mention. Over fifty muir
ders are laid to them. The idea that
they have been wiped out creates great
rejoicing here and other places in Okla
homa, and also places in adjoining
states.
Tilgham, who is alleged to have led
the fight with Heck Thomas, is ex-city
marshal of Dodge City, Kan. Sheriff
Scruggs and posse of twelve left here
for the scene. Posses have also gone
from Guthrie, Oklahoma City and
Chandler. If the Dalton Doolan gang
has been exterminated, the existence of
unquestionably the worst and most dar-
ing gang of outlaws known to American
history has been ended. Excite
runs high here from the fact that Dalton
has a sister who lives few miles from
here.
Bill Dalton, whose name had been
terror since the raid on the banks at
Coheyville, Kan, was not one of the
original gang. Report has it that the
most of his life has been spent after the
manner of territorial ranchman, but
that when the Dalton gang first became
famous his connection with the boys,
that of cousin, subjected him to such
constant suspicion that he finally deter
mined to become worthy of his notori-
Gus reputation, and in truth, he succeed
ed well.
BY far the most notable event in the
career of the bandits was the robbery
of two national banks at Coffeyville,
Kan, where four of them were killed.
An equal number of the citizens of Cof-
feyville was killed in the desperate
fight. The robbers secured $4,000 from
the two banks, but the survivors were
80 hard pressed that they were forced
to abandon the plunder.
/ The Daltons were born and brought
up in Kansas and their people were in
'dustrious and respectable. The boys
began their career of crime by stealing
cattle, and for this variety of outlawry
they were finally dri, en- from their
home. This was the turning point in
their lives, and after this there was no
crime too desperate for them to COM
NIT. They went to California and
robbed train, waylald stagecoaches
and murdered several people.
Nearly four years ago they returned
from California to Oklahoma Territory
and signalized the event by attempting
to rob train at Wharton, station on
the Santa Fee. The attempt was prompt
ed by the belief that large sum of
money was on the train being sent to
Fort Reno to pay the soldiers. The tele-
graph operator at Wharton recognized
one of the Daltons, and the gang, in
order to prevent him notifying the ap-
preaching train, killed him. For some
reason the robbers left at once and the
attempt to rob the train was aban-
doned. July "a, 1892, at Adair, in the
eastern part of the Indian Territory,
the gang robbed Missouri Pacific train
of $4,000 In the fight which ensued
two men were killed, both of them pas
sengers on the train. Before the ex-
element over this affair had died away
they appeared in vi Reno one morning,
and, ~hen the streets were crowded