The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-19
he WAS FOUND GUILTY.
Louis Girard, Well X nown In Wichita, wa
Convicted at Fort Smith, Ark.


Louis Girard, who was under bonds
for his appearance at the March term
| Of the federal court in this city, and
who was unable to put in an appear
ance on account of having a pressing
engagement with the custodian of the
Jail at Fort Smith was convicted of
robbing a postoffice Monday, at Fort
Smith
During the years from 1884 to 1889
Girard made Wichita his headquar-
tiers and it was during his residence
here that many of the crimes for which
he was charged were said to have been
committed.
He was arrested for robbing the post
office at Cambridge. in Cowley county,
in 1891, and was furnished bond by
Wichita friends which he jumped. He
was finally located by his bondsmen
and brought to Wichita where he Sc
cured another bond. giving as his Sc
curity a certain farmer near Cheney
whom he secured by making cash
deposit with the farmer.
As told below by the Associated Press
he was convicted at Fort Smith for the
robbery Of the pOstoffice at Eureka
Springs, Ark. The dispatch reads:
at Fort Smith, Ark. Monday the federal
authorities secured the conviction of
the widely-known and widely-wanted
postoffice robber, Louis Girard. Gil
rad was tried on the charge of having
looted the postoffice at Eureka Springs
Ark. during the night of November p,
1894 A large sum of money and sew
eral hundred dollars worth Of stamps
were taken. Girard has a long string
Of aliases, having been at times known
as Charley Johnson, Charles Anderson
and French Louis He is wanted
in various parts of the country for
postoffice roberies and other crimes
and is considerd a very important man
10 have in prison. The authorities
have been trying to get him behind
the bars for a number of years. but he
has always succeeded in eluding them
sometimes by forfeiting his bonds and
sometimes by escaping from custody
This will be his first penitentiary eX-
perience. providing the officers can get
him to the Arkansas resort.
"Girard by his depredations in Kan
sas. became notorious as a postoffice
robber. He successfully looted the
pOstoffices Of Pittsburg and Coffeyville
in 1891, and was indicted for these rob
berries. He was arrested June II at
Wichita. He furnished bond in the
sum Of $500. which he forfeited, leav-
ing Kansas at the first opportunity. II e
bobbed up in various parts of the coun-
try always evading capture and fin
ally performed the job at Eureka. Then
the United States authorities began
trailing him earnestly as his operations
were becoming quite extensive. He
was located in Brooklyn. y. Y. in
March. Of this year. and was in COM
pany with another well known burg
lar when taken. on May S. while be-
ing transferred to Fort Smith from New
York, ne effected his escape in most
daring manner. one of the marshals
and Girard were handcufTed together
in the usual manner. and while in the
sleeper. Girard. whose hands and wrists
are very slender. slipped the handouts
and rolled out OF the window Of the
berth. The train was in motion at
the time and was near Salamanca, "
Y. Then the government deemed his
capture so important that d reward was
offered OF $500 for his arrest. He was
next taken al Louisville. Ky. last July
and was transferred TO Fort Smith.
Arkansas.
Sentence has not been pronounced
as yet Postoffice Inspector Johnston
Yesterday afternoon received a tele-
gram notifying him OF the conviction OF
Girard"