The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-06-29
THOSE TWO WOMEN BANDITS.
They Tell Some of the Secrets of Zip
Wyatt's Gang.

Guthrie o. T, June 2S.-The center
Of attraction for the many visitors 10
the United States jail in this city, just
now, is the long outer corridor, where
daily can be seen the two female ban
dts recently captured in the Glass
mountains in the western part of the
Cherokee strip, chatting with the other
prisoners in the cells, or engaged in a
game of cards with those who have
been allowed the freedom of the CORR
dor with them.
Contrary to the female bandit Of TO-
nance these prisoners are neither very
young nor handsome, and when cap
tured, instead of being dressed in the
daShing cowboy garb pictured in the
sensational novel, they wore the attire
usual to the wives of farmers and work
ingmen, save that one wore boots and
spurs to aid her in urging on her horse
when attempting to outride the depu-
ty marshals.
For a year past the gang Of notori-
Gus desperadoes led byZip Wyatt, AN out
law guilty Of a dozen murders, have
def1ed the United States marshals force
Of deputies, as well as the sheriff'S pos
ses of different counties. raiding town
after town, robbing trains, holding
up travellers and effectively putting
out of the way with knife or bullet
any one who should attempt to Illustrate
their well laid plans.
During all this time It was never
known that there were two females
members of the gang, as they always
appeared in mems attire when on the
raids, and at other times dressed as
farmers wives, would enter the towns,
buy provisions and often dispose of
considerable plumber without exciting
suspicion or comment, so well did they
do their part.
The discovery of these two females
members of the gang also reveals the
secret of the phenomenal success of the
raidcrS-the women having always Wis
tied the towns and stores To be raided
learned all the details of the places and
arranged the plans, so that when the
gang rushed into the place, they knew
just where to go, how to approach the
various places, what places were guard
ed. etc. and since their capture the
women have been identified as having
been in the front ranks when the dang
erous and effective work was done.
One of the last raids was on Fair
view, town and pOstoffice. about three
weeks ago. when the stores of the place
Were completely looted of everything
valuable. Immediately following this
raid a large posse of deputy marShalS
took UP the trail of the bandits and
followed to where they We're fortified
After hesieging the gang three days.
three scouting officers saw two women
riding through the hills to the north of
the mountains. coming ostensibly from
what had appeared to he a deserted dug
out. but which ii was discovered was
only blind entrance to one of the un-
foreground store houses and stables oc
the outlaws.
After &c mile chase the two women
were finally overtaken. placed under ar
rest and taken before the United States
Commissioner at Alva. where a search
of their persons brought to light A large
sum Of money and considerable proper
~ known to have been stolen in the
Fairview raid. This was the first init
nation that there had been female mem
hers in the gang, and the two women
were at once brought to the federal
Jail in this city and held as accessories
10 the robbery of the postoffice.
They appeared very sullen and vindic
tive when brought in. and IL was appa-
rent 10 all that il was alone the fact
that they had left their weapons in the
cave 10 allay suspicion that kept them
rom giving the pursuing DEPUTIES a
warm reception. They admitted being
members Of the gang and that when
captured they were on the road 10 syat
supplies and also TO warn and call in
certain members of the band who were
absent from the rendezvous.
One proved 70 be Belle Black wife
or one OF the outlaw members of the
gang. the other Mrs. Jennie Freeman
life of Mat Freeman. who formerly
pesided here and left her husband nearly
"A year ago to elope with Zip Wyatt. the
outlaw leader and has since remained
with him.
The Black woman is small and hea-
w set, with dark hair and blue eyes