The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-17
GIRL C0UNTERFEITER.
TWO DARING YOUNG WOMEN WHO
ARE NOW IN TROUBLE.

AXE NOW IN TROUBLE
Jessie FindIey, Ranger and Outlaw.
Mary smith and Her Counterfeit
ing Gnng-she Joined "A Desperate
Band of OutIaws-Jessie, Who Is
Only II Years Old, Does Not Hest
tate at Murder.
From the San Francisco Examiner
Mary Smith, a young woman, was ar
rested in Noble county at the home of a
family named Hughes on the charge of
counterfeiting a few days ago. Prior to
her arrest she arrived in Arkansas City
from Southeastern Kansas. procured a
lively rig and went to Mr.. Hughes home.
She had been there but a few days, how
ever, when an officer followed her. placed
her under arrest and took her back to
Kansas.
From the meager facts learned 1t seems
she had formerly been engaged in teach
ing school in Southwest Missouri, and
while so engaged formed the acquaintance
Of an outlaw from the Indian Territory
named Huffman. AS Desdamona became
enraptured with Othello for deeds of daring
he related this little Missouri school
teacher became fascinated by the bold
outlaw of the Indian country and she for
sock school, friends and all to become his
mistress.
There was another gay and dashing rob-
Der in the gang who looked upon Mary's
charms in a loverlike way, regardless of
Huffman's prior claims thereto. Mary be-
came smitten with the new robber lover
and forgetting Huffman, ran off with the
new love. Such actions upon the part of
Mary and her new outlaw lover aroused
the ire of Huffman, and, arming himself
with a whole arsenal, he swore dire ven
geance upon lover No. 2 and started upon
his trail.
| Week before last the two rivals met in
a joint at Caney, Kas. and when the
smoke had cleared away, both men were
| lying bleeding upon the floor, with empty
| six-shooters beside them. They were plac-
/ ed under arrest and physicians summoned
| to attend them. An examination revealed
| that they were both pretty thoroughly
shot up" but their wounds not necessar-
! lily fatal.
BY telling each that the other confessed
a confession was drawn out of each, in
which the fact was disclosed that they
were members of a counterfeting band,
and that Mary Smith, the school teacher,
was the person relied upon to get the
money into circulation. In the meantime
Mary had decamped, but officers were up
on her trail and located her in Noble coun-
try.
Six weeks ago Joseph Miller of Winfield,
Kan, and Kildare Okla, was arrested al
New Orleans on the charge of circulating
counterfeit money. 1t is now thought that
Miller obtained the spurious stuff from
this gang. The denomination and series
are the same. The government, within the
past two weeks has located and seized $91,-
600 of this spurious money, having captured
$4,000 of it at Paola Kan. George W.
Dice, who was arrested at Kansas City
the other day for passing counterfeit
money, formerly lived at Winfield, kan.
Joe Miller.
IT.,
interest in another notorious woman law
breaker known as Jessie e. Findley, who
was indicted by the federal grand jury of
Oklahoma county on Nov. 20 last and is
now confined in the United States iaH in
this city awaiting her trial, which win
take place at the next term of the United
States court. The Indictment against her
is based on the fact that she took weapons
into the county Jail at Oklahoma county
in June last to assist the Christian OUT
laws in making their escape which thew
accomplished on June 30. 1895. and killed
Chief of Police Jones. There is a great
contrast between Miss Smith and Miss
Findley; the former is as yet an em-
bryo in crime, while the Findley girl, al
though but II years of age possesses a
finished criminal education and is harden
ed to the wild, uncertain life of the from
tier outlaw. But the two girls received
their first taste of outlawry through the
capers of Cupid
Jesse came to Oklahoma when the coun-
try was thrown open to settlement seven
years ago, from Ozark Mo. where she was
born and reared. Her father who was a
carpenter, died when Jessie was 2 Years
OF age, leaving a wife and four children
Being member of several secret orders
Mrs. Flndley received several substantial
death Dement'S and was enabled to properly
support and educate her family Before
Jessie was years old a brother and sister
died. The remaining brother went to Nom
tana to embark in the stock business and
jessie and her mother were left alone to
struggle with the world The little girl
was placed in school at years of age
and made rapid advances. When Jessie
reached the age of 10 her mother married
a cattleman named Woods, and in April
1889, the family moved to Oklahoma and
took up a homestead in Pottawatomie.
Up to this time and four moths after COM
ing to this county Jessie's life was like
that of most all girls of tender age-un-
eventful. About the house she was bright,
apt and decorous and thought of little
else save going to meeting" doing home
work and reading novels
But one day Bob Christian called at Jes-
sizes home, met the little brunette. and it
was a case of love at first sight, at least
as far as she was concerned. Bob and two
others of his gang had stopped there for
something to eat, and Bob, while waiting
for the meal, made love to the cook He
was a very presentable young desperate.
The meal over, Bob mounted and rode
away, but not before he had made an ap-
pointment to meet his fair hostess at a
not far distant day. The courtship ex-
tended over a period of only two weeks,
and one morning Jessie was missing. She
had eloped with her Robin Hood.
She remained with him for several
months, riding with the gang on several
fora ges, but usually staying at the cabin
and acting as housekeeper and cook. Bob
taught her TO shoot and ride, and she soon
became proficient in the use of the revolver
and rifle and not afraid to mount the
widest broncho. She Ventured whore even
the bravest of the gang were afraid to CO.
and IL is related that at one time she
plunged into the North Canadian with her
pony when 1t was running bank full, and
not one Of the boys dared follow until they
n
epithets,
About this time Bob and Bill Christian
were arrested for killing Deputy Sheriff