Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-05-14


TERFEITER
Mary and her new outlaw lover aroused
the ire OF Huffman, and, arming himself
with whole arsenal, no swore dire yenge-
ance upon lover No. and started upon
his trail
The two rivals met IN a joint at Caney,
Kan, and when tho smoke cleared away
] both men were lying bleeding upon the
floor, with empty six shooters beside them.
They were placed under arrest and physi-
clans summoned TO attend them. An ex
animation revealed that thoy were both
pretty thoroughly "shot up" but their
wounds are not necessarily fatal
BY telling each that the other confessed,
q confession was drawn out Of each, in
which the fact was disclosed that they
| were members of n counterfeiting band
| and that Mary Smith, the sohoolteacher,
was the person relied upon TO get the
money into circulation. In the meantime
Mary had decamped, but officers were upon
her trail and captured her in Noble county.
The arrest of this Miss Smith revives
interest in another notorious woman law
breaker known as Jessie r.. Findley, who
was indicted by the federal grand jury Of
Oklahoma county on Nov. 20 last, and is
now confined in the United States Jail In
Guthrie awaiting her trial, which will 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 Of Oklahoma county in June
last to assist the Christian outlaws In
making their escape, which they accom-
plished on June 80, 1895, and killed Chief
of Police Jones. There is a great contrast
between Miss Smith and Miss Findley.
The former is as yet tyro In crime,
while the Findley girl, although but II
years of age, possesses finished criminal
education and Is hardened to the wild, IN
certain life OF the frontier outlaw But
the two girls received their first taste Of
| outlawry through the capers Of Cupid.
Jessie moved with her parents TO Okla
homa when the country was thrown open
to settlement seven years ago from Ozark,
Mo-. where she was born and reared Her
life was like that of most all girls Of ten
der age-uneventful About the house she
was bright, apt and decorous and thought
of little else save going TO meeting, do
ing home work and reading novels
But one day Bob Christian called at
Jessies home, met the little brunette and
IL was 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 very presentable young desperado
The meal over Bob mounted and rode
away, but not before he had made an APP
pointment to meet his fair hostess at a not
far distant day The courtship extended
over 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
forages, but usually staying at the cabin
and acting rs housekeeper and cook Bob
taught her TO shoot and to ride, and she
soon became very proficient in the use Of
the revolver and rifle and not afraid TO
mount the widest broncho She yentured
where even the bravest of the gang was
afraid to go, and 1t is related that at one
time she plunged into the North Canadian
with her pony when it was running bank
full, and not one of the boys dared to fol
low until they were goaded to 1t by her re
vikings and epithets
About this time Bob and Bill Christian
were arrested for killing Deputy Sheriff
Turner of Pottawatomio county, who was
attempting 20 arrest them for cattle steal
ing This was the first murder that could
be brought home 10 them, and the prose
cution was thorough and prompt They
were convicted Of the crime and sentenced
TO long terms in the penitentiary and taken
to Oklahoma TO await transportation to
prison Jessie was q constant attendant
at the trial and at che Pottawatomie jail,
bringing her lover nice things 10 drink,
and when they were taken 60 Guthrie for
safe keepinu ppudinu their trnnef.nrtatf ion
o. the peniteutiary, she followed them ana
was daily visitor at the jail
Jessie suecceded IN smuggling three re
yolyers TO them, with 80 rounds ~ am
munition The attempt % escape was to
be made on sunday Juno 30. ana on Fri
day, after she had performed her mission,
Jessie went To their old home, near Violet
Springs, . Il W await hor lovers com