The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
SIX WEEKSAS AN OUTLAW.
AN EXPERIENCE THAT TURNED 4
YOUNG MANS HAIR WHITE.
Jack Dodsworth,s Lirs with the paiten Gang
while Serving as n Detective-Censtant
Fear In which the bandits Lived-Their
Petty RnhhNrien-Ind OF tho Gnnn.

while Serving ns n Detecttve-Cenntan
Fear In which the bandits Lived-Their
Petty Robbories-End OF tho Gnng.
JOPLIN, Mo, June 17.-six weeks as an outlaw,
scouting with the Dalton gang In the Indian
Territory, proved sufficiently exciting to turn
Jack Dodsworth's hair gray. That 10 why there
may DO seen in Joplin q man just past 80 whose
snowy locks would indicate old age but for the
youthful face beneath them.
Three years ago, while the Dalton gang wero
at large in Oklahoma and the Indian Territory,
robbinR banks, express companies, Post Offices,
and individuals, efforts wero made by the Gov
ernmcnt and tho express companies to wipo out
tho band regardless of cost. Rewards aggre-
eating $35, 900 wero offered for the bodies OF
Bill Dalton. the leader, and Bill Doolan. his
lieutenant, doad or alive. Tho Post 0thce De-
partment finally took n hand in the pursuit OF
the despcradoos. and several inspectors were
sent out to help the deputy marshals. A few
months prior to that time one OF the Post Office
inspectors had occasion to visit Joplin on spe-
cial business and found Dodsworth working In
the Post Office here. Dodsworth had displayed
much skill az n detective In assisting to capture
q gang of mail robbers. and the inspector thought
Of him in laying plans to capture the Dalton
gang. Accordingly an agreement was made by
which Dodsworth was to turn outlaw and spy
on the bandits.
The first step Dodsworth took was to go to
Perry, Oklahoma, as clerk in the Post Office.
After remaining there for several weeks he
went to Guthrie and worked In the Post Oflco
there until he got acquainted with friends Of
the Dalton gang. Tho Postmaster at Guthrie
was appraised Of the scheme, and so was United
States Marshal Nix of Oklahoma, who issued n
deputy marshal's commission to Doisworth
and supplied him with six.shooters, Winchester.
horse, saddle, and outfit. Dodsworth's next
step was to gain the good will Of the despera-
does. In order to avert suspicion and mako
himself acceptable to the Dalton gang, Dods-
worth had postal cards printed giving q de-
s%cription Of himself and offering q reward OF
$500 for his capture FOR breaking into tho
Post Office ut Mulhall." Tho cards were nailed
up in conspicuous places.
A few days aftcrward Dodsworth walked into
the Post Office Mt Ingalls,, Oklahoma, and. upon
seeing one of tho postal cards conspicuously dis
played and n crowd reading II, remarked that
he did not consider the card ornamental and did
not care TO be advertised in that way. At the
same time he drew one OF his six.shootcrs and
proceeded to shoot tho card full OF holes. The
crowd quickly scattered, and tho frightened
Postmaster beat n hasty retreat. Dodsworth
mounted his horse and rodo lcisurely out of
town. A deputy marshal was soon In pur-
suit. He found Dodsworth before he eX-
pcCtcu 10, lot inc lulteT WIS nluuCn III uHl-
bush near the trail in the woods. and
before the deputy marshal could draw a
gun Dodsworth had him covered with n
Winchester and compelled him to throw UP his
hands. The officer was disarmed and sent back
to town. These two incidents soon got abroad,
and exaggerated stories of Dodsworth's exploits
were told. Friends Of the Dalton gang advised
him to join the outlaws, and he expressed n
willingness to do SO. A ranchman arranged n
meeting between the new outlaw and the old
ones. and Dodsnorth was accepted by thu gang.
Dodsworth tells an interesting story of his
S% aine nmrsSc MIN br s saese n n"d dcnnt men en- r who Were ere
t~ectives and others. tempted by the big rewards.
He remained with them for six weeks and was
all the time between two ~tlres-being watched
by the outlaws. who were suspicious of every
stranger and even Of one another. The shooting
constantly in the minds Of Bill Dalton and Bill
Doolan, both of whom were in constant dread OF
troachcry on the part OF some member OF their
| gang. During these six weeks tho outlaws
never spent more than one night at one place.
They were constantly changing their camp. and
scarcely ever slept In a house. The woods,
prairies, and hills were their only homes. and
they slept wherever night o%vortooH them. One OF
the gang would always act as sentinel while the
to act as sentinel. They were not absolutely
take chances where It was a game Of life and
death. and to DO off their. guard for q single mo-
march, also. they watched their now companion
with a certain degree of suspicion, He WAS
never allowed to ride ahead or behind, but wns
always kept In the middle OF the gang. so I'M
easy and suspicious OF trcachcry had they be.
come that Dalton and Doolan We're even afraid
fear and dread. with officers and b~lood-money
hunters trailing them from place to place, and
[ istant danger OF betrayal.
they ate their meals very Observation-Disclosures
ever they got hungry and were safe from pur-
suit: They would cut st, sticks with their bowie
on them, and cook IT over n hastily made fro in
the woods or prairie. Sometimes they would
/ GhnnN n ~ u II mr. n yiO IGn h Hnaat Ia az N,F.n tAl
and lcave the rest for tho buzzards or coyotes.
Frequently their meal would consist of but a
of their gang was always on guard, these out
laws slept with their arms close at hand. Their
~chesters were at their sides, and even in sleep
they kept their hands, upon their rifles. Ere
GnGntly while asleep in TIE woods q bird or
leaves to rattle. These light %slccpers were
awake in an instant, their Winchestcrs Grasped.
be on the alert for officers that they seemed to
sleep with ono eye open;
robbery and petty theft, but this was only when
they we're short OF means: On one occasion,
days, they met n lone traveller near Ingalls,. who
was going TO town to buy supplies. He was or
dered TO- throw up MI, MS hands ,H.r %hich hs Gid; ard,
pockets. After taking his money Dalton asked
him what he was going to Ingalls, for. Tho man
some cartridges. and n sack of flour, and to have
his horse shoh.. Dalton asked him what each
lICm "Oulu CuSl. lHt llhH hnSNcTtl promptly.
Dalton marked down the figures on All cnvclope,
added them up. and found they aggregated
1914. 30. Then he counted out SO OF the money
he had taken and handed 1t back to the man.
SAYING:
"'We don't want to leave you strapped, We
will give you the S2i.5O for the things YOU need
and add 80 cents to it for your dinner and dinner
for your horse
The other $40 the outlaws kept for their own
needs. On another occasion, while going from
ingalls, to saltwater. they mot adrummur. made
him throw up his hands. and took from him
$500. The IN was n Jovial fellow and
took the situation philosophically. He laughed
and talked with tho gang FOR quito a while.
Do0lan was acting as loader that day and aske cd
the drummer where he was going, and was in,
formed that his trip would cover Saltwater and
Perry, and then he was going, to his home in
Kansas. Doolan asked him what his expenses
would be at Stillwatcr-how much for hack hire
and hotel bill, how much his expenses would be
at Perry, and what his railroad fare would he
from Perry to his home. The drummer told him.
Whereupon DOOlan counted out the money. gave
1t back TO the drumme and put In n few dollars
extra to be sure the drummer would not get
strapped on the road, as he said.
These instances were only two OF many similar
ones which illustrate the character OF these out
laws. On many occasions Dodsworth visited
Perry, Pawnee, and saltwater with some of the
outlaws. Two or three of the gang would