The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-28
AN OLD TIME BANDIT.
JOHN MURRELL, WHOSE NAME WAS
FAMILIAR IN SEVERAL STATES.

ing Much About Him Owing to the Prev
alence of Very Poor Memory.
John A. Murrell, the most famous ban
dit and murderer ever known in America,
has been dead for more than n generation,
but his name is still power in many
states.
Years ago visited big plantation on
the Alabama river, and in the course of
my evening talks with my host something
was said about Murrell and his gang
"He was a Napoleonic man." said the
planter "and If he had directed his ener-
| gies and talents into different channel 1t
is probable that he would. have risen to
honorable distinction. He was man of
fair education and applied himself SO close
ly in his leisure moments to the study of
the best legal textbooks that he made
himself sharp criminal lawyer. This ex-
plains his success in evading justice for
so many years.
"Murrell operated in this locality, did
he not?" asked.
Eyes" was the reply. "He may not
have been here in person, but an overseer
on this very plantation used to send ne
groes to lonely places on the river, where
they were seized by members of the gang
and carried to Louisiana. They were sold
there and the proceeds divided among the
robbers"
''What was the name of the overseer,
and what became of himY'
"Oh he skipped at the right time. /
have forgotten his name"
There was pause of moment or two,
and then my companion resumed.
"Murrell," said he chad several promi
nent citizens in this region interested in
his schemes or SO completely under his
control that they had to obey his orders. "
"Is it possibleP"
eyes, sir. When the news came that the
bardit was captured leading country
physician, not 20 miles from here, imme-
diately disappeared, leaving his wife, chill
dren, property and everything"
; "Was he one of Murrell's menP'
81 am certain of it, but nothing was ev-
er proved against him, and 20 years after
ward one of my neighbors saw him in
California. The fellow had turned preach
er and was very popular"
my notebook.
Cant think of it to save my life, i" re-
piled my entertainer. 81 never could re-
member names"
tried to get hold of few more facts on
the same line, but the old planter talked
of other subjects, and though l stopped
with him week longer l could not in
duce him to return to the Murrell matter
again.
A long time after this conversation
visited a small town near Atlanta, where
/ examined the court records in order to
see If the owner of a certain piece of land
had good title to it. found the title all
right and told the owner that 1 would so
report to n friend who wished to purchase 1t,
, The landowner was delighted and ac.
, companied me over the town, pointing out
objects of interest. He had two or three
drinks in him and was disposed to be
: communicative.
"They say" he said almost in a wills
per, THAT the man who lives in that cab
in belonged to Murrell s gang in his young
days"
"Ah, indeed
eyes, they say he used to run off mig
gers and horses and once killed man and
robbed him of 100000"
GOOD story" 1 remarked. "What IL
his name? Tell me all about it.
II don't know thing" was the re
Spouse as the man looked at me inquir
ingly. "Some people say these things, but
o there are some folks who would say any
y thing Old man Blank in the cabin there
is very clever citizen, so far as know
S DON'T you quote me. have only told yor
h what have heard from Tom, Dick anG
e Harry"
y "How long have you lived herea" was
my next question.
"About go years.
"And you are how oldP"
= Seventy eight this month"
"As Murrell did good deal Of damage
around here you ought to be able to tel
- me something about it,"
But 1 don't know anything" replied
the man in pleading tone My memory
was never very good, and 1 get dates ant
names so mixed up that am afraid Il
talk"
looked at him searchingly and salts
fed myself that he had told the trutl
about one thing-he was afraid to talk.
A few weeks ago / met well known
Atlanta merchant on the north side ant
told him some of my difficulties in getting
definite facts about Murrell and his ganl
in the localities where they had some o
their head men permanently stationed.
Every natural" said he. "By the way
n did you ever hear of the Pony club?"
l told him that 1 had heard of it, bu
!, did not know its history.
Il "Well, belonged to it., he continued
with smile. 81 was forced into it by
S lot of wild youngsters when 1 was 16 year
4 old, but as 1 had a disabled arm at TIN
time managed to dodge the active worl
of the club. ="
q "What did the Pony club dop''
Nothing much" answered the mer
4 chant, looking keenly at me. sit was jus
an organization of mischievous boys. Blu
/ must be moving Goodby.'
T A week later in another county l repeat
}: ed this conversation to an old resident.
4 "The Pony club" said he, twas com
: posed of boys and young men who stol
ponies from the Indians, who then occu
pied north Georgia and part of middle
Georgia. They turned the ponies over t.
J. Murrells agents and received portion o
y the spoils. If Murrell had not been cap
tured and sent to the Nashville peniten
II tiary, many of the Pony club boys would
have become full hedged members of hi
gang"