The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-04-01
AN OLD TIME BANDIT.
JOHN MuRRsLL, WHOSE NAME WAS
FAMILIAR IN SEVERAL STATES.

Years ago l 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 Napoleonc man." said the
planter, "and if he had directed his ener
gies and talents into different channel It
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 a sharp criminal lawyer, This ex
plains his success in evading justice for
so many years
Murrell operated in this locality. did
he noty' | asked.
Eyes" was the reply. He may not
have been here in person, but an oyerseer
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'
ooh, he skipped at the right time. l
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.
as it possibleY'
eyes, sir When the news came that the
bandit 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 Murrcll's menu
Il am certain of IT, but nothing was ev-
CT proved against him, and 90 years after
ward one of my neighbors saw him in
California The fellow had turned preach
or g. ;,T7as very popular"
and his name?" l asked, pulling out
my notebook.
Cant think of it to save my life, )" re-
piled my entertainer. Il 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 small town near Atlanta, where
| examined the court records in order to
! see If the owner of certain piece of land
| had a good title to 1t. l found the title all
right and told the owner that would so
report to friend who wished TO purchase 1t.
The landowner was delighted and &C
| com panied 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 whis
per. chat 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 $40, 900.
Good story" | remarked. What is
| his namef Tell me all about 1t.
81 don't know thing, was the re-
sponse as the man looked at me inquir
ingly. "Some people say these things, but
there are some folks who would say any
thing. Old man Blank in the cabin there
is a very clever citizen, so far as l Know
Don't you quote mo. l have only told you
what / have heard from Tom, Dick ana
Harry"
GLOW long have you lived hereS" wai
my next question
about go years.
And you are how old"
Seventy eight this month.
GAS Murrcll did good deal OF damage
around here you ought to be aple 10 'ei
me something about 1t. -
"But | don't know anything, replied
the man in pleading tone My memor,
was never very good, and / get dates an'
4 hat i
names so mixed up 'ha' am "''"'N y
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 1 met well know
Atlanta merchant on the north side ant
told him some of my difficulties In gettin
, definite facts about Murrell and his gan
in the localities where they had some o
their head men permanently stationed.
every natural" said he. by the way
did Won ever hear of the Pony cluby'
told him that I had heard OF 1t, pu
did not know its history.
} "Well. belonged to it, he continued
with a smile. Il was forced into IL by
lot of wild youngsters when was 10 year
old Int as l had disabled arm at IN
time | managed to dodge the active wor
q of the club 49,
"What did the Pony club doY"
"Nothing much" answered the me
chant. looking keenly at me. 1T was yu'
an organization of mischievous boys. III
A 7 must be moving. Goodby.
: A week later in another county repea
. Oh this conversation TO an old resident.
"The Pony club" said he, was con
!, posed of boys and young men who $40
/, monies from the Indians, who then occ'
j Med north Georgia and part OF midd
# Georgia. They turned the ponies over
t Murrelis agents and received portion
@ the spoils. II Murrell had not been ca
O tured and sent to the Nashville penite
- tiarv many of the Pony club boys won
have become full fledged members OF
What a man Murrcll must have bee
:, Foxv men dead so long have left behii
- them names which are still so potential
- To this day there are thousands Oh =
II coonle in the southwest who talk in VIII
IL ners about the great bandit and BIND y
" 70 secrecy when they talk.
,e NV Atlanta friend who belonged to I
d PONY club may rest assured that Nv
4 til kapn