The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-03
SIX WEEKS AN OUTLAW
Jack Dodsworth's Life With the Dali
ton Gang as Detective.


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 is why
there may be seen in Joplin a man just
go whose snowy locks would indicate
old age. but for the youthful face be-
meath them.
Three years ago, while the Dalton
gang were at large in Oklahoma and
the Indian territory, rcbbing banks, eX-
press companies postoffices and indi-
Viduals, efforts were made by the gov
eminent and the express companies 10
wipe out the band. regardless of cost.
Rewards aggregatlng $4,000 were offer
ed for the bodies of Bill Dalton, the
leader. and Bill Doolan, his lieutenant,
dead or alive. The postoffice depart
ment finally took a hand in the pursuit
Of the deSperadoes. and several inspect
ors were sent out TO help the deputy
mershals. A few months prior TO that
time one Of the postoffice inspectors
had occasion to visit Joplin on special
business, and found Dodsworth working
in the postoffice here, Dodsworth had
displayed much skill as a detective in
assisting to capture gang Of mail rob
bers, 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
postoffice. After remaining there for
several weeks he went to Guthrie and
worked in the postoffice there until he
got acquainted with friends of the Dali
ton gang. The postmaster at Guthrie
.ies.r 4 1sf
United States Marshal Nix of Okla
homa, who issuel a deputy marshars
commission to DodswoTth and supplied
him with six-shooters, Winchester,
horse. saddle and outfit. Dodsworths
next step was TO gain the good will of
the desperadOes. In order TO avert sus-
picion and make himself acceptable to
the Dalton gang, DOdsworth has postal
cards printed giving a description Of
himself and offering a reward of $500
for his capture, for breaking into the
postoffice at Mulhall" The cards were
nailed up in conspicuous places.
A few days afterward Dodsworth
walked into the pOstoffice at ingalls,,
Oklahoma, and, upon seeing one of the
postal cards cOnspicuously displayed,
and a crowd reading it, 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-shooters and proceeded to
shoot the card full Of holes The crowd
quickly scattered, and the frightened
postmaster beat a hasty retreat. Dods-
worth mounted his horse and rode lei
surely out of town. A deputy marshal
was soon in pursuit. He found Dods-
worth before he expected to, foz the
latter was hidden in ambush near the
trail in the woods, and before the dep
uty marshal could draw gun Dods-
worth had him covered with a Win
chester and compelled him 10 throw up
his hands. The officer was disarmed
and sent back to town. These two Incl
dents soon got abroad, and exaggerated
stories of Dodsworth's exploits were
told. Friends of the Dalton gang ad-
vised him TO join the outlaws, and he
expressed a Willingness TO do so. a
ranchman arranged a meeting between
the new outlaw and the old ones, and
Dodsworth was accepted by the gang.
Dodsworth tells an interesting story
of his wanderings with these hunted
men. who were being pursued by nun
dreds Of deputy marshals, detectives
and others, tempted by the big rewards !
lie remained with them for six weeks, [
and was all the time between two fires
being watched by the outlaws, who
We're suspicious OF every stranger, and
even of one another The shooting that
ended Jesse James career seemed TO be /
in the minds of Bill Dalton !
and Bill Doolan. both of whom were in |
dread of treachery on the part
Of some member of their gang During
these six weeks the outlaws never spent |
more than one night at one place. They |
were constantly changing their camp.