The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-10
AN OLD TIME BANDIT.
John Murrell, Was Familiar In Sevar.
al States.


Unbounded courage-Difaculty of Learn
ing Much About Him Owing to the Prev
aIence of Very Poor Memory.
John A. Murrell, the most famous ban
dit and murderer ever known in America,
has been dead for more than generation,
but his name is still power in many
states.
Years ago I 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, land 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 not?' asked.
eyes," was the reply. Gle may no,
have been here in person, but an oversee1
on this very plantation used to send ne.
groes to lonely places on the river, whers
they were seized by members Of the gang
and carried to Louisiana. They were sold
there and the proceeds divided among tn.
robbers'
What WAS the name Of the overseer,
and what became Of him?'
"Oh, he skipped at the right time.
have forgotten his name"
There was pause of moment or two,
and then my com panion 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. -
lis it possible9''
Yes, 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 Murrell's men?"
II 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
en- and was very popular"
"And his namef' asked, pulling out
my notebook.
Cant think Of 1t to save my life" re.
piled my entertainer. ~ 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 stopped
with him week longer could not in.
duce him to return to the Murrell matter
again.
A long time after this conversation
visited small town near Atlanta, where
I examined the court records in order to
see II the owner of certain piece of land
had good title to it. found the title all
right and told the owner that would SO
report to friend who wished to purchase It,
The landowner was delighted and &C.
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 whis
Fer, "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 of mig
gers and horses and once killed a man and
robbed him of $40, 000."
0cCd bUOlyt IOAdIAC0s W AdU 1k
his name? Tell me all about it''
81 don't know thing" was the re
Spouse 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 very clever citizen, SO far as / know.
Don't you quote me. have only told you
what have heard from Tom, Dick and
Harry"
"How long have you lived heref" wal
my next question.
"About 90 years."
"And you are how old?''
"Seventy eight this month"
GAS Murrell did good deal Of damage
around here you ought to be able to tell
me something about it,"
"But 1 don't know anything" replied
the man in pleading tone. "My memory
was never very good, and I get dates and
names SO mixed up that am afraid t.
talk.
looked at him searchingly and salts
fed myself that he had told the truth
about one thing-he was afraid to talk.
A few weeks ago met well known
Atlanta merchant on the north side and
told him some of my difficulties in getting
definite facts about Murrell and his gang
In the localities where they had some OF
their head men permanently stationed.
VERY natural" said he. "By the way,
did you ever hear of the Pony club?"
l told him that had heard of it, bu
did not know its history.
well, belonged to it," he continued.
with smile. II was forced into it by a
lot of wild youngsters when Twas 16 years
old, but as I had disabled arm at tn.
time managed to dodge the active work
of the club
What did the Pony club dor"
Nothing much,'' answered the mer
chant, looking keenly at me. "It was just
an organization of mischievous boys. But
/ must be moving. Goodby."
week later in another county repeat
ed this conversation to an old resident.
"The Pony Club" said he, twas com
posed Of boys and young men who stole
ponies from the Indians, who then occu
pied north Georgia and part of middle