Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24
AN OLD-TIME BANDIT.

STERLING HELLO.
AN OLD-TIME BANDIT.
John Murrell, Whose Name Was Too
Familiar in Several States.
From the Atlanta Evening Constitution
John A. Murrell. the most famous bandit
end murderer ever known in America, has
been dead for more than a generation, but
his name Is still a power in many states.
Years ago I visited a 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-
giles and talents into a different channel it
is probable that he would have risen to
honorable distinction. He was a man of
fair education. and applied himself so
closely in his leisure moments to the study
of the best legal text books 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.
YES" was the reply. HE may not have
been here In person, but an overseer on this
very plantation used to send negroes to
ioHeiy pidCeS OH tne river, Wnere tney 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 him?'
"Oh, he skipped at heright time. l have
forgotten his name"
There was pause of moment or two,
and then my companion resumed.
'Murrel," said he. had several promi-
nent citizens in this region interested In his
schemes or so completely under his control
that they had to obey his ORDERS
rs 1t possible?'
Yes. sir. When the news came that the
bandit was captured leading country
physician, not twenty miles from here, i'm.
mediately disappeared, leaving wife, chill
dren. property and everything"
Was he one of Murrells menu
Il am certain of it, but nothing was ever
proved against him. and twenty years af-
terward one of my neighbors saw him in
California The fellow had turned preacher
and was very popular"
And his name?" / asked, pulling out my
notebook
Cant think of 1t 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 induce 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 a certain piece Of land had
good title to 1t. l found the title all
right. and. told the owner that would SO
report to friend who desired to purchase
The land owner was delighted and &C.
companed me over the town, pointing out
objects of interest. He had two or three
drinks in him and was disposed to be COM
municative.
They say" he said. almost in a whisper,
hot f1a
longed to Murrelrs gang in his young
days"
"Ah, indeed
Yes, they say he used to run off niggers
and horses and once killed q man and
robbed him of 10000
Good story 1 remarked. What is his
name? Tell me all about it,
Il don't know thing" was the response,
Some people say these things but there
are some folks who would say anything.
Old man Blank in the cabin there is a very
clever citizen. so far as l know. Don't you
heard from Tom, Dick and Harry"
How long have you lived here?" was my
next question.
About sixty years."
And you are how old ?"
Seventy-eight this month"
LAS Murrell did good deal of damage
around here you ought to be able to tell
me something about it,
But I don't know anything" replied the
man in pleading tone. MY memory was
never very good, and get dates and names
SO mixed up that am afraid to talk
l looked at him searchingly and satisfied
myself that he had told the truth about
one thing-he was afraid to talk.
A few weeks ago ! met a well-known At
l6nta merchant on the north side and told
him some Of my difficulties in getting def
mite facts about Murrel and his gang In
tie localities where they had some of their
head men permanently stationed.
Very natural" said he. by the way,
old you ever hear Of the Pony Club?"
I told him that had heard Of Il, but did
not know its history,
well. belonged to IT, he continued
with smile. II was forced into 1t by a
lot Of wild youngsters when was sixteen
years old, but. as I had a disabled arm at
the time managed to dodge the active
work Of the club"
What did the Pony Club do?'
Nothing much" answered the merchant
| looking keenly at me. ut was just an or
ganization of mischieyous boys. But I must
be moving. Goodbye"
A week later in another county repeated
this conversation to an old resilient.
1.-The Pony Club" said he, was COM
posed of boys and young men who stole
ponies from the Indians who then occupied
north Georgia and part of middle Georgia
They turned the ponies over to Murrelps
agents and received portion of the spoils
If Murrell had not been captured and sent
to the Nashville penitentiary many of the
Pony Club boys would have become full.
| hedged members of his gang"
| What a man Murrell must have been!
/ Few men dead SO long have left behind
/ them names which are still so potential
| To this day there are thousands Of Ole
people in the southwest who talk in whis.
| ptrs about the great bandit, and bind YOU
| to secrecy when they talk.
! Ny Atlanta friend who belonged to tbs
| Pony Club may rest assured that I VIII
| drop the subject right here. He In more
| likely now to start Sunday school than t.
| Join . pony club, and his long and spotlesa
business career amply atones for the folliel
Of his boyhood. The Pony Club may 70