Hutchinson gazette., 1899-01-19
IS NOT BILL RYAN.
Train Robbers Identity Not Yet
Fully HlstAbiished.
BILL RYlSS PRISON DESCRIPTION.


Jefferson City, Mo-, january IT,.
whether or not Bill Ryan, jennings
and the mysterious Evans are one
and the same train robber Is furnish
ing plenteous food for talk 10 the OF
flcers OF the STATE penltentlNry. The
belief Is general that Bill Ryan Is not
the man under arrest for leading the
Mncomb bandts and that 'Whlg'
Keshlear Ia at least mistaken In ms
Identification,
"There ought not to be a chance Tor
mistake" said Warden Stark, y
sent Chief Hayes Nn ofhcial copy OF
Ryan's description, taken from our
flies. There are certainly marks
enough on his person TO serve as q
sure baals for Identification But we
hear nothing about those marks. 10
looks Like there Is something wrong
about that Identification"
Captain j, d, Tolln, assistant dep
uty warden, goes even farther than
does Warden Stark, lie has been con-
nected with the state penilentlary
since 1873, and knew Ryan well while
the latter was confined here for seven
and hIalf years. He laughed at the
possibility OF Ryan and the man Jen-
ulngs being the same.
"The idea is absurd" he said. "The
descriptions OF the two men do mot
tally at all. | knew thut the man un-
der arrest wasn't Billy Ryan as soon
MS I read Keshler's Identification. /
don't know what kind OF game
'whlg' Is up TO, for he certainly knows
ms well as / do that Ryan hasn't
shaggy eyebrows; thOt his hair Is
dark, and not sandy at NIL, and that
his beard Is not red, but almost black.
Why, Bill Ryan was u handsome man
when / knew him. He walked with n
slight sloop, It is true, for he had
weak lungs, but otherwise he was a
fine appearing man.
"I hope that jennings does not turn
out TO be Ryan. OF course, if he were
guilty would be glad to see him sent
up again, but hope that BIN hasn't
gone wrong again
"Bill was one OF the best prisoners
I ever saw. You know he was a trus-
Nv while we had him---a hall tender.
Well, ne wasn't anything like motor
ious robber or hlghwaymon. He
never would boast OF his exploits, and
never liked to talk about his past ca
reer. I was certain OF his reforma'
ton. He never seemed TO glory in his
past. In fact, he wouldn't talk at all
and that Is the only point OF similar
ity that 7 can detect between the al
legged Bill Ryan and the real Blll
Ryan. The Mncomb man, ! under
stand, Is inclined 10 be retlcent Bul
I am certain that Jennings Is not Bill
RYAN. and I think that 'Whig' Kesh
lear knows he Is not It's queer
story that comes from down there In
THE country. / confess I don't under
stand H."
The following is The official descrlp
tion of Ryan. taken when he was
brought here from Independence in
1881. George Hobbs, head boolikceper
copied VI from the records, and II was
| lUTHIhHtW w w lNIbi W ~ '"''N'
Stark. IT is the same descrlntlon oi
Ryan now in possession OF Chiel
Hayes. of the Kansas City police:
Registered No, 2677,
When reccived-0ctober 16, 1881,
Name-Wllllnm Ryan.
County-Jackson.
Term Of court-August, 1881
Crlme-Robbery, first degree.
Sentence--Twenty-fve years.
Age--30.
Nativity-MlsSouri
Occupation-iIIaborer.
Height-5 feet, 10 inches.
Length OF foot-10A inches.
Color OF halr-Dark.
Complexion--Dark.
weight when received--1S5 pounds.
Marks. scars and general remarks
Small scar in left eyebrow; small scal
on chin; back and shoulders freckled
COMMITTED by Governor Morehous'
10 ten years. with benefit OF three
fourths law; discharged April 10, 1889