The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-15

daring robbery on the night express on
the Denver and Rio Grande- The even
ing train westward was just pull1nS IN
to Colorado Springs when man ana
woman drove up in a blackboard with a
large case containing an enormous dog
The woman hailed the agent and pre-
paid the express charges on the dog at
Salt Lake She attended the box to the
car door and handed the express mes
SengeB a five dollar gold piece.
Take good care of my dog, won't
you2" she said. 7 will send him some,
thing to eat on the train-at Marshall
Pass, say-and give him water, won't
you?''
At Marshall Pass a man appeared at
the car door with some meat and pan
of water. 4 reckon I had better feed
him myself he said. He's rather
fierce" And thus he gained admission
to the car. The pan would not go into
the box and the stranger began with a
knife to cut a larger opening for it.
In the meantime the train started and
the messenger told his visitor he must
leave the. car.
In just moment" was the reply, and
as the messenger walked back to open
the door to give him exit the stranger
fired upon and shot him fatally in the
neck. He then admitted his accomp-
Ices who were hidden on the front plat
form, and leisurely looted the car. Then
two of them passed through the train
Rnd deliberately robbed every passenger.
One of those who gathered the watches
and money was told by the other to let
the women alone. Not at ALL was the
soothing retort. 'They don't need the
money they never earned, and can get
more the same way
1t was Esther Vance who shot the
messenger and robbed the passengers.
After that her name was a terror to
trafnmen- She stole and shot right and
left. At last she was caught-She was
SO badly wounded in 1887 while trying
70 hold up the Beowawe stage in the
Sierras that she couldn't escape. Her
trial was a dramatic one. Three men
had been killed. She was borne to her
trial on a litter. She was convicted She
received a sentence of life imprisonment
She lay back on her pillows in court and
cursed every one connected with the
prosecution.
Four years later. still on crutches F1s-
theT vance was pardoned- She came here
TO I've Today the doctors told her she
could not live The old wounds are kill
ing her. so she wrote this letter to her
Dear and Reverend Sir: I am told
tilat 1 am dying and that / can not sur
VlVe till Christmas. On that day ] would
be forty years of age I am glad to go
time within the last fifteen Years IS a'l II
seems to me that never saw or knew any
good IN lving, and I have only your word
ana that of Rev. Mr.. Davis of the prison
at carson, that there is any good here
after.
Z want, however, to have YOU know
that appreciated your kindness more
lhan nave benefited by it. and that your
SUCCESSFUL effOrtS to secure nv release
from prison secured my thanks for yeur
good intentions rather than for any other
result which the hunger for liberty might
have suggested.
You taught me that there were good
men on earth, and in your charity OF heart
ana acts forced upon me the KNOWLEDGE
that Is common to many women. that I
must reach the degradation for which
mere Is no redemption before it was or
IS ever helpfully offered. | reDent nv
Wrongdoing, but [ don't mind it excent
l. think You would prefer I didn't feel 50
Win gratitude which thanks do not ex-
press am, sir. ESTHER VANCE