Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-14
LED DOUBLE LIFE.
$1,000 Reward for James P
Dunn, the Kansas Outlaw.
Had Two Wives, Posing Both as
Society Leader and Gambler.
Shot by One and Closely Guarded, He
Manages to Escape.

Stanley has returned from Southern
Kansas, where he has been Investigate
ing the strange case of James p. Dunn,
alleged bank rObber, murderer and
leader OF outlaws, who has initiated
the double life led by Dr. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde. Dunn has two wives, each of
whom fitted perfectly into his plan of
double existence until the revelation
came. Then both proved their fitness
for their positions.
His first wife, who believed him to
be rich property owner, retired from
her place at the head of society in
Mountain Park, o. T., and the other
woman, who lived in Wellington, Kan,
and knew her husband as a gambler.
carried for emergencies.
IF ever a man had a JekylI and Hyde
existence" said Governor Stanley, 1T
was Dunn. He has led outlaws and
robbed trains in the Indian Territory.
and robbed banks in Arkansas for 10
years, and has successfully fooled his
two wives during the entire time. AS
nearly as the attorney general and
can learn from our investigation, he
used his own name both in Oklahoma
and Kansas"
While in the hospital in Wichita re-
cuperating from the wound inflicted by
his second wife, Dunn managed to
elude the officers stationed about the
building and escaped. Rewards ag-
gregating $1,000 offered by the Arkan-
sas authorities were hanging over his
head and he was a valuable prize for
the police.
Two guards were stationed about the
building and one was mounted. To
escape both guards it required great
deal of ingenuity, but not more than
Dunn was capable of exercising. He is
still at large, with a badly wounded
hip. and hundreds of officers are seek
ing his trail. The reward for Dunn's
capture was so large that the police
force and the sheriffs forces fought for
possession of him.
The police had possession of him
when he escaped and it was believed
that the sheriffs force had kidnapped
him. 1t was to investigate this phase
the attorney general went to the
southern part of the state. 1t was found
that Dunn had escaped with the as
SiStdHCC VI IIleHu III lIC DOSBlldI
Dunn is described as remarkably
handsome man. well educated and hav-
ing the appearance of being more re-
fined than the ordinary criminal He
was probably better fitted by nature
and education for his double life than
any criminal in the West. He kas a
fluent talker and knew not only the
parlance of the criminal, but the Ian
guage of polite society.
He was better educated than the de-
tectives sent to capture him and knew
the country in which they were search
ing for him better than any of them.
Clad Hamilton, the assistant attorney
general. who represented the attorney
general in a part Of the investigation,
said:
Dunn possessed an education far be-
yond the average criminal. He knew a
great many things which would have
stamped him in the world as a man of
intellectually. In fact. at his home in
Mountain Park, l understand that he
was known as wealthy property owner,
who liked to spend his leisure time read
ing and investigating scientific questions.
He was smart enough never to have his
photograph taken. and to this Is attrib-
uted his long immunity from arrest.
Dunns first wife has refused to COM
municate with her husband since his
character was revealed, and she has gone
back to Texas to live with her parents,
who are said to be wealthy. She enjoyed
life with her husband in their home and
meyer suspected that the money he spent
so lavishly was the product of robberies
and murders.
His second wife knew him for gam
bier, but stoutly declares that he was
Ion the square," She is a little black
haired woman who has the look of one
who would shoot to kill. when she found
that she had been duped by the man she
believed to be her husband. She suffers
no apparent remorse for her action. She
says:
Il don't care for Dunn any more. 1
never intend to live with him again, but
he must support this child. He has al
ways been gambler since l became ac-
quainted with him. / never knew him to
turn a crooked card, and don't believe he
is mixed up in the murders and robberies
with which he is charged. Anyway, 1
am going to see him through, so he can
take this child and support it.
Yes, they tell me that Dunn has been
living a double life, and that he has a
wife in Oklahoma. ] knew he spent n
great deal of his time away from me,
but supposed he was gambling or attend
ing to some of his business. When |
found that there was another woman
who had a better claim on him that |
had l shot to kill him. and now | am
going back to my folks as soon as | can"