Amador ledger., 1903-03-13
H|GHWAYMAN At WORK
Attempt to Rob the lone
Jackson Stage.
One Horse Killed-Robber Escapes
Messenger Mcconnell Fails to Get
Crack at Him.

being on the outside, sitting by the
driver. A large amount of coin was
aboard in the express box, bound fol
Amador City, as the following day was
pay day at the Keystone mine. The
exact amount we do not know, but il
was probably in the neighborhood OF
Sl0 600, as the Keystone has probably
the largest payroll just now in the
county-runuing so stamps. The stage
was full of passengers, ten or twelve
inside. Dave Phillips, who has been
doing service during the illness OF
Chris Hansen, was driver. The bag
gage wagon was ahead about fifty
yards with one passenger, and a
heavy load of baggage. An extra
stage also well loaded was some distance
behind the four horse stage. The
point selected for this exploit in high
waymanship was near the junction of
the Buena Vista and lone roads, about
a quarter of mile below Miller S
station. There is bend in the road,
also a culvert, and the driver gave a
crack of the whip starting the horses
to brisk pace, just as rifle shot was
heard-which was the first intimatiOn
those on the outside had that anything
was amiss. A lady passenger declares
however, that she saw the man on the
right of the road before a shot was
fired; that he called "Halt" twice be-
fore firing She said he rose from be-
hind some loose brush. The discharge
of the weapon had the effect of start
ing the team to a furious gallop. Those
on board looked to find out the mean
ing of the firing. A short interval
elapsed between the first and second
shot. The highwayman was in plain
view standing in the open, on the right
hand side, about fifty yards from the
stage, with his gun TO shoulder, when
proof positive that an attempted hold
up was in progress, and the passengers
were anxious thereafter to keep out of
sight of the man with gun. Nc
Connell waa armed with sawed off
shotgun, and as he was seated furthest
from the would-be rubber, with the
driver between, he was unable to bring
his gun into play. He saw the road
man after the second shot, who then
had his gun down, as if in the act of re-
loading. Realizing that he was handi
capped by position, he told the driver
to whip up the animals, which he did .
At least five shots were fired, two bull
lets striking the off wheel horse. One
shot took effect in the hip, and the
other believed to be the last shot pass
in streams from these wounds, but the
wounded horse kept going, until Mil
ler's station was reached, where the
stage pulled up, and messenger dis
patched TO lone to convey the news of
the crime to the authorities, and also
to bring up another horse to continue
the trip. The wounded horse died
during the stay at Miller's station.
The news of the crime was sent by
telephone from Dufrene's station, over
mile from the scene of the hold-up.
1t was quarter past five O'Clock when
the sheriff's Office received the notice.
Sheriff Norman and deputy Jackson
Immediately started out, and in one
hour were at Buena Vista-fourteen
miles distant. At the scene of the
shooting, Jackson picked up some
shells, supposed to have been discarde ed
by the road agent. They were of
30x30 size, the improved Winchester
weapon, of great penetrating power
Smokeless powder was used in the at
tack, those on the stage perceiving no
smoke during the shooting.
No clear description of the shooter
can be given. Mr.. McNichols, one
of the passengers, says he had a
good view of him as he stood with
his gun to his shoulder as he was
about to fire the second time. He
wore black mask over his face. II
looked similar to those used at mas
querades. He thought he was under
rather than over medium height, and
from general appearance was quite
young. Others say he was covered to
his waist with black covering. In
the excitement and peril of the moment
no one was disposed to take a critical
view for the purpose of Identification.
While the fusilade of shots was in
progress, he kept running, following
the horses, till they were out of sight
by the turn of the road. The fact that
the stage was not stopped was owing
to the driver lashing the horses into a
rapid pace before the shooting Had
they been going slow, it is argued, the
wounded animal would have dropped,
in which event duel between the
guard and the bandit would have been
fought to finish. The shotgun
carried by guard Mcconnell was useful
at short range, two or three hundred
yards. The pace of the horses put him
out of range in few seconds, while as
far as carrying power is concerned, the
rifle in the hands of the desperate
would carry mile.
Mrs Sobey and her 13-year old boy
were on the front seat inside, with
backs to the driver, Their position
commanded the best view of the out