The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-10-10
THE WOUNDED R0BBER
MAKES KNOWN HIS REAL
NAME AND DSERVING TIME
FOR CONTRIBUTING.

EApfSss MossSHger hOAuoT,
Is Gay Harshman, Noto-
rious Counterfeiter. of
Arlington.
Portland, Oct, Portland Tel
egram: Jim Conners," shot by Ex-
press Messenger Korner while at
tempting to rob the o. r. & N.
passenger train, near Troutdale,
Or. on the night of September "a,
and left behind by his three COM
panions in their efforts to escape,
is Gay Harshman, resident of Ar
lington.
Believing himself at the point of
death as a result of the wound in.
flicted by the brave express messen-
ger, Harshman, or "C)nners," now
occupying a cot at the Good Samar-
itan hospital, has confessed his
identity and talked unreservedly Of
his criminal deeds, whose climax
was the Intellectual attempt to rob
the o. R. & N. train.
While the names of Harshman's
partners in crime were not told by
him, the confessed robber is known
to have three sons, aged, respective.
ly, 18, 16 and Is years, and the
fact that four were concerned in
the ho1d-up, three of whom escap-
ed, is considered as directing sus-
picion toward them.
Late yesterday afternoon Harsh
man admitted his identity to Tele-
gram reporters, told of his wife and
residence short distance from Ar
lingtop, spoke reservedly concern
ing his SONS and detailed his past
life. He strenuously denied that
either of his boys was with him on
1.-THE night of the attempted robbery,
land the very yehemence of this de-
nial branded 1t as strong effort to
divert suspicion. To the Telegram
he would say nothing concerning
his companions on the night which,
from present. appearances, marked
the close of his criminal career.
As related by himself, Gay Harsh.
man has been a iawbreaker for
years. He has "done time" on eev-
eral occasions for minor offenses,
and twice was convicted of coun-
|terfeiting gold coins. In 1894 he
was first apprehended on this
charge, year being passed in prls-
on as result. Shortly after his re-
lease he was again apprehended,
this time being sent to San Quen-
tin, also for counterfeiting.
As counterfeiter he is known to
have been one of the most expert in
| his line and the court records of
California prove that SO we'll did he
cover his tracks it would have been
impossible to convict him had not
an accomplice turned states evil
dence.
At Mcneil Island, WASH, where
he served term for initiating SIS
gold pieces, Harshman was known as
Billy Montcalm. He was arrested
at Gates, WASH, by government Of
fcers. His San Quentin term was
for ten years, and it is there he is
registered as Gay Harshman.
When arrested on this count he
was operating at Cumberland,
Wash. The partner whose testi-
mony made conviction possible,
was George Conkling.
| During his career as a wbreak-
er Harshman has travelled over the
entire Pacific Northwest, having
been identified with "tricks" in
Montana, Idaho and California, as
we'll as Oregon and Washington.
So freely did the wounded robber
discuss his identity and past with
reporters for the Telegram that it
was not until investigation proved
bis statements to be correct that
they were fully accepted as truth.
With bloodshot eyes glaring from
a foliage of tangled beard, Harsh.
man occupies a cot in a private
room at the Good Samaritan hos.
pital. Dazed by the deadening eff
fects of opiates, he did not appear
to be suffering much when seen for
the Telegram. So weak that he
could not raise himself to sitting
posture, he yet seemed eager to dis
cuss the past. From his emaciated
face his eyes seemed to protrude
like balls of fire.
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