The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-04-08
A VIRGINIA
BANDIT
II r.
IOriginal.]

(Original]
This is a story-a true story OF old
Virginia before the war.
| Early IA the spring OF 1868 a cattle
buyer when crossing the Bald Top
mountain Oh horseback saw walking
before him young fellow who drug
sed himself along US though tired
Catching ND with him, the cattle buyer
spoke to him.
"Whar yO' gOin' at?"
'Deering,'' replied soft. boyish
voice, and q smooth faced boy looked
up.
"Wber did yo' come from?'
'I.inwood"
"That's quite ways. Reckon ] kin
help yo n spell. Git up behind me-"
The boy sprang up. placed his arms
around the trader, and the two logged
on. chatting pleasantly. Suddenly,
while passing a lonely place, narrow
defilc in the mountain, the trader felt
something against his head that as
tonlshed him-thc cold muzzlc of pis-
toll. At the same time the boy behind
him called in rs commanding voice
as he could assume:
give me your money or I'll shoot.'
| The trader, hearing click, did not
dare disobey. He took $500 he had In
his pocket and handed 1t to the boy.
The latter jumped down from the
horse.
| stranger" he said. "as you're broke
and took your own pistol from your
belt TO do the job here's $40 to buy an
other"
Handing the trader the money, the
| youthful hfghwayman ran away, and
the trader went on to Huntley. where.
finding sheriff. he reported the rob-
berry. A posse was dispatched which
secured the mountains for three days,
but found no trace Of the robber..
Three weeks later petldler was held
up and robbed near the place where
robber was small, youthful looking
person except for very bushy beard.
From that time robbcries were fire.
qucnt i'm that region, and It was sus-
pccted that gang Of highwaymcn
were secreted in the mountains, the
different members Of which made
journeys alone and committed the rob-
berries. But the fact that they were
committed in the same locality finally
led to the belief that they were per
petrated by one person in different dis
gufses. A deputy sheriff was sent out
to patrol the mountains. but never
found person answering to the de
/ scription Of any Of those given Of the
desperate. Then reward Of $500 was
offered.
This was enough money to induce
Gabe Unison and Al Wheaton to
spend all their time in hunting for the
robber. They lived in the locality
where the robberies had been commit
ted and were familiar with the roads
and trails by which the robber might
elude his pursuers. One morning. with
Gabe's bloodhounds in leash, they were
climbing Rattlesnake mountain when
they met jew peddler who had Just
been robbed by a highwayman with Il
bushy beard. Guided by the pcddIer
the two men went to the place where
The robbery had occurred and the dog
placed on the robbers trail. The trio.
Gabc holding the leash. followed the
dog over trail leading around tho
mountain. At the end Of !, couple Of
hours the dog gave evidence Of coming
near the object Of their search, and
Gabe caught sight Of 4 form fitting
along before them. Gabe fired, but
the figure kept on. though it soon dis
appeared. However. the dog tracked
the fugitive to the hollow trunk Of a
fallen tree. Having "trecd" their man.
the dog was not allowed to go In after
him. The two men called on the man
N hiding to conc out, threatening t0
smother him with smoke IL he refused
The fugitive did not reply. They
listened. but could hear no sound with
in the log. Then the men, fearing
some desperate move. concluded that
Al should so for assistance while Gabc
remained on guard.
An hour after noon the messenger
returned with the deputy sheriff. who
directed that the log be forced apart
by means Of axes and wedges. When
the aperture was well wIdencd the
party and the dog stood ready to shoot
or seize the prisoner, but no prisoner
came forth. A form was found lying
on Its face perfectly motionless. The
officer took hold of the shoulder an;
turned it over. The prisoner was dead
Gabe's bullet had donc the work.
piercing the robber through the back.
Then the whiskers fell away, and IT
was seen that they were false. Gabe
| threw up his hands.
Its Melt Prescott.
Zach Is the story Of the only woman
bandit ever known In the state Of old
Virginia. Nellie Prescott was the
daughter Of job Prescott, who lived al
the foot Of Bald Top mountain. Her
parents were very poor. and in order
to secure food and clothing for then,
she had resorted to highway robbery.
Living Mt home. she could easily In
male attire hold mp wayfarcrs in the
neighborhood. changing her appear.
ance occasionally by beard or other
devices and when the deed was done
slip home and appear again as a girl.
As Nellie Prescott lay on the ground
her pretty upturned face was recog.
i H.