Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-01-14
Charles Yerger, Once
a Noted Bandit
PardOned
MarSbaHs Kindness Caused
Ills De lfh, Yerger Goes
llSa1e.- Ills Partner
Killed

| OnarleS 1erSer, VINO was serving
a life sentence in the penitentiary at
Chester, ILL.,, for robbing the mails in
one of his numerous train hold-ups
committed in Texas, was pardoned a
few days ago by President Roosevelt,
1t is stated that Yerger is on his way
back to Texts. He is bent with age.
and few of his old-time acquaintances
whom he knew 90 years ago, when he
entered the doors of the prison, would
recognize him now.
Yerger was a notorious train and
stage robber. He was a member Of
the Robbers cave" gang, who ter.
rorized this part of the state in the
early sos. For several years, the st.
Louis Globe-Democrat Of last Thurs.
day says, they eluded the officers of
the law, and committed one bold rob.
berry after the other. In the Helotes
hills, situated about fifty miles south
of here, are number OF caves where
the outlaws made their rendezvous,
The story is told that the big amount
of valuable plunder and money which
the robbers gained in their numerous
hold-ups was never recovered by the
officers, and that it is believed to be
hidden in one OF the caves.
Yerger participated in a terrible
tragedy after his conviction. The
United States marshal for this dis.
trict at that time was Henry L. Cos.
ling. He was a brave officer and a
popular frontiersman Goslings fear.
lessness led him TO be careless when
in the presence of danger It was
this carelessness that caused him to
lose his life.
After the conviction Of Yerger and
Pitts, Marshal Gosling came to Aus.
tin to convey the prisoners to San
Antonio. where they were to be placed
in jail for safe-keeping, pending their
transfer to the Illinois penitentiary.
He was accompanied to Austin by
| Deputy Marshals Manning and Long,
who, took active charge of the pris.
oners when they had been placed on
the train. The seat occupied by Cos.
ling was situated three seats forward
of the prisoners. His seat companion
Was II. s. Canfeld, a former Texas
ranger, and at that time employed on
a San Antonio newspaper He after.
wards acquired considerable fame as
writer of fiction He committed
suicide in Chicago only a few weeks
ago. Garfield was unarmed.
Woman Askes for Favor.
When the train was about to depart
from the Austin depot Mrs. Pitts, the
pretty wife of one Of the prisoners.
came up 10 Gosling and pleaded to
sit by the side of her husband. She
also asked that Rose Yerger, sister
of the other prisoner, be granted
similar privilege. Gosling's tender
heart was moved by the tears of the
woman and he granted the favor
Double seats, fronting each other,
were made and the two desperate
men and the two women sat facing
each other.
It was about o'clock at night when
New Braumfels, so miles south of
here, was reached. During the two
hours ride the prisoners had been
very quiet, the sobs of the women be
ing the only sounds that were heard
to come from that quarter. The two
deputy marshals sat three seats be.
hind the prisoners.
The train had just left the station
at New Braunfels when Yerger and
Pitts stealthily reached their shack
led hands under the folds of the
dresses Of the women and each drew
forth a six-shooter. They sprang into
the aisle of the car and began firing
at the three officers. The first two
shots Of the prisoners were aimed at
Gosling. The two bullets hit the |
brave marshal square in the back and |
he pitched forward on his face into
the lap OF Canheld. The prisoners |
then turned their pistols on Deputies
Long and Manning. The latter were
both out of their seats the moment
they saw the first movement OF the
prisoners. The cylinder OF Longs
pistol would not work and he was
Dowerless TO give Manning any aid,
although he begged the loan of pis-
tol from other passengers in the car.
however. as soon as he
could draw his own pistol began
Ln.lIr.. "a 49, nna piltn a lhou