Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-26

The territory is interested in the ro-
mantle COurtship which terminated
yesterday in the marriage of Miss
nellie Cathryne Bunyan Of this city,
a newspaper writer, to Frank Jennings
of Lawton. o. r., a real estate dealer
politician and former member OF the
notorious Jennings gang Of outlaws
that played havoc with peace statutes
I'm the early days of oklahoma.
JENNINGS was first introduced to Miss
Bunyan one night at the home of
United states Marshal John Aber--
nathy. The same evening he asked
her to marry him Two nights later
the marriage ceremony was celebrated
at Marshal AbernathyS home. Mar
shal Abernathy, who helped President
Roosevelt catch wolves. gave the bride
away. Jennings frankly confessed to
his hance that he had been the prin-
cipal i'm a number of unlawful deeds.
He told her of his life, described how
he had been hunted as an outlaw, and
recited bis part i'm the most sensa-
tional train robbery In the history of
the southwest. She said that she was
willing to forget 1t all
Jennings is S5 years Old. His career
as a 'holdup" man lasted only year,
and his wedding has revived the i'm
tense interest in his exciting escapades.
Early in 1896 oklahoma was practice y
tied. unfonced and undeveloped. The
four Jennings brothers, Frank, AL, Ed
and John had a lucrative law prac-
tiCe. Their father. j. d. f. Jennings.
was probate Judge of Pottawatomie
county. Ed Jennings was appointed
attorney of woodward
and Al secured a similar place in
Canadian county
AL Jennings obtained his first noto-
riety by beating Mayor Hensley of El
Reno. the county seat of Canadian,
because Hensley hit at him through
his paper. The real trouble started,
however when Ed Jennings was
killed at Woodward by Temple Hous-
ton, son of General Sam Houston of
Texas. Houston was acknowledged to-
be the best pistol shot in the two ter
ritories. Houston passed the lie dur
ing a trial in which the two lawyers
were opposing counsel, and Jennings
slapped the Texans face.
The same night Ed and John Jen
nings met Houston and Sheriff Jack
Love in a saloon. Houston began fir
ing and Jennings replied. The lights
were extinguished. When the smoke
lifted Ed Jennings was found dead.
AL and Frank Jennings then planned
to Kill Houston and Love, but were
1issuaded by their father and finally
induced to leave Woodward. The
brothers drove across country and
kept to themselves. Both were expert
especially Frank who was
"a led next to Houston in those days.
A fter a while they were Joined by Pat
and Morris O'Mally, both of whom
were once deputy United States mar
shais. Thus the gang was formed.
The first charge against the gang
ha Of q a
Toyil, in the Cherokee Nation. The
next heard of the men they were go !
ng across the country to Mince, In |
lian Territory. 200 miles distant, where
hey planned to rob the bank. While
N their way they discovered that
heir intentions were known to the
so they passed Mince on
he north and circled to the west
striking the Rock Island railroad south |
If Mince and three miles from Chick
lsha. Here were situated Siding No. |
!" and a section house
The gang decided to intercept a !
passenger train, on which 100000 was
being hurried to soldiers in the south /
west Their information was complete
heavily guarded. While the men were
awaiting the arrival of the train in
broad daylight one of the gang found
| tramp at the roadside. The stranger
vas captured and held for fear of in
eruption. The occupants of the sec
ion house were locked in and the
'obbers sat down on the steps outside |
o greet the passenger.
In the meanwhile Frank Jennings |
lad thrown the switch to bring the |
rain in on the siding 1t looked like |
/ sinecure until the train hove In sight |
through the woods and the customary
signal to stop was given. The en-
sineer had been previously warned, |
md instead of obeying he threw the |
throttle wide open. Frank Jennings |
'ealized that a disastrous wreck was
so he ran at top speed down |
me track, pulling off his mask and
waving it frantically. The driver did
not see the danger until he was al
most upon the switch. When he did
ne reversed the locomotive and brought
the train to a standstill within a few
-eet of long string of box cars on
the siding.
During the confusion one man en-
tered the baggage car and placed a
charge Of nitroglycerine under the big