Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-29
Daring Career Of Girl Bandit
Conducted HoldUps Became Boss of Mine Gang and Was
Captured After Surprising Adventures

her. and begged Der 70 return home,
but her answer was the defiance OF
one intoxicated with easy success.
4 will continue to be a boy bandit
at the risk of my life
During the next few months wag-
oneTs We're very busy. hauling goods
across the Cumberland Mountains
from the nearest railway station, and
Carrie Messer was equally busy Gull
ing out the most promising victims
and relieving them OF surplus cash
or desirable articles. w7aen her
spells had amounted TO several hun
bred dollars it was learned that she
had confederate in The person OF
John Grifiith.who. being less clever
han his leader. was arrested, tried
aud received a penitentiary sentence.
Eucouraged by his capture, the Off
cials Of Perry and eslie Counties Of
fered a reward Of 5000 for tue cap.
'uye OF the Messer girl. but the sum
was too small to tempt any one 10
trail so daring a taw-hreaker as this
intrepid girl Evidently she heard OF
the reward that had been offered, for
be promptly shifted her operations
TO Wise County, Virginia, where pros
poets for her exciting life seemed
better than 70 dear old Kentucky.
In September, 1909. Carrie Messer
became member of a small band
of outlaws who operated in Lee
County, Virginia lust how much
property they acquired unlawfully is
not known, but the partnership was
short-lived, for In quarrel over the
division Of the spoils one OF the men
was shot by Carrie Messer, it is said.
This made ii necessary for her 20
seek new pastures. and sue returned
to Perry and Leslie Counties, Ken.
lucky, travelling by night and cor.
cealing herself in deserted farm
houses during the day But even this
trip was not Improbable. for she ne
gotiated several holdups on the Jour,
ney. but when she attempted TO rob
the postofTce at Dwarf the officers OF
the law became so active Tat she
hasty retreat into Virginia.
On Dickinson county she robbed an
old man named Flemings OF SIS. ev.
cry cent he had saved This attack
or Woodworking farmer aroused the
entire community, and the officials
of Dickinson county Altered re-
ward large enough to create interest
] among Sherins and their deputies.
But the next day long before hey
were ready to form posse. the girl
robber was 50 miles away. securely
hidden among the mountain raylnes
OF her native state.
Here she remained alone for sew.
eral weeks, and. perhaps, realizing
that she had little charce to escape
the officers of the law, she turned re.
pentant. BY accident. meeting an old
school friend on the mountain road
she sent a message to her father
begging him to forgive and forget
and to welcome back his maynard
daughter. This word was carried tc
a once prosperous home now dark
ened by the worst form OF shame
that can overtake proud parents II
drew no answer Again she sent q
pleading message Father, pray take
me back again. Make me HAPPY
again as Of old and will be faith
'nl, ever. have repented. father, a
better life; father. II you win only FOR
give me. Bye. bye, Carrie"
when no answer came from hei
father, Carrie Messers doom was
sealed and the old spirit of bravadC
reasserted itself Two days later a
local store was robbed of small wares