Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-11
miscellaneous 8rading.
BANDITS DEVOTION TO A BABY
Remarkable Incident In the Life OF
Annel Bill a lexas Bad Man.

Remarkable Incident In the Life OF
ANGEL Bill, a Texas Bad Man.
Angel Bill, that's what they called
him in the early days, has been dead
for more than thirty years and the
probabilities are that you never have
heard of him. Those few persons
who stroll into Marshall. Texas, after
missing train connections, and wait
for the New Orleans Limited on the
Texas and Pacific, have the oppor--
tunity to visit that Old-fashioned
cemetery in Marshall and see there a
crude slab. marking the grave OF An
gel Bill, one of the most desperate
and likewise one of the most humane
bandits of the frontier days of the
southwest.
Bill was a train robber, bank rob-
ber. stage robber.
He was reared in Marshall, wnere
his family represented good stock or
the southern aristocratic kind, but
Bill went astray early in his career
and after starting the bandit game he
played IL to the limit.
Bill's depredationS over in west
Texas became so numerous and so
great. and the inability of the officers
to kill or capture him was so manifest
that finally the sheriffS in all those
counties in the vicinity Of Fort worth
sent him a note, telling him that II
he would go back home and quit the
bandit game no warrant would be is
sued for him and no attempt ever
would be made to arrest him. This
note reached Angel Bill at the psyche
To- nd 70 hn
of his petitioners Bill packed up and
went back to Marshall.
Bill lived opposite a cemetery in
Marshall. They used to see him go
over there every morning and walk
among the flowers; study the epitaphs
on the grave stones and talk with the
birds.
He had been doing that thing for
three or four months when one day
he chanced to pass by house, where,
on the front porch, one of the round
est. happiest looking babies that he
ever had seen was bouncing about on
a blanket, which a careful mother had
turned up at the ends and which
presented sort of an amphitheater
effect to the admiring eyes of the out
law.
The mother was working in the
kitchen and of a sudden she was
startled by the appearance Of Angel
Bill. He wore that characteristic
white hat with the broad brim; his
trousers were crumpled down into his
high boots and from either back pock-
ct there protruded a wicked looking
six-shooter, which was loaded in
every chamber.
Madam. I don't want to startle
YOU" Angel Bill said. You know me,
of course. They say in the papers
that I'm the most desperate man in
all Texas But whether I am that or
not 1 always have respected women
and l like babi, and / want to ask
you if you VOL let me come down
here each morning and play with your
baby?"
No unfearing woman could deny
this plain-spoken request. The moth
er. now calm, said: why, l guess
that will be all right. Bill. Play with
the baby all you like, but don't take
him away and let no harm befall
him."
Bill was happy and he went directly
to the blanket where the baby was
chattering its meaningless talk. And
when Bill extended his arms the baby
smiled more than ever and put his
dimpled chubby hands into those of
Bill, and they were fast friends from
that hour.
Every morning Bill made his call.
He was of a mechanical turn and
wishing to reciprocrate in some way
for the favor Of the baby's society he
went to the mother and said: You
know, l can make chairs and benches
and / don't mind making a few for
you if you like. The baby can watch
me doing it, see?'
,;ol Ln
make me a chair or a bench when you
have time, Bill, and every time you
make me a chair or bench I'll re-
ciprocate-Tll make you a shirt
That contract was happy one. Bill
got his tools and proceeded to make
enough chairs and benches to fill a
house. And every time Bill made a
bench or a chair the mother delivered
a hickory shirt. And the baby, as he
watched Bill with his saw and ham
mer convert pine sticks into real fur
niture, showed in his dancing eyes
that he thought Bill was the most
wonderful man in the world.
You're wondering, aren't you, what
the climax. the crisis of this plain
story is going to be? Well I'll tell
you. The mother didn't know any
thing about it on that fateful May
morning. She was doing her house
work about 10 o'clock; the baby was
playing out of doors and the mock
ing birds over in the cemetery were
singing as if their throats would burst
Angel Bill came to the back door.
There was just 4 bit Of blush in his
cheek: just suggestion Of anxiety
in his eyes.
II want to ask a special favor of
you this morning" Bill said. Il want
to take the baby down the street
just for a little walk, you know"
go ahead, but don't go far" the
mother said.
II won't, 1 promise" the outlaw
replied.
He took the baby in his arms and
started down the street. They walked
three blocks and stopped at the Mag
nolia saloon. There were three arm
ed men in one corner of the dram
shop.
Good morning, Bill" an affable
barkeeper remarked.
Good morning to all of you" Bill
replied.
Then he set the big. smiling baby
on the bar and to right and left of
him placed one of the siX-shooters.
Turning to the men in the corner
they were a United States marshal
and two of his deputies-he said:
Gentlemen. | am protected for. the
moment; you can't take chance with
the baby"
Then to tho barkeeper: Jack, give
me a drink; maybe the last drink that
you'll ever turn over to Angel Bill
The drink was served. Bill seemed
to relish it. He put the siX-shooters
back in his pockets, picked up the
baby and started out Of the saloon.
Il thank you, gentlemen" he said.
1.-TWO o'clock, I believe is the time
1.-TWO o'clock is right, Bill" the
marshal said.
And it's to be according to the
rules Of thorOughbreds?"
"Thoroughbreds. Bill. The gamest
and luckiest will be standing last.
that's our hope"
Bill returned with the baby and put
him in his mothers arms. He went
away without saying word. He went
home and loaded every revolver in the
house. The marshal had q warrant
for Bill. He had robbed a mail train.
Bits agreement was with state and
town officials. The United States gov
ernment made no such agreements.
The marshal. according to the