Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-05
METHODS OF WESTERN euNMEN.
Brutality of Bert Casey-OutlaWs Who
Became Good Citizens.

1T has been the case frequently that
it was possible to identify the SLAYER
in outlaw days in Oklahoma and other.
sections of the Southwest. either by
marks on the body of the slain person
or the position in which the dead body
was found, says Judge Horace Speed
of Guthrie, who was United States at
torney for Oklahoma for sixteen years
and prosecuted many outlaws and gun
men. Speed was first appointed Mnen
oklahoma was opened To settlement, IN
1889 by President Harrison, and later
served under several other adminlstrat-
items. During his days as chief prose-
cutor here for the government writes
a Guthrie correspondent OF the 81.
Louis iGlobe- Democrat he was ac-
tive against members of the Dalton,
Doolia and other outlaw gangs. and
studied their ways and methods as
means of helping himself in proseeu-
tons of criminals.
Nearly every outlaw. who was a
killer had Il different method of treat
ing the bodies of his victims. AS
rule the outlaw was very superstitious
and Il was for this reason mainly that
he would show the greatest respect for
q victims body, in many instances
performing the last rites in truly
ministerial manner. Other outlaws. and
these were always of the most wicked
brand, would maltreat and disfigure
the bodies of their victims, and it was
easy for an officer who understood
these things to tell at a glance who
the killer had been.
THE most bloodthirsty man that
ever came under my observation was
Bert Casey, one of the last outlaw
leadt RS in the Southwest. He was al
ways with his boots on always ready
to kill, and invariably he marked his
victims bodies in a manner that new
er failed TO reveal, that Casey was the
killer.
..Casey's mark was kick in his
victims face. He would turn a dead
body over after having killed in order
to kick the face, leaving heel I'M
print ON his victim. This, in my opin-
ion. was because Casey was SO thor
oughly wicked. His victims. too, were
many. and the list included not only
some of the bravest officers in the
country. but also members of his own
band, for Casey was also treacherous
If il happened that he did not like
some member of his gang he would
Kill the fellow simply because he loved
TO kill. Many poor fellow died be-
cause of the bandit leaders bad tenn
per.
Casey would shoot and kill, too.
in the same manner that many men
hunt and kill wild animals. For IN
stance, on one occasion Casey shot
distance of 400 yards and killed an old
farmer just to see ii new Winchester
rifle would carry that distance and
kill The old man was ploughing in
field, unconscious of approaching dan
ger and unaware of the nearness OF
thu outlaw. Casey called attention to
a companion and then fired at the
farmer. who fell dead between the
plough handles Casey laughed ana
remarked that the gun seemed to be
dandy. .s4sv~...z.s..--,-
'Other outlaws showed the greatest
respect and reverence toward the dead
bodies of their victims. ! knew OF one
prominent gunman, in particular, VINO
afterWard became a good citizen. VINO
always laid out the bodies of the men
he killed. performing the last rites IN
religious manner. He would close
the eyes, place the hands by the body $
side. or fold them across the BOSOM
and remove the boots. This man was
one OF the best shots the West ever
knew. | do not know that he ever
killed unless it was deemed necessary
by him. for he was unusually KIND
hearted
The outlaw leaders, as rule, We're
bold and crafty, men of great natural
ability, some of whom would nave
been great military commanders. Many
of the men who joined and Followed
them were not of that type. Judge
Speed knew many of them VINO were
chicken hearted. who would not hsht
at all unless forced to do so, and VINO
would kill only when they could get
the other fellow at a disadvantage.
There were not many men, especially
leaders. of the Bert Casey type
Through the prosecution of charges
against members of outlaw bands l
CLEANED the fact that all of them nave
been PUT through a regular school oi
| training with firearms and handling
| of weapons" says Judge Speed. Just
| to make them experts In tact, There
| Is no set of men who know discipline
| better than did the members OF such
| gangs Of desperadoes as the Daltohs,
| Doolins. Caseys and others.
| ''In talking with these men, In ques-
tioning them on the witness stand
| and in my general business with them,
! | have found them always men OF
/ quick action, trained like soiaiers'
| adopts at every trick that tends 70
| make their outlawry the more lnVin,
| chile. Some of the outlaws have toid
| me that they have practised hoiaihh
| revolvers in their hands for hours al
| a time, just to get their hands accus-
| toned to the touch of the weapons ana
to become experts at shooting Win
either hand.
when in camp and away from the