The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-08
Al Jennings, Train Robber,
PROBES Great Can1paigner
Found in Cell by Mark Hanna, He Is County At
torney in Oklahoma Now-Tod on Stump
HON. He Was Driven to OutlaWry.

I brtray his friend. A short vacation from
his dungeon that the weakened body
might still hold life, was followed by six
months more.
Then one morning the prison warden
called the little outlaw.
IF you won't tell you won't tell, so
l. I'll quit trying to make yOu,' said the
warden. ANYWAY you're just the kind
of a trusty l want. I'll make you my
! secretary"
1t was when Jennings had been for
several weeks secretary to the warden
and purchasing agent for the peniten-
tiary that Mark Hanna came. and the
way to liberty was opened.
During Jennings months of Confine-
ment influential friends. among whom
was the then Representative Dennis T.
Flynn Of Oklahoma had been working for
the release of jennings on the theory
that the wrong done by the little man
was not SO much wrong after all in
country OF loose law. But 1t took the
interest of Mark Hanna and that mans
influence with President Mckinley ~ get
the pardon.
Had Been Attorney.
Jennings had been an attorney before
his bandit days. and an attorney Of some
standing. y great cattle case had been
handled by him, and cattle barons had
been defeated AS prosecuting attorney
of ComanChe County, Okla, the little
nervous acting, cold Hervcd fellow had
b,cn successful 1t is his claim that his
victory over the cattle barons of those
carly days was what started the enmity
that drew him into Outlawry.
ON" ,rening in LawtOn. Okla. Jennings
a home was told that his brother had
been shot in a saloon fight. Jennings
furried to the saloon and found his
l, fh.,- =
vengeance, knowing. he said. that the
enemies he had made in the cattle suit
case were the ones who had killed his
brother.
His law pra >tict. his county position.
and Everything were left. Jennings on
a horse and armed. started over country
o. trail Of tn. murderers. On his first
DAY out he passed little corner grocery
store. He stopped to buy cheese and
crackers. After sitting on the front steps
Of the stor" eating his meal h., jumped
on his horse and started away. \ few
Yards OF and he heard shots. Looking
back three men and the grocer who had
sold him his lunch were aiming ut him.
Stole 81. from Grocer.
Jennings "unwound" his Winchester
f"om thu horn Of mis- saddle and before
the m"n at the store could touch him
18th ;heir poorly aimed bullets his fire
drove them off. away from the store and
int" a lump of bushes.
That was the first tine I had any
G6sire to rob-" said jennings The idea
that those towards dared to shoot at my
hack made me want all | could get from
Il I'm. So took the So the grocer had in
lis ILL.,
This act nut Jennings legally in the
bandit class. He became fugitive from
justice.
Il figured that I might as we'll be a
he'll Of a fellow as a fellow" lie said
$50 I started robhinc trains And t"
sum it all up l was successful until
l got caught.
"Why.' and her" came much emphasis.
Il have carried more money away IN a
gunny sack than those thievinC county
officials that are fighting me are able to
steal in A term. And that's why say,
I'd rather ne a bandit than a continuing
emheZZlcr."
Jennings name is a leader III the his
tory of carly day outlawrv in Oklahoma
and tn" stories Of his rUhhinC often have
been told With gang that accepted
him 5 their leader he held up train
after tram. and their loot amounted toI
thousands
Il made point to get the money from
IN" public service corporations Il /.
could" said Jennings. I'D rather take
away from an express company than a
tourist
Jennings was captured at Spike
ranch. the headquarters for his gang
about December l, 1897 After a long
dayhreak haiti" h" surrendered. And the
leader of the Law gang" that captured
him was Bud ~ F. LedheTterD
Lcdbcttcr Now sheriff.
And now after all these years. in the
sam" primary tampa ign of 1872 that
named Jennings I.edhetter has been
nominated as Sheriff Of MUskogce Cuun-
~. and the next official meeting of tho
tw" VIII he when Lrlh-ttcr. Sheriff,
gre"ts Jennings. prosecutor.
In the capture Of Jennings Ledhetter
was at the head of a field force IF the
United States Marshall. The December
morning was bitter, and in the exchange
of bullets the two men shot at each
other until their rifles We're singing hot.
hut in the dim light neither was hit
Jennings. the bandit. worked the terri
tory from the PeCos Valley to the Ar
kansas. Banks and trains We're his
speciality. but he did not sCorn an oc- /,
ca sional hit of road work"