The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-09-05
RlNDIT BILL MINER IS DEAD
,orru TRAIN ROBBER PASSES
MAY AT PRISON FARM.
,..,ned some Months Ago, and At
tempt to Exist in Georgia Swamp
r,,uoht ON Fatal Disease.

I,,ught ON Fatal Disease.
ANTA.-Fightin grimly to
.be last. as he fought throughout
r. years of confessed thieving
~, tram robbery, Bill Miner cash
tr his checks" at the state farm
Tpesdar night.
,e.g-tomed to breaking through
.1o stropgest prison bars when gran
ite and steel Enclosures became irk-
a,o Miner several months ago de-
5od he had been at the state prison
.ar,n where he had been sent for
,nenrv years for sticking up" fast
southern train at Lula, Ga, long
4 enough.
60 one night Old Bill made his
uot-avav Two others who escaped
- the same time we're captured Zone
& bsing killed., but for three weeks
viner lived in swamps, eating ber-
,fos and drinking the polluted wa
\ ters.
d Not His First Escape.
Finally he gave up, but was still
4 nrdaunted. 1t is said that he re-
/ marked at the time if he had been
+uortv Years younger no one could
have caught him, and this statement
was probably correct, as he had es-
caDed from the best prisons in coun-
fries around the world.
He came back to the farm, but
Was never well again. The malaria
grinDed him, and at his advanced age
he was unable to throw it off. He
grew weaker and weaker until at
last he became confined to his bed.
Rut that indomitable spirit never be-
came 0uenched. He did not COM
Main much, but struggled alone
against the encroachment of death.
Some two weeks ago gastritis set
in and it was thought death was at
hand. But Old Bill gave the Reaper
one more battle and routed him for
the moment. This week he grew
worse again, and Tuesday night
Iapsed into Inconsistencies, death
coming at 9:25 o'clock.
Bill Miners Record.
He was born in Jackson county,
Kentucky. in 1847, and there he led
the wild free life of that section at
that time. Throughout the width
and breadth of the state George
Anderson was known before he was
- years old.
Shortly afterwards he started
West and four years later was round
ed up for robbery in San Joaquin
county. April >, 1866, when but ~
years old. He was sentenced to San
Joaquin prison, where he was known
as prisoner No. SPAS. He was dis
charged June of the same year,
but July ~ he was sent up from
Placer county for few months
which he served as No. 1913.
He was discharged, only to be sent
up from Calveras county, June 20
1871, as No. 1902, but a new trial
was granted him and he was taken
back February 9, 1872, and returned
March 80 1872, as No. 5,206.
He tried to escape May Z, 1874,
and had four years added to his
time, but March 3, 1877, his SEN
tence was committed to twelve years,
and he was discharged July IA,
1850.
His Real Activities.
1t was at this juncture Bill Miner
began his real activities. Meeting
up with Bill Leroy most noted of
western bandits at that time, ne
formed a partnership with him, go
ing under the name of w. A. Nor
gan A month later they robbed the
Del Noy stage coach of $500. A
posse pursued them. Leroy was cap
tued and Iynched, but Bill Miner
escaped safely, after shooting up the
posse, but only slightly woundtng a
few OF the members.
A little later he was caught In
Tuolumne county for robbery and
sent UP for twenty-five years, going
back to San Quentin as No. 10, l9l.
He started work December 81, 1881,
and emerged from the prison July
II, 1901.
Daring Train RObberies.
Although growing old and having
paid a severe penalty he started out
IN his career of lawlessness with
more force in every way September
%, 1903, he held up train near
Puget Sound on the Canadian side,
having two confederates on the job.
They robbed all the passengers
looted the express cars and secured
big haul But all the robbers were
caught except Bill Miner. Resting
Tor few months he again started
ms wild career. With his two aides
he held up a train at Mission juno
ton, British Columbia, September
10, 1904, and secured $4,000 IN
gold. The government and express
authorities became frenzied at MS
daring robberies and the dominion
government offered a reward OF So
700 for him, while the express COM
pany offered a similar sum and the
province of British Columbia aug
mented it by $1,000. making the to-