Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-17
NOTED WOMEN OUTLAWS

NOTED WOMEN OUTLAWS
Members Of GentIer Sex Who Have
Acted Part Of Dick Turpin.
Fired. apparently, by the romantic
stories of highway robbers of the Dick
Turpin and Claude Duval type, a Mex
lean girl was recently caught in the
province of Chihuahua trying to re-
lieve a wealthy planter Of several
thousand dollars on the stand and
deliver" principle Masked, mounted
and armed with formidable revolver.
she waylaid the planter. who, by a
ruse, succeeded in disarming her and
then discovered to his amazement
that she was the 1S-year-old daughter
of neighbor, beautiful girl, who ul-
timately confessed that she had been
led into her remarkable escapade b.
a desire for adventure and excitement
after reading certain thrilling ro-
mances.
It is strange how history reepats it
self. The case of this Mexican girl
has a parallel in that Of p young lady
of title who was captured. on Putney
Heath about the middle of the eigh-
teenth century while trying to emu
late the deeds of the highwaymen Of
that period. AS matter Of fact 1t was
highwayman who discovered her.
One night, when he was out on the
road, he suddenly found a pistol lev
eled at his head and was ordered to
stand and deliver" Catching his as
sailant off "his" guard, however, the
highwayman with practiced skill
whipped out his revolver and fired and
in the melee that followed, disarmed
the one who threatened him.
He then discovered that his oppo-
nent was one Of the beauties Of the
neighborhood, who, having learned
swordplay and shooting, had decided
to take to the road in order to obtain
the money to pay for the fashionable
extravagances which her somewhat
penurious husband denied her. To the
credit Of the highwayman 1t must be
said that he dissuaded the petticoated
robber from pursuing such perilous
calling and saw that she reached home
safely.
In the history Of England, however,
there have been several instances OF
women highwaymen who have met
with almost as much success as the
redoubtable Dick Turpin and Claude
Duval. There was Moll Cutpurse, for
instance, who from being an ordinary
pickpocket or purse thief-in those
days long purses were worn at the
girdle, and Moll became an expert at
cutting them and filching their con-
tents, hence her curious nickname
developed into a daring night-rider.
She frequented Hampstead Heath and
relieved many wealthy coach travellers
Of their vegetables.
She worked single-handed, dressed
and rode like man, and, although
she was captured on several occa-
sions, managed by extensive bribes
to prevent the appearance OF wit
nesses. She ultimately died in her bed
at the venerable age Of "a. Moll was
nothing If not original, and as be-
quest she left a large sum of money
for the purchase Of gloves to be dis
tributed among her friends and ac-
quaintances; then, saying that she had
been rather singular during her life,
she directed that she should be buried
face downward.
Another highwayman Moll was Moll
Jones, who also began her career or
crime as an ordinary pickpocket, and
ultimately went on the road. Her ca
reer, however, was short, for, after
committing several robberies, she was
captured and hanged at Tyburn when
she was only 30 years Of age.
A similar fate befell Anne Holland.
who Joined her husband on his mid
night raids against travellers on Put
ney Heath. Anne Holland was born
in a slum Of London. and was first
heard of as a barmaid. Ultimately
she married a man named James Will
son, who developed into clever foot
pad, and when he was hanged for his
crimes she promptly took to the road
herself She obtained much property
Of value and was regarded in those
days as a female demon, for she
thought nothing of shooting down
those who resisted her in the dead of
night She was, however ultimately
captured, and shared the fate of Mol
Jones at Tyburn.
Another extraordinary case OF man
and wife becoming highwaymen In
partnership Is afforded by the careers
of Mr.. and Mrs Bracey. who were
both hanged at Tyburn within a year
of one another. Joan Bracey's life is
one of the most romantic stories In
the annals of old-time crime. She
was the pretty daughter Of wealthy
farmer, and when she met Bracey, a
daredevil of the high roads, she threw
| in her lot with his and quickly became
| a highwayman's ideal companion. The
pair pTONeu very ouSScoSiui, oiu HiNH'
stage coach did they waylay.
Joan's career, however, was a short
| one. One day she robbed a person of
quality, a justice of the kings court,
who was relentless in having her
sought out. She was caught, identi-
fed and sent to the gallows before she
was 21.-Boston Herald