The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-07
FORMER BANDIT
TALKS AGAINST
TRASHY NOVELS
Ex-Stage Robber, Now Gospel
Leader, Blames Cheap Lit
erature For Evil Career
LURID WESTERN TALES
o GAVE HIM INSPIRATION
Bob" Burton Says His First
Crime Was the Robbery Of
Troy, Ala, Postoffice

HUTCHINSON, Kan. Nov. g.
From stage robber, highwayman,
gambler and all-around crook to the
peaceful profession of q painting con.
tractor and the leader Of gospel
team making crusade against trashy
novels Ia q long cry. But Robert IL
Burton, OF Hutchinson. has had just
this experience and he has paid the
penalty for his 35 years spent as a
bandit
1T was the dime novel with Its
lurid accounts of the deeds of the
Texas cowboys and the wild west that
led me astray," safe Burton. Now ]
am trying to point out to the boys
company"
The story of Bob Burton's lie
reads like a romance. While boy
In Alabama me became fascinated
with the Diamond Dick class of liter
AZURE and longed to go to Texas and
become bad man.
His real name was A. A. L.iffin.
He assumed an alias In his bandit
days and IL still known as Burton.
His father was the editor Of the coun-
ty seat paper at Troy, Ala, and was
q prominent Masonic ofiicial.
Burton decided to run away. He
robbed the postofice at Troy to get
money and instead received q SEN
tence of three years In the reforma-
tory.
With that sentence his career OF
crime began. During the following
35 years he served time In 10 prisons,
was twice sentenced to death aud
was q fugitive from justice in nearly
every western state.
He was no dilettante. He robbed
postofiices, held up stages, burglar
lied stores and robbed individuals.
He served two years In a federal
prison for robbing postofice at
Montgomery, Ala; two years In the
Texas prison for horse theft at Cuero,
Tex: two years for forgery in west
ern Texas, all before he was IL years
old.
I'm the first jail l was In I learned
to gamble and drink, and that made
me the crook ] am, but II was the
dime novel that gave me my start"
said Burton.
Burton was again put in the Texas
penitentiary, this time on charge OF
extorting money from q Chinaman.
That was in 1890. Before he served
two years he escaped from the prison
at Huntsville, Texas.
In the Indian territory he joined q
band OF highwaymen. 1t bet. me
known as Bob Burton's gang and
waged a constant warfare with Unit
cd States marshals In the country
around Fort Gibson and TahleQuah.
He was finally captured and sen
fenced to the federal prison at Leav-
enworth. One day news reached him
one Of his old pals. Burton escaped
from the penitentiary, went back TO
the territory and aided In bringing
the murderer to justice. He was re-
captured and again put In prison.
After gaining his freedom he settled
at Marion, Kan, with the intention of
leading lawful life. But In 1900
he had trouble with another man
named Fred HUFFMAN over girl.
The man threatened to kill him and
Burton shot him dead. He was con-
victed OF first degree murder and
sentenced TO be hanged.
Through the efforts OF his attorney,
John 8. Dean, he got OF with 81
year sentence. Gov. 4. w. Hoch,
who knew him at Marion, committed
the sentence to 10 years and Gov.
Roscoe Stubs pardoned him in 1910.
In 1912 he was married and located
at Hutchinson.
In Hutchinson he lived quietly, ais
former career of outlawry being un.
known. But he became unsatisfied.
At a gospel meeting when 1900 men
were gathered In Convention hall
Burton took the stand. He told the
story Of his checkered career, ad.
mitted he was a fugitive from jus.
tice and was living under an assumed
name.
A few days later complete par.
don came from the governor Of
Texas.
And since then Burton Is devoting
his time to gospel team work and
lighting the dime novel.