The Washington herald., 1914-04-18
HE WAS Double
OF JESSE JAMES
Kentucky Man Convicted of
Robbery Done by the
Bandit.
WATCH ALONE SAVED HIM
Only Outlaws Death Prevents Hunt
from Serving Long Term in
Penitentiary.
WATCH ALONE SAVED HIM

Owensboro. KY, April L-Yesterday
was the thirty-second anniversary OF the
murder Of Jesse James. one of the most
famous bandits who ever roamed the
States Of the Middle West and the South.
Jesse James met his death on April g.
1SS2, at st. Joseph, Mo. being shot in his
own home by Bob Ford, a comrade in
many Of his deeds of outlawry. Jesse
James was hanging a picture on the wall,
with his back turned to the door, when
Bob Ford entered and sent a bullet into
the bandits back, killing him instantly.
The death of James saved an innocent
man from serving a term in the peniten-
tiary for the alleged holding up of a stage
coach between Cave City and Mammoth
Cave. KY, and at the same time gave
one of the most remarkable cases of mis-
taken identity on record.
It was not exactly Jesse James death
that saved William Hunt from the peni-
tentiary to which he had been sentenced,
but the gold watch that James was wear
ing at the time Of his death.
Mistaken Identity.
The watch was the property Of Judge
R. H. Rowntree, Of Lebanon. KY. 1t had
been presented to Judge Rowntree by the
Hon. Proctor Knott. Judge Rowntree was
wearing the watch when Jesse James and
Mammoth Cave. KY. and robbed the pas
sengers. William Hunt, who bore a strik
ing resemblance to Jesse James, was ar
rested. charged with the robbery. He had
been in jail eighteen months before he
was finally convicted and sentenced to
the penitentiary. Then came the news
OF the murder of Jesse James, and the
finding OF the watch with Judge Rown-
trees name in il. Investigation followed
and Hunt was pardoned by Gov. Black
burn. The gold watch was returned to
Judge Rowntree. He was the father OF
Mrs. Tyler McAtee, of Owensboro. ana a
grandfather of Harry r. Ray, of Owens
boro. Harry Ray came to Owensboro a
number of years ago with his father Lee
D. Ray, former grand commander Of the
Grand Commandery of Kentucky Knights
Templar. He is now in business in this
city. At the death OF Judge Rowntree he
left the watch to his grandson, Harry
Ray, and Mr.. Ray is today wearing the
historic timepiece.
Account of Robbery.
Judge Harry GorIn, who now lives at
Glasgow, defended Hunt when he was
placed on trial. Judge Gorin, a number
of years ago. gave most interesting ac-
count of the Mammoth Cave stage rob-
berry and the trial of Hunt. Judge
Gorin's account follows:
identity occurred in our Circuit Court
about two years ago. On September 3. |
1881, two stages, one coming from Nam |
moth Cave to Cave City, and the other |
on its way over to the cave, were met |
by two mounted highwaymen. With
drawn pistols the robbers ordered all pas
sengers out and made them stand in line |
and throw all their money and valuables |
into a pile. After gathering up the plum |
der the bandits made all the male pas |
sengers drink whisky from a bottle and
rode of.
''On one of the stages was a colored
preacher. In the other were Judge R. |
II. Rowntree. from Minnesota; a Mr.. |
Craig from Georgia: a gentleman from
Tennessee, and Judge Rowntree's daugh- |
ter. The passengers were detained some |
time by the robbers, and as the two
villains were not disguised in any way
1t was believed to be an easy task to
identify them in case they were cought
Among the plunder taken was Judge
Rowntree's fine gold watch, which had
attached to it a large gold key with his
name and some further inscriptions upon
it, it being a present to him from Proc
tor Knott; also a diamond ring and a
plain gold one belonging to Miss Rown-
tree.
a description Of the man was pub
lshed and rewards were offered by Judge
Rowntree and Gov Blackburn for their
apprehension and conviction Finally a
man named Hunt was arrested in Ohio
County as one of the thieves He was
brought to Cave City for his preliminary
hearing. Maj. Bolts, Of Glasgow. and my