The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-28
BANDIT
CHASED BY NATION
STILL FREE MAN
Bill Carlisle, Single Handed, Is
Man Who Robbed Train at
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Are
Pleading His Cause.

r1hEn ENNE, Wye, Nov. 20. (Spl)-
~ nlnlon people along the line OF the
Union Pacific railroad and residents OF
the vast territory II serves will watch
WIN interest the pursuit now being
made by a troop Of United States cav
airy, by sheriffs' posses and railroad
special agents TO capture William Car
use who on the night Of November IS
geles limited, between Medicine Bow
and Rock River, Wyo, after he mad
gained entrance to the sleepers through
a baggage car.
"Bill' Carlisle is the man who board
ca an overland limited train In April,
1915, as 1t was pulling out Of Cey-
enne and, single handed, robbed a score
OF passengers and relieved the conduc-
tor OF mis- watch. In reporting their YER
sions Of that daring transaction the
passengers, even the train crew, de-
clared that Carlisle, known then simply
as the swell dressed young man with
the white mask" was a paragon Of
gentility.
Gentle Bandit.
He boarded the train near the Borie
cutoff Just west Of Cheyenne, and con
ceaied himself for a while on the plat.
form of the observation coach, favored
by an especially dark night. After the
tram got In full motion up the Sherman
nil grade, Carlisle impressed the flag
nan into his service and ordered him to
pass the hat. Passengers testified that
he was almost apologize In his request
for valuables, but he kept an ugly re-
Voiver trained up and down the aisle
Of the Pullmans.
In a number OF instances he returned
watches and money when pleading
passengers assured him that he would
be doing them a gross injustice by TAX
ing their all. One elderly woman occu-
pying a lower section told him that, al.
though she could not see his face, he
reminded her In his movements of a
son in Mexico, Carlisle removed a plati-
mum Swiss watch. from the hat, handed
1t to her, and told her to send It to her
son as a gift from William Carlisle"
Repeats Train Robbery.
Within two weeks Carlisle repeated
the performance twice. Under the laws
Of wyoming, train robbery is a capital
for the man who had given his name as
William Carlisle" The search event
ually led to Denver, where the propri-
etress Of an apartment house in the
fashionable district OF the city tipped"
the police that she had a tenant who
was simply glutted with money and
jewelry n who loved music passion
dtely.
The police made no immediate arrest,
but they kept the man under surveil-
lance ana a detective, asking him point
blank what his name was, was told that
he was addressing william Carlisle"
Still no arrest was made, until It was
discovered that Carlisle was rounding
up nowsboys OF the streets and taking
them to the movies and to costly din
ners, The tenants at the apartment
found Carlisle a most congenial person
and he received several social atten-
tions from music lovers residing under
the same roof. After allowing Carlisle
Il weeks enjoyment of his ~lll-gotten
gains the police arrested him and he
admitted that he was the man wanted
and for whom the governor Of Wyo-
ming had offered SIS, 900 reward.
When told that he might Swing"
for the robberies he smiled and said
that IL was a matter OF no concern to
him because he had merely INDUCED a
"whim." He made an open confession
in court at Cheyenne and was given a
life sentence. Within a few months his
exemplary conduct recommended itself
to the penitentlary authorities at Rawl-
ms and he was recommended for a com-
mutation, which was later granted.
Carlisle escaped from the penitentiary
by being nailed up In a shirt box, which
was carried outside the walls. The re-
cent train robbery bears every earmark
Of his splendid nerve.