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OLD WEST ROBBERS <> RAILROAD SERIAL KILLERS
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This robbery was one of many crimes that the railroads face in the early 19th century. Below are some high-lights of some of the more notorious Thieves, Gangs, and Robbers. Reno Gang
members: Frank Reno, William Reno, Simeon Reno, and John Reno were from the small community of Rockford Indiana, which was two miles north of Seymour. This gang was involved in crimes unrelated to the railroad, however, on October 6, 1866 they came up with a new idea--- to rob a train. This crime opened up a new form of robbery for years to come. On that historical night, John and Simeon Reno, along with a man named Frank Sparks, boarded the eastbound Ohio & Mississippi train at the Seymour depot. Once on board, the three masked men made their way to the express car, held a gun on the messenger and stole some $12,000. Afterwards, they pulled the bell rope to signal the engineer to stop the train and jumped off into the darkness when the train slowed, thus recording the first peacetime train robbery. On September 28, 1867 a “copycat” holdup occurred at Seymour when another train was robbed. It was immediately suspected the Reno brothers were involved, however, it was found that Walker Hammond and Michael Colleran robbed the train. This robbery was very similar to the Reno hold-up the previous year; the pair heisted about $8,000. Though Hammond and Colleran were “associates” of the Reno’s they had not been given permission to hold up the train. John Reno tracked them down, beat them, took their loot, and then turned them into the authorities. On
May 22, 1868, the Reno’s struck again in Marshfield, Indiana,
approximately17 miles south of Seymour. After forcing their way
into the Express car, they threw the messenger from the train and
robbed it of some $96,000 in cash and government bonds. Gang members:
Frank Reno, Sim Reno, William Reno, Charlie Anderson, Albert Perkins,
Michael Rogers, Miles Ogle, Frank Sparks, Volney Elliott, John Moore,
Charles Roseberry, Henry Jerrell, and Theodore Clifton split the loot
and went into hiding as Pinkerton agents were on their trail On
July 9, 1868, Sparks, Elliott, Moore, Roseberry, Jerrell, and Clifton,
returned to Jackson County and attempted to rob an O & M train at
the Shields watering station near Brownstown, west of Seymour. Ten
Pinkerton Detectives were waiting for them by hiding in the express
car. After a hail of
gunfire, gang members: Henry
Jerrell, Volney Elliott and John Moore were wounded.
All were able to escape but Elliot. The
James-Younger Gang was credited with many robberies in their time.
Of these, seven were for train robberies:
They were originally formed in 1866, with its leaders of Frank
James, Jesse James, and Cole Younger.
The James gang averaged 12 men.
Most were formerly members of Quantrills Guerillas
“Raiders.” It is
believed that at least 41 men rode as outlaws with the Jameses and
Youngers during their notorious history.
Train
robberies: Adair County, Iowa - Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific train, July 21, 1873 Train overturned killing engineer John Rafferty, fireman Dennis Foley injured. $3000 taken Gad's Hill, Missouri - train, February 1874, $2000 to $3000 taken Muncie, Kansas - train, December 8, 1874, $30,000 taken. Bud McDaniels arrested--killed after escaping Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri - train, July 7, 1876, Missouri Pacific Railroad train, over $15,000 taken Glendale, Missouri – train, October 8, 1879, Chicago and Alton Railroad, $40,000 taken Winston, Missouri – train, July 15, 1981, Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad,$2000 taken Blue Cut, Missouri - train, September 7, 1881, Chicago and Alton Railroad, $15,000 taken Members who were involved in the Younger Gang train robberies: Thomas Cole Younger, born January 15, 1844 in Missouri -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 -Gad’s Hill, Missouri, train robbery, 1874 -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876 Jim HardinYounger, born January 15, 1848 in Missouri -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 Robert Ewing Younger, born December 1853 in Missouri -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876
John Harrison Younger, born in 1851 in Missouri -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873
Alexander Franklin “Frank” James, born January 10, 1843 in Missouri -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 -Gad’s Hill, Missouri, train robbery, 1874 -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 Jesse Woodson James, born September 27, 1847 -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 -Gad’s Hill, Missouri, train robbery, 1874 -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 -Winston, train robbery, 1881 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 Arthur C. McCoy, born 1825 in Ireland, St. Louis -Adair, Iowa, train robbery, 1873 -Gad’s Hill, Missouri, train robbery, 1874 James Andrew “Dick” Liddil, born September 15, 1852 in Jackson County, Missouri -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 -Winston, train robbery, 1881 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 Clelland B. “Clell” Miller, born September 1850 in Clay County, Missouri -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876 Samuel Wells, alias Charlie Pitts-Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876
William Stiles, alias Bill Chadwell from Minnesota -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876 Clarence Browler Hite, born 1862 in Logan County, Kentucky -Winston, train robbery, 1881 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 Robert Woodson Hite, born 1850 in Logan County, Kentucky -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 -Winston, train robbery, 1881 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 Daniel Tucker Bassham from Jackson County, Missouri -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 Edward T. Miller, born 1856 in Clay County, Kentucky -Muncie, Kansas, train robbery, 1874 -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881
Hobbs Kerry, -Otterville or Rocky Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1876 Charles Wilson Ford, born July 9, 1857 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881
Bill Ryan, alias Tom Hill, born 1851, Irish -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 Jim Cummins, -Muncie, Kansas, train robbery, 1874 -Glendale, Missouri, train robbery, 1879 -Winston, train robbery, 1881 -Blue Cut, Missouri, train robbery, 1881 -Edwin/Edward Daniels, a Pinkerton Agent, who was shot and killed trying to apprehend the Youngers -Captain Louis J. Lull, a Pinkerton Agent from Chicago, who was shot and killed trying to apprehend the Youngers -Jack Ladd, believed to be a Pinkerton spy, commonly believed to be a revenge killing for the January Pinkerton bombing on the James farm -John Rafferty, an engineer at the Adair robbery, was crushed as the engine overturned -William Westfall, conductor on a train at Winston, Missouri, reportedly the conductor who brought the Pinkertons to James Farm January 25, 1875 -John W. Whicher, a Pinkerton Detective, killed in 1874
As Central Pacific Train number one, “The Atlantic Express”, eased into the town of Verdi after leaving Oakland, CA on November 5, 1870, five men wearing mask boarded the train heavily armed. They uncoupled the engine, tender, and express car from the rest of the train and forced the engineer to continue to the Lawton Springs Gravel Quarry several miles out of town. This gang escaped on horseback with $41,000 in bags containing $20 gold pieces. Within four days of the holdup, the entire gang had been arrested and $39,750 of the gold was recovered. Gang members A.J. “Gentleman Jack” Davis (leader) – was very professional in demeanor. He was known to be very gentle and intelligent. Arrested and received 10 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison for his part in the Central Pacific Train robbery. E.B. Parsons – arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison John Squires – arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison Tilton Cockerill– arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison R.A. Jones– arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison James Gilchrist– arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison Sol Jones – did not take part in the actual robbery. He took care of having the horses ready for their escape. Arrested and received 21 years on the rock piles of the Nevada State Prison The Dalton GangOn February 6, 1891, Southern Pacific southbound train #17 arrived at the Alila station in California’s San Joaquin Valley. As it later departed, the fireman observed a man running towards the train as two masked came towards him from the top of the wood tender. One of the masked men was carrying a Remington Frontier .44 and was missing two fingers. He directed the engineer to continue with his train until told to stop some 17 miles later. This victory was short lived when it was learned that the brakeman had died from a bullet wound to his stomach. Posses were organized in Tulare and Visalia with over 150 men under the guidance of Sheriff Vern Borgwaldt of Kern County and Sheriff John Kay of Tulare County. Southern Pacific Special Agent B.F. Whitmer and Wells Fargo detectives were also called to the scene to investigate the robbery. Suspicion
fell on the Dalton Brothers. Robert
and Emmett Dalton were recently seen heavily armed around William
Dalton’s ranch and who fit the description of the robbers.
P.J. Conway, a saloon operator, recognized Gratton Dalton from
a reward flier and arrested him while in the saloon.
Gratton was immediately taken to the county jail in Vasalia and
questioned by detective Smith of the Southern Pacific Railroad,
detective Hume of Wells Fargo, and Sheriff Kay.
With little evidence, they were forced to release him.
Several days later armed with more evidence against him,
Southern Pacific Detective Hickey rearrested Gratton. A week later, Robert and Emmet Dalton were indicted by the Tulare County grand jury for train robbery and William was indicted for harboring known criminals. The Gang’s next robbery was the Katy train at Leliaetta, near Wagoner I.T. With Robert and Emmett, were Bitter Creek Newcomb, Bill Powers, Dick Broadwell, Charlie Pierce, and Bill Doolin. On the night of September 15, 1891 they stopped and boarded the train, and robbed the express car of $2500. At
the end of May in 1892, the three Dalton boys teamed up with Pierce,
Newcomb, Powers, Broadwell, and Doolin for another train holdup.
On June 1, 1892 at the train station at Red Rock, they
positioned themselves and awaited the approaching train.
When the train entered the station the train coaches were dark,
the gang sensing something was wrong allowed it to leave the
station unmolested. Suddenly
a second train appeared and as it stopped at the station the gang
boarded it and proceeded to rob it.
As it turned out the gang was correct in their suspicion, the
first train was full of armed guards protecting $75,000 of the Sac and
Fox annuity. Unfortunately
the second train had little of value on it and the gang only made off
with $50. Gang Members
involved in Train Robberies Emmett Dalton
road in several posses led by his brothers who were deputy marshals
before becoming outlaws. November
1892, he pleads guilty to second-degree murder and is sentenced to
life in prison. -Alila, CA, Southern Pacific train robbery, February 6, 1891 -Wharton, O.T., train robbery, May 1891 -Leliaetta, Indian Territory Near Wagoner, KATY train robbery, September 15, 1891 -Red Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892, -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Robert Dalton
was at a time a deputy marshal for the federal court in Kansas Wichita
and Head of the Osage Police before becoming an outlaw.
Killed in Coffeyville bank robbery shoot out on October 5,
1892. -Alila, CA, Southern Pacific train robbery, February 6, 1891 -Wharton, O.T., train robbery, May 1891 -Leliaetta, Indian Territory Near Wagoner, KATY train robbery, September 15, 1891 -Red Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892, -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Gratton Dalton
was at a time a deputy marshal for the Muskogee court before becoming
an outlaw. Killed in
Coffeyville bank robbery shoot out on October 5, 1892. -Alila, CA, Southern Pacific train robbery, February 6, 1891 -Red Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892 -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Bill Dalton -Alila, CA, Southern Pacific train robbery, February 6, 1891 -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Charlie Pierce -Leliaetta, Indian Territory Near Wagoner, KATY train robbery, September 15, 1891 -Red Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892 -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 George Newcomb
aka Bitter Creek Newcomb, -Wharton, O.T., train robbery, May 1891 -Leliaetta, Indian Territory Near Wagoner, KATY train robbery, September 15, 1891 -Red Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892,
-Adair, Indian Territory,
train robbery, July 14, 1892 Charlie Bryant aka Black-Faced Charlie Shortly after the
Adair robbery, Deputy Marshal Ed Short in Hennessey, O.T, arrested
Bryant. While being
transported by train to the federal jail in Wichita, KS, Bryant
attempted to escape by securing a pistol.
He became involved in a shootout with Deputy Short with both
Bryant and Short shooting and killing each other.. -Wharton, O.T., train robbery, May 1891
Richard “Dick” Broadwell, aka Texas Jack aka John Moore Killed in
Coffeyville bank robbery shoot out on October 5, 1892.
-Red
Rock, train robbery, June 1, 1892
-Adair, Indian
Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Bill Powers Killed in
Coffeyville bank robbery shoot out on October 5, 1892.
-Red Rock, train robbery,
June 1, 1892 -Adair, Indian Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 Bill Doolin
-Red Rock, train robbery,
June 1, 1892
-Adair, Indian
Territory, train robbery, July 14, 1892 The killing of members of the gang in Coffeyville did not put an end to the gang. Bill Doolin, Bitter Creek Newcomb, and Charlie Pierce joined up with Bill Dalton as the infamous Doolin-Dalton Gang.
Doolin – Dalton
Gang Gang members involved in train robberiesBill Doolin Killed on August 24, 1896 by Deputy Marshall Heck Thomas’s Posse at Lawson, O.T. -Cimarron, KS, Santa Fe train robbery, June 11, 1893, $1000
Bill Dalton Killed on June 8, 1894 by Deputy Lawson Hart near Ardmore, I.T. George “Bitter Creek” Newcomb – -Dover, O.T., Rock Island train robbery, April 3, 1895, $1437.50 -Chaney, KS, DM&A train robbery, October 12, 1892, $1,500 -Cimarron, KS, Santa Fe train robbery, June 11, 1893, $1000 Dan “Dynamite Dick” CliftonKilled
on November 7, 1897 by deputies near Cheetoah.
-Cimarron, KS, Santa Fe train robbery, June 11, 1893, $1000
George “Red Buck” Weightman Killed on March 4, 1896 by deputy marshals near Arapaho, O.T. Charley Pierce -Chaney, KS, DM&A train robbery, October 12, 1892, $1,500 - Dover, O.T., Rock Island train robbery, April 3, 1895, $1437.50 Ole Yantis Marshals shot and killed Yantis on November 30, 1892
Bill Blake aka Tulsa Jack Blake
-Cimarron, KS, Santa Fe train robbery, June 11, 1893, $1000
-Dover, O.T., Rock Island train robbery, April 3, 1895, $1437.50 Little
Bill Raidler -Dover, O.T., Rock Island train robbery, April 3, 1895, $1437.50
Sontag and Evans Train Robbers: (Known for the
exploits in blowing up and looting express cars.) Members: John Sontag – was a former brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Cailifornia and received a crushed ankle when caught between two cars. Born in Minnesota in the early 1960’s as John Constant and later taking the last name of his stepfather. George Sontag – was born during the 1860’s in Minnesota as George Constant and later taking the last name of his stepfather. Evans and John Sontag used dynamite to blow open the express car. They later shot Brakeman Henry Grabert by shotgun blast as he walked towards the front of the train. Deputy Sheriff Ed Bentley from Modesto who was on the train traveling for vacation was with Grabert and was shot in the arm. -Goshen, CA, Southern Pacific Passenger Train No. 19, January 24, 1890, $20,000 Dynamite was again used to gain access into the express car. Evans and John Sontag killed a hobo who happened to be in the wrong area at the wrong time as he was getting off the train during the robbery. Dynamite was used to blow the door on the express car; however, the express messengers armed themselves and shouted that they would kill anyone who tried to enter. Evans and John Sontag lit another stick of dynamite and threw it in the express car but it was a dud. Southern Pacific Detectives Len Harris and J. Lawson who were passengers on the train and rushed to the front of the train. In an exchange of gunfire, Detective Harris was seriously wounded. The bandits escaped without any goods. -Chicago, Western Union Station, train robbery, November 5, 1891, $4,800 George Sontag joined his brother John and Chris Evans to pull of this robbery. Butch
Cassidy’s Wild Bunch Members were
inter-related with members of the Ketchum Gang. Gang members
involved in train robberies Robert Leroy
Parker (Butch Cassidy) – Born in 1866 in Beaver, UT Harry Longbaugh
(Sundance Kid) – Born in 1867 in Plainfield, NJ .
Ben Kilpatrick
(Tall Texan) – Born in 1874 in Coleman County, TX William Carver
(News Carver) – Born in 1868 in Coryell County, TX Harvey Logan (Kid Curry) Arrested on
December 13, 1901 in Knoxville, Tennessee after wounding to police
officers during his arrest. He
later was convicted of passing bank notes from a Great Northern Train
robbery and sentenced to 20 years.
He escaped from jail and was wounded by the posse chasing him.
When he realized he could not escape the grasp of the posse,
Logan committed suicide. George Curry
(Big nose or Flat nose) – Born in 1864 in Prince Edward Island, Elzy Lay –
Born in 1868 in Mount Pleasant, OH Laura Bullion
– Born in 1876 in Knickerbocker near Mertzon, TX Tom Ketchum
(Black Jack) –Born in 1863 in San Saba County, TX He was hanged
in 1901 for train robbery. Sam Ketchum ,
Born in 1854 in Caldwell County TX.
Died of blood poisoning resulting from gunshot wound in Santa
Fe, New Mexico on July 24, 2899.
The Wild Bunch, 1900, Photo by John Swartz, 705 ½ Main Street, Ft. WorthLeft
to right: Standing, Bill Carver and Harvey Logan “Kid Curry” Seated:
Harry Longbough “the Sundance Kid”, Ben Kilpatrick “the Tall
Texan” Robert
Leroy Parker “Butch Cassidy” The
following robberies may show different dates of the robberies
depending on the sources, and those involved in the robberies is
sometimes at best an intelligent guess by those reporting.
-Grand Junction, Colorado, Denver & Rio Grande, November 3,
1887, $150.00
-Malta, Montana, Great Northern #23, November 29, 1892, $19.20 As passengers boarded the Great Northern #23, Bill Madden, Harry Bass and Sundance joined making their way to the front of the train. After it departed the station the trio put on masked and ordered the engineer to stop a mile down the tracks near where a fire had been started. Two of the robbers went to the mail car and ordered the clerk to open the door. The clerk advised that he had the combination for one of the safes but not the other. This safe was opened and the second safe, they would have stolen more then $25,000. Madden and Bass were soon after arrested in a local Saloon and received long sentences in the state penitentiary. Sundance and Black were arrested as they were boarding another train. Black was released and Sundance escaped before being formally charged.
-Southern Pacific Train, Lozier, Texas, Southern Pacific
westbound #20, May 14, 1897, $42,000 Will Carver and Tom Ketchum climbed into the engine and ordered the engineer to stop the train at the next siding. They used dynamite to open the safe from the express car and escaped with about $42,000.
-Folsom, New Mexico, Colorado & Southern Express, September
3, 1898, $3,500 Will Carver, Ben Kilpatrick, Black Jack Ketchum and his brother Sam involved in the robbery. They again used dynamite to blow open the safe and make their escape with about $3500 cash and some jewelry.
-Stein’s Pass, New Mexico, Southern Pacific Train, December
9, 1897 Will Carver, Black Jack Ketchum and his brother Sam, along with three others tried to rob the train as is stopped at Stein’s Pass. One of the robbers was killed in a gun battle with the train crew. The rest of the outlaws left without obtaining any of the money from the express car.
-Humboldt, Nevada, Southern Pacific Passenger train #1, July
14, 1998, $450.00 As the train pulled out of Humboldt House two men who were already on board and were armed instructed the engineer to stop about a mile down the tracks where a third man was waiting with horses. The bandits, believed to be Sundance Kid, Harvey Logan, and George “Flat nose” Currie used dynamite to scare the messenger to open the safe. They got away with some jewelry and about $450.00 in cash. Carver,
Curry, Cassidy and Longbaugh stopped the Union Pacific Flyer after
barricading a trestle near Wilcox.
The robbers forced the train to proceed several miles before
dynamiting the express car. The
messenger was injured and was not able to open the safe.
The robbers used dynamite to blow open the safe and then stole
the contents of $30,000. A
posse pursued the robbers who had split up in different directions.
Carver was chased and later killed by a posse on April 1, 1901.
Another part of the posse caught up with the robbers near
Teapot Creek. During the
ensuing gun battle Converse County Sheriff Joe Hazen was shot and
killed. Others
believed involved in this robbery were William Cruzan, Bill Jones,
Elzy Lay and O.C. Hanks. -Folsom, New Mexico, Colorado & Southern Flyer, July 11, 1899, $50,000 Will
Carver, Sam Ketchum and Elzy Lay robbed a train and made off with
$50,00. The Posse led by
Sheriff Edward Farr from Huerfano County located the robbers near
Cimarron, New Mexico. During
the ensuing shootout, Sheriff Farr was shot and killed and Ketchum and
Lay being seriously wounded. Ketchum
was later arrested and died while incarcerated in Santa Fe, New
Mexico. Lay was arrested
on August 16, 1899 by Eddy County Sheriff M.C. Steward and sentenced
to life imprisonment for killing Farr. -Tipton,
Wyoming, Union Pacific No. 3, August 29, 1900, $50,000 The same modus operandi was used to rob the Union Pacific No.3 train. As Union Pacific #3 departed Tipton, Wyoming an armed and masked man boarded the engine and ordered the train stopped near a fire burning on the tracks. Three other masked men soon joined and ordered the engineer to uncouple the mail and express cars from the rest of the train. The men used three sticks of dynamite to blow open the safe and steal its’ contents before making the get away on horseback. A 25-man posse under the direction of U.S. Marshall Hadsell and Sheriff Swanson searched for the robbers to no avail. Pinkerton Agents investigated this case and later identified three of the masked men as Harvey Logan, Ben Kilpatrick, and William Cruzen.
-Wagner, Montana, Great Northern Flyer, July 3, 1901, $40,000 It is believed a lone man boarded the train as other passengers were boarding. He made his way to the engine and ordered the engineer to separate the engine and express car from the passengers. They used dynamite to blow the safe and made their escape with about $40,000. During the robbery, two brakemen were shot, one of them later died. Two men on board as stow a ways armed with guns forced a passenger to the engine where they ordered the engineer to stop the train. The armed men threatened the messenger with use of dynamite, which caused him to open the door. Once inside, the armed men were able to open the small safe and take jewelry and about $500 in cash. Before being able to open the large safe, which contained about $90,000, the robbers were scared off. These two robbers were believed to be Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
-Sanderson, Texas,
Southern Pacific train, March 12, 1912, $37.00 Ben Kilpatrick and Ole Hobeck boarded the Southern Pacific Train and while they were robbing it, the messenger clerk stabbed Kilpatrick to death and Hobeck was shot dead. Their prize would have been a grand total of $37.00 if they had been successful.
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Serial killers on the Railroads Francisco del Junco
Del
Junco confessed to killing four women and dumping their bodies along the
railroad tracks in Miami, FL between 1995 and 1996.
All four women were bludgeoned to death and set on fire. Robert Joseph Silveria, Jr., Aka “Sidetrack”
Believed to be a member of the FTRA (Freight Train Riders of America) Death Squad and may be responsible for over 100 deaths. Angel Maturino Resendez, AKA: Rafeal Ramirez or The Railroad Killer.
Caught in 1999, Resendez killed 9 people. Tracked down and arrested by Texas Ranger Drew Carter, Angel M. Resendez surrendered himself to Ranger Carter on the US/Mexico border in El Paso, TX. Resendez was executed in Huntsville, TX in July of 2006 after being found guilty and sentenced to death. |
