CRAZY SNAKE AND CO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 127, 26 June 1909, Page 4

CRAZY SNAKE AND CO.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT SOME DESPERATE OUTLAWS.

Oklahoma is afraid of losing its rcpu- '■ tatiou for respectability, for a real live outlaw has been giving the district tlfc sort of advertisement it doesn't want. "Crazy Snake," the chief of the Creek Indian*,, went on the warpath some time ago. Whether he is really crazy or wnelker it is just a,ma-.iner of speaking, report says not, but his followers are not real Kcd Indians, but mostly halfbreeds and cattle-thieves. The Sheriff and a body of men went) in pursuit. They caught the- outlaw s son and suspended him from a tree by a rope, while random shots were fired at him with the object of extracting information as to his lather's whereabouts. It does not appear that he was hit, but he was nearly strangled before they cut him down. They managed to squeeze some information out of him, which enabled the Sheriff to put bloodhounds on the trail of the outlaw. The hounds led the pursuers to the mountains, where it was found that "Crazy Snake's" followers' had scattered, and he himself had taken refuge in a cave. Arrangements were promptly made to smoke him out. Seeing that the game was up, he offered to surrender if they promised he should have a fair trial and not be hanged on the spot. This was guaranteed, and "Crazy Snake," badly wounded, was safely kicked up in Muskogee Gaol. Another outlaw—Salomone, a Sicilian —took to brigandage because he _ said he wanted to live up to his reputation. Many years' ago he was condemned, on doubtful evidence, to penal servitude for life for brigandage; but his conduct in prison was so very good that at the end of ten years he was set free. He set to work to obtain a new investigation of his case in order that his character might be cleared. He failed, i however, and then he resolved to reap : the benefit of his reputation and become . a brigand in earnest. He began by mur- . tiering the mayor of his native town, ; who had not only opposed his demand • for a fresh trial, "but had married Salo- .' mone's fiancee during his imprisonment.

After thus inaugurating his now career lie fled to the hills, and for a whole year he plundered and robbed to his heart's content. So far he had succeeded in evading the police, but there came an unlucky day when they caught him, and he again saw the inside of a prison. He was tried on a charge of murder, but the jury came to the conclusion that he had acted under provocation, and he was acquitted. He is still to prove himself innocent of the original charge. The story of "Mick" Walsh, the "king" of the Wyoming desperadoes, i 3 really romantic.

At one time lie occupied a good position in San Francisco, but as the result of some discreditable escapade he was forced to leave the city by stealth and disappear. He was next heard of as working. 031 a Wyoming ranch. He was a handsome, dare-devil fellow, and the ranchman's daughter fell in love with him and Walsh with her. : When this came to the ears of the 'ranchman he was furious. He con)pel]"d the girl to go into'a convent, and banished WaMsh from the house. Walsh swore revenge. He gathered round hiin a band of the most notorious desperadoes in the country, and with them behind him lie broke into the convent and res'cucd his sweetheart. The abduction was carried out in a terrible storm of wind and rain, and, as a result of the drenching, the girl contracted pneumonia and died. Walsh thereafter became a perfect fiend, sparing nobody. He made his headquarters in a place called "Hole-in-the-Wn.11," and enormous prices were put on his head by various persons whom lie had despoiled of thousands of pounds'. For five years he kept the police at bay, and his death, recently announced, as the result of a shooting affray, is a relief to the entire State. Pearson's Weekly.