On March 11, 1881, US. Army Engineer Paymaster Alexander G. Smith pick up the government payroll as usual at the Florence, Alabama, bank and started back to their camp on Bluewater Creek some 15 miles up the canal from Florence. Following the canal tow-path, he was approached by three men from Florence. These men were later identifled as being Jesse James, who had been living in Nashvillle as John Davis Howard, Frank James, also living in Nachville under the name of Ben Woodson, and "Wild Bill" Ryan, who used the alias of Tom Hill. Drawing their guns, the party relieved Smith of his saddle bags, his personal watch, and $221 from his purse. The saddle bag contained $500 in gold, $4,500 in $50 bills, $20 bills, and smaller currency. They tied Smith and forced him to accompany them until midnight, at which time they returned his watch, overcoat, and $21 cash and then released him.
On March 26, Bill Ryan stopped in the White's Creek Store and Saloon near Nashville to take shelter from a heavy storm. He became drunk; and disorderly and soon was arrested and taken to the Nashville jail. When Jesse and Frank learned of Ryan's arrest, and fearing what he might tell authorities, Jesse left Nashville with his family for KansasCity, and Frank took his family to Virginia. Twelve months later, Jesse James was killed in St. Joseph. The following October, Frank James surrendered to Missouri Governor Tom Crittenden. On April 17, 1884, Frank was brought to Huntsville, Alabama, to stand trial for the Muscle Shoals paymaster robbery. Represented by four of the South's best attomeys -- Pope Walker, Richard Walker, R.S. Sloan, and James Newman -- Frank was found not guilty, although seven of the twenty witnesses had positively identified him as being one of the three robbers.
Trains, Banks, Stagecoaches. . .
The Desparados.
The Victims.
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