Several men stopped the stagecoach carrying passengers between Kentucky's Mammoth Cave and the railroad station in Cave City on September 3, 1880. The seven passengers were made to step out. While the largest bandit asked them to empty their purses into a wheat sack, a small man with irritated and watery eyes searched the passengers for jewelry. Judge R.H. Rountree of Lebanon, Kentucky, a leading political figure, was wearing a gold pocket watch which was engraved: "To Judge Rountree, with best wishes from Gov. J. Proctor Knott." The bandit took the watch and exclaimed, "This is one watch I will be most proud to wear."
When Jesse James was killed by Bob Ford at his St. Joseph, Missouri, home on April 3, 1882, he was wearing the watch inscribed to Judge Rountree.
Trains, Banks, Stagecoaches. . .
The Desparados.
The Victims.
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