Out in the West rode a gang self-possessed

With success in outsmarting the law

By robbing the bank and outflanking the Yank -

Naught but triumph they ever for saw.

Editors Note: This article was written by Donna Harrell for the latest edition of the James-Younger Gang Journal.  To read the entire article join the gang and we will send you the Journal.

This is the story of a bank robbery gone wrong. On April 29, 1872 five men rode into town around 2pm. Three of the men tied their horses in an alleyway near the bank. The other two men stayed outside in the street. There were four townsmen in the bank – cashier R. A. C. Martin, James Garrett, James Page and William. H. Hudson. One of the bandits walked to the townsmen, drew his pistol and announced that they should consider themselves under arrest. The men immediately started yelling “Bank Robbers” and began fighting the bandits. Hudson threw a chair at one of the men. Garrett stuck his hand out to hit the bandit’s gun hand. The pistol went off hitting Garrett in his hand. The result of the townsmen’s attack on the robbers was that Garrett, Page and Hudson were able to escape by jumping out the windows. As the cashier Martin and the bandit in front of him were distracted by the scuffle inside the bank, Martin reached for a gun ………To read the rest of the story, Join the James – Younger Gang.