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Ardmore, I.T. – June 9. Bill Dalton is
dead. He died as he always said he would, with his boots on and a
six-shooter in his hands.
About four weeks ago word was brought
to the marshals that a band of desperadoes had come into the country
near Elk and were making their headquarters with a man named Houston
Wallace.
When the Longview bank robbery occurred
it was learned that the horses ridden by the men were stolen near
Elk; also the last (news) heard of their trail, on their return from
their raid, was that they were going in the direction of this place.
Thursday morning Houston Wallace came
to town accompanied by two women. He had an unusual amount of money
and bought a wagonload of provisions suitable for traveling with a
complete camp outfit. He visited the hardware stores and laid in an
enormous quantity of ammunition.
Deputy Marshal T. Lindsey was
suspicious that something was wrong, as Wallace is a man of small
means. After loading his wagon, Wallace had a large box put on from
the express office. Deputy Lindsey resolved to search the outfit,
and he did so, finding three gallons of whiskey. The large amounts
of ammunition and the various purchases aroused his suspicion and he
resolved to go to Wallace’s home thinking the bank robbers were
there.
The man and the two women were held
under arrest by Commissioner Gibbons on the whiskey charge, while
Deputy Lindsey secured a posse to raid Wallace’s place. They left
Ardmore, riding by a circuitous route, and reaching Wallace’s place
about daylight. The house was quickly surrounded, but a woman had
seen the deputies and gave the alarm.
Dalton rushed to a rear window and
leaped out, but was ordered to halt by Deputy Hart, who commanded
him to stop three times. Dalton refused and pulled his pistol, when
Hart fired striking Dalton on the left side. Dalton fell and expired
in a few moments.
Another of the band was seen at a
window, but during the fight with Dalton he escaped into a thicket
near the house, where pursuit was useless.
There is no possibility of doubt as to
the identity of Dalton, as letters were found in his trunk.
Mrs. Dalton seems very much affected
over the death of her husband, but says she always expected him to
meet his death as he did.
Dalton was married in California. He
leaves a widow with two small girls, one of whom is a cripple.
The officers reached town with the body
of Dalton about 6 o’clock yesterday evening. The streets leading to
the undertaker are thronged with an eager crowd trying to get a
glimpse of the most noted outlaw in this country since the time of
the James boys.
The body will be embalmed to await
officials from Longview who have been wired to come.
A sum of money was found in Dalton’s
trunk, along with a coin sack, such as commonly used by banks. The
officers refused to talk until two others are captured. They are
well known. The marshals expect to effect their capture.
Jennie Dalton, his wife, has
telegraphed friends in San Francisco of his death and has requested
them to arrange for his burial.
ARDMORE, I.T. June 12. Crowds of people
have poured into this city since the killing of the noted outlaw,
Bill Dalton, to see and identify his remains. It is beyond all doubt
the desperado who has been the most famous bandit leader since the
career of the James and Younger boys. The officers and citizens who
came here from Longview declared he was the leader in the Longview
robbery and was the man who presented the letter of introduction to
the cashier.
Mrs. Dalton, wife of Bill Dalton, has
admitted that her late husband was the leader of the Longview bank
robbers. Jim Wallace, who was shot and killed at Longview, is a
brother of Houston Wallace, where Dalton was stopping when killed.
Charles Benjamin Dalton, the oldest of the Dalton boys, arrived here
and identified the remains as those of his brother Bill.
Dublin Progress,
June 5, 1894 |
