Historic Newspapers: Search Results

THE DAILY COMMONWEALTH, Topeka, Kansas, November 25, 1883

* Gage Station train robbery
* Silver City, New Mexico
* Harvey Whitehall

The front page has an article headed: "Train Robbery on the Southern Pacific" (see images) First report coverage on the Gage Station train robbery near Silver City, New Mexico.
Complete with 8 pages, light toning at the margins, generally very nice.

wikipedia notes: On November 24, 1883, a train robbery took place at a way station called Gage, near…

GREENSBORO PATRIOT, North Carolina, July 10, 1901 

* The Wild Bunch "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
* Wagner,Wyoming - Union Pacific Railroad train robbery 

The top of page 11 has a very fine account of the last train robbery by members of the "Wild Bunch".
This robbery of the Great Northern train happened near Wagner, Montana, but Kid Curry and other members of the Wild Bunch. The article provides much detail and takes over half a column.
Twelve pages, cleanly cut at the spine,…

NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 17, 1874  

* Arkansas stagecoach robbery - holdup
* Jesse James & Younger gang ? - outlaws

The front page includes: "Stage Robbery by Masked Highwaymen" being a brief report from Little Rock, Arkansas. Through research, this particular robbery may have been one of the very first stagecoach holdups by the famous Jesse James-Young Gang. 
Also on the front page: "The Coal Miners - Meeting in Wilkes Barre--The Delegates Adhere to the Demand for an Advance" reporting on…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Sept. 29, 1877 

* Union Pacific Big Springs robbery
* Old West outlaw - train robber Sam Bass

The front page has over a full column taken up with reports of the Big Springs train robbery of the Union Pacific Railroad, with heads including: "Daring Detectives" "How the Western Train Robbers Were Hunted Down" "The Leader Identified in Spite of His Mask" "A Visit to the Camp of the Sleeping Bandits". This was the robbery that helped make famed outlaw Sam Bass…

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 2, 1891  

* Cotopaxi train robbery - Colorado
* Denver & Rio Grande railroad
* Royal Gorge - Arkansas River

The front page has a half column report headed: "DARING TRAIN ROBBERS" "Seven Masked Men Stop an Express and Overpower the Messenger" "They Get Off With $3,600" "The Fight Was Likely While It Lasted, and a Posse with Bloodhounds Is After the Thieves with Orders to Take Them Dead or Alive". The report offers much detail.
The…

BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, July 19, 1881 

* Outlaw Jesse James-Younger gang
* Rock Island railroad train robbery
* Winston, Daviess County, Missouri

Page 2 begins with a quite lengthy account of what was the infamous Rock Island Railroad robbery by the James Gang.
It is headed: "The Great Train Robbery" and begins: "Charles Murray...was the messenger of the U.S. Express Company on the train robbed by the James gang...He gave a correspondent the following account of the affair so far…

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE, Nebraska, Sept. 26, 1893  The ftpg. has a nice, full column report on a train robbery headed at the top: "ON THE WRONG TRAIN" "Express Robbers in Missouri Who Didn't Know It Was Loaded" "Successful Trick of the Authorities" "Sent Out a Dummy Train in Charge of Well Armed Officers" "Desperate Battle Waged in the Dark" '"Bandits Refused to Surrender & Fought Stubbornly to the Death" "Two of Them Killed in the Fight" and a bit more, with several subheads. The article carries…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Aug. 17, 1885 

* Old West stage coach robbery
* University of Notre Dame

The ftpg. has some interesting articles including; "Battling With A Burglar" "Midnight Encounter with a Murderous Negro at Texarkana" "Slain by a Saloon-Keeper--Result of a Drunken Spree...".  "Daring Stage Robbery which is from Phoenix which reads like a classic Wild West holdup, including: "...stopped by two men with shotguns & Wells, Fargo's & co.'s box demanded...".
Page 3 has a nice…

THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 15, 1871

* Ku Klux Klan - KKK
* Missouri train robbery

Page 5 has: "The KuKlux" "Arrest of a Gang with their Disguises in North Carolina..."

Also: "An Express Robbery" "How it Was Done..."

Page 3 has: "Base-Ball--Athletic vs. Atlantic'

This issue contains other news of the day. It is complete in 8 pages, and has two archival mends in unrelated areas. It is in nice condition.

NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Sept. 26, 1893 

* Old west style train robbery

The front page has over a column of text headed; "TRAIN ROBBERS TRAPPED" "Police Filled The Cars" 'Two of the Outlaws Killed and Four Captured" "A Bandit Betrays His Fellows" and more. Actually a great report as it reads like a classic train robbery from the Wild West, the text beginning: "The Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs road foiled an attempt to-day to rob one of the passenger trains, killed tow of the bandits…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Oct. 2, 1875  Page 3 has most of a column taken up with: "Were They The James Boys? "Two Men Stop a Texas Express Wagon & Rob It of a Large Amount of Money". The article is very detailed and is a terrific account of a stage coach robbery (see), but this robbery was apparently not the work of Jesse & Frank James.
Twelve pages, nice condition.

NEW YORK TIMES, March 21, 1874  

* California outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez

Page 4 has over half a column taken up with: "California Bandits" "Two Men Capture A Regular Station, Receive & Plunder the Stage, and Corral the Passengers".
The article begins: "... gives the subjoined account of the recent robbery of a stage by the notorious Vasquez and one other man..." with considerable detail on the robbery of a stagecoach.
Tiburcio Vasquez was one of the more infamous outlaws of Southern…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 4, 1883  Likely due to its location on the edge of the Western frontier, this newspaper typically contained a wealth sensational crime reports and events from the West, much more than any found in eastern newspapers. Page 6 has: "Reported Train Robbery In Illinois" provides some details, including: "...a most  daring robbery took place...four men...with drawn revolvers, ordered the passengers to hand out their money & valuables..." with more (see).
Twenty pages,…

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1893  The front page has two-thirds of a column headed: "TRAIN ROBBERS SHOT" "They Held Up a rain Full of Armed Detectives" "Two Killed Three Captured" "The Train Was A Dummy Sent Out in Expectation of an Attempt at Robbery--All of the Rob beers Residents of St. Joseph, Mo."
The article is quite detailed and shown in the photos. A nice report of a classic, Old West train robbery.

WORCESTER EVENING GAZETTE, November 18, 1874

* Train robbery
* Great Western railway
* Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The front page have one column headings: "Daring Train Robbery" "The Baggageman and Expressman Bound and Gagged by Masked Men" See images for text here.
Other news of the day with several interesting advertisements throughout. Larger than normal issue measures 26 x 20 inches, complete in 4 pages, some spine wear, otherwise nice condition.

EVANSVILLE DAILY JOURNAL, Indiana, February 16, 1874

* Quincy, Illinois bank robbery

This uncommon title has news of the day with several interesting advertisements.
The front page has one column headings: "Quincy, Ill." "The Heavy Quincy, Ill., Bank Robbery--Over a Quarter Million Dollars Stolen" See image for brief text here.
Complete in 8 pages, irregular along the spine, otherwise nice.

THE CLEVELAND LEADER, Ohio, August 14 , 1878

* Winthrop Junction, Missouri
* Atchison KS Kansas
* Train holdup robbery

This uncommon 8 page issue has news of the with several interesting advertisements throughout.
The front page has one column headings: "A Cool Train Robbery Near Atchison, Kansas" "A Surprise Party" "A Train Coolly Captured by Robbers and $5,100 Made Off With" See image for text here.
Complete, minor margin wear, otherwise in good condition.

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Detroit, Michigan, November 15, 1883

* Old West train robbery

Page 2 has one column headings that include: "Train Robbery",
"Desperadoes Remove a Rail on the Mexican National Road and Derail a Train", "The Wreck Immediately Surrounded By Forty Masked Men" and more. See photos for interesting report here. Other news of the day. Light browning with some margin wear and tears, should be handled with care.

WELLSVILLE DAILY REPORTER, New York, July 15, 1902 

* Marshall Pass, Colorado train robbery 
* Narrow Gauge Railroad 
* Wild Bunch ? 

This 4 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "MASKED MEN ROB TRAIN", "At Chester, Colo., 250 Miles West of Denver", "Blew Open Two Express Safes" and more. See photos for 1st report coverage on the Marshall Pass train robbery near Sargents, Colorado. Remnants of the Wild Bunch gang may have been responsible here.

Other news and …

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, June 8, 1882

* Brookfield, Missouri
* Bank robbery - outlaws

The front page has an article headed: "Bank Robbers Abroad" "The Town of Brookfield Startled by a Visit from Desperadoes" and more. Detailed account during the heyday of outlaws and soon after the killing of Jesse James. Nice to have in a Missouri title.
Other news and advertisements of the day. Complete in 12 pages, a little margin wear, more so along the spine, otherwise good.

CLEVELAND DAILY HERALD, Cleveland, Ohio, May 12, 1876

* Texas highwaymen
* Stage coach robberies

This uncommon 8 page issue has news of the day with several interesting advertisements throughout.
The front page has one column headings: "Stages Robbed" "Two Stage Coaches in Texas Stopped by Highwaymen and Robbed of Money and Mails" See image for text here.
Complete in nice condition.

THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER, Wheeling, West Virginia, May 15, 1889

* Cedar Springs, Arizona - ghost town
* Outlaws vs. Army paymaster Whamat

The front page has one column headlines that include: "A FIGHT WITH BANDITS", "Army Paymaster and his Guard Attacked by Highwaymen", "Who Secure Over $29,000" and more. 1st report coverage on the robbery of gold by outlaws at Cedar Springs, Arizona.

Other news and advertisements of the day. Complete in 4 pages, nice condition.

THE DILLON TRIBUNE, Beaverhead County, M.T. (Montana Territory), July 30, 1881  

* Very rare publication
* Wild Old West era

A quite rare newspaper from the Territory of Montana, it not becoming a state until 1889. Thisis the volume 1, number 24 issue.
Dillon was founded in the Beaverhead Valley as a railroad town in 1880 by Union Pacific Railroad President Sidney Dillon. The town's location was selected by the railroad because of its proximity to gold mines in the area.
The front…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, January 24, 1881  The front page has a headline "A Daring Robbery" in which it was reporting that a train station at Wahoo, Nebraska, was robbed of $932.00.
Other news and advertisements of the day are within.
This is complete in 8 pages with an irregular left spine, edge tears and chipping. This should be handled with care.

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, March 27, 1884  Page 2 has over half a column taken up with: "TEXAS BANDITS" "Bold Attempt to Rob a Bank at Wichita Falls" "One of the Robbers Shot Dead by a Ranger and Another Captured--A Book Agent's Peril". A great article, beginning: "At 3:30 p.m. to-day occurred here one of the most daring attempts at bank robbery this county has ever known..." with much more. A classic report from the Wild West.
Twelve pages, very nice condition.

NEW YORK TIMES, April 9, 1874  The front page has: "A Highway Robbery In Texas--Passengers of a Stage-Coach Robbed" which is a classic report from the Old West.
Page 4 has an interesting article: "Ten Hours, or Eight?" which is a detailed report--taking over half a column--on the debate as to whether a work day should be 8 or 10 hours.
Page 5 hs: "the Expedition Against The Sioux" as well as "Hawaii" "Ceremonies At The Inauguration of the New King", being King Kalākaua.
Eight pages, four…

THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Feb. 6, 1877 

* Old West publication
* Arizona crime

Among the front page articles is: "Arizona" "Robbery of the California and Arizona Stage--The Robbers captured and Property Recovered". And this is followed by another report: "Later--Indignation Against the Robbers".
Four pages, small binding holes at the blank spine, generally good condition with some minor archival mends at margins. A bit fragile so should be handled carefully.

Background: On…

DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, October 22, 1890  Just what we hope to find on the front page of a newspaper from the Old West is in this issue: "Daring Robbery" "The Watchman Gagged & Bound and $2000 Secured" with some details. Not a lengthy nor conspicuous report, but great to have in this title.
Other news of the day with many interesting advertisements. Four pages, little creasing, otherwise good.

HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 16, 1892  Great full front page showing a train robbery, captioned: 'The Modern Dick Turpin' is a very displayable print. Full page shows 10: 'Beacons Along the South Coast'. Full page with 4 Remington prints on 'The 6th U.S. Cavalry Camp at Rapid Creek'. Nice Remington double page centerfold: 'A Good Day's Hunting in the Adirondacks'. Full page Remington: 'Gen. Carr Receiving the Report of a Scout'.

CLEVELAND WEEKLY HERALD, Cleveland, Ohio, March 12, 1880

* Eureka NV Nevada
* Fore disaster

The front page has small one column headings: "Bold Robbers" "Bullion Worth $200,000 Stolen at Sidney, Neb.--The Greatest Excitement" See images for text here.
Other news and advertisements of the day throughout. Complete in  8 pages, nice condition.

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22, 1893  The front page has most of a column headed: "FOUGHT THE ROBBERS" "Desperate Battle With Bandits on a Western Train" 'Engineer and Fireman Shot" "One of the Robbers Mortally Wounded--There were Only Three of Them and They Were Daring. But They Encountered a Plucky Crew of Trainmen". The article has considerable detail.
Four pages, archivally rejoined at the irregular spine, some margin tears. Somewhat fragile & should be handled…

THE BETHLEHEM TIMES, Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1900  The top of page 3 has column heads: "BANDITS GOT $100,000" "Thrilling Hold Up of Union Pacific Express Train" "Money Belonged to Uncle Sam" "it Was En Route for Manila to Pay American Soldiers--Famous Outlaw Band the Robbers--Now Fighting Desperately to Escape".
The report is datelined from "Table Rock, Wy." and takes over half a column with details of the robbery. This robbery is now ascribed to the work of Butch Cassidy and the "Hole In The…

THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Aug. 29, 1878  

* George Parrott
* "Big Nose George"
* Stagecoach robbery

The front page has an article: "Cheyenne" "Train Robbers in Wyoming--Officers Murdered". This is a great & detailed account of a stagecoach robbery near Medicine Bow, Wyoming.
Four pages, irregular at the spine from disbinding, a bit fragile but in nice condition.

background: On June 2, 1878, near Medicine Bow, Wyoming, the outlaw Big Nose George Parrott and his gang attempted…

THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Aug. 6, 1901

* 1901 Selby Smelting Works heist
* 900 pound of gold bullion robbery
* Contra Costra County, California

The top of the front page has a one column heading: "GIGANTIC ROBBERY" with subheads. (see images) Surprisingly this issue is in good condition being from the "wood pulp" era. Very hard to find issues that are not totally fragile from this era in paper.
Complete with 8 pages, a few tiny binding holes along the spine, nice condition.

Background: The…

TOMBSTONE PROSPECTOR, Arizona, Nov. 20, 1889  

* Very rare wild West publication
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame
* The Wham Paymaster Robbery trial

We have had a few other newspapers from the iconic Old West town of Tombstone, but this is is perhaps the most uncommon. The masthead features a great engraving of a miner on a mule.
The front page has nearly 1 1/3 columns taken cup with: "The Wham Trial" " 'Frankie' Campbell Relates Her Experience With the Robbers".
This trial concerns the robbery of…

LIBERAL SENTINEL, Middletown, New York, July 23, 1881 

* Outlaw Jesse James-Younger gang
* Rock Island railroad train robbery

Page 2 has a report noting: "A gang of outlaws, supposed to be the James gang, on Friday night captured a train on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road...robbed the conductor & a passenger..." and a bit more.
The next page has a much more detailed account of the event, taking three-quarters of a column & headed: "Robbing A Train" "Eye-Witnesses Accounts of…

HELENA WEEKLY HERALD, Montana, Sept. 9, 1897 

* Tom Edward 'Black Jack' Ketchum gang
* Twin Mountain - New Mexico train robbery

The top of the front page has a report headed: "TRAIN ROBBED" "Two Masked Robbers Hold up Passenger Train Near Twin Mountain, Colorado" "The Brutally Use Express Messenger and Force Him to Open the Safe" "Supposed to Have Secured About Ten Thousand Dollars--Registered Mail Also Plundered".
The report reads: "Late last night two masked robbers stopped the…

THE SAN DIEGO UNION, California, Sept. 15, 1878  The front page has an article: "Another Stage Robbery in Wyoming--An Exciting Affair--Fight with the Robbers".
This is a great & detailed account of a stagecoach robbery near Hot Creek, Wyoming.
Four pages, some archival strengthening at the irregular spine, a bit fragile but in nice condition.

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Oct. 9, 1884  Page 2 has: "The Mormon Problem" reports on political issues, noting in part: "...semi-annual post-conference session of the Mormon Constitution Convention...composed largely of polygamists, being a continuous body...John T. Caine reported on his efforts to have Utah admitted as a state..." with more.
Page 3 has several crime-related reports: "A Colored Man Riddled with Buckshot While Seated at the Supper Table" "Arrest of an 'Arkansas Assassin" "Texas…

WORCESTER EVENING GAZETTE, Massachusetts, April 6, 1872 

* Samuel 'Worcester Sam' Perris
* burglar, safe cracker and bank robber
* Jail escape - best title to have

Page 2 has a half column article headed: "Local Matters" "A DARING ESCAPE" "Sam Perris at Liberty" "How He Broke Jail". This is the notorious bank robbery 'Worcester' Sam Perris, who was called one of the most notorious criminals in America. It is said Perris participated in nearly every major bank robbery in the United…

NEW-YORK TIMES, March 20, 1875  

* Tiburcio Vasquez execution death (1st report)
* Los Angeles, California outlaw bandit

The front page has: "Execution Of The Bandit Vasquez" "Hanged At San Jose, Cal., Yesterday--No Attempt At Rescue--He Is Cool To The Last."
The report about the execution of this colorful outlaw who claimed he never killed a man, reads in part: "The bandit Vasquez was executed today at San Jose...Everything passed off quietly Vasquez asserted to the last his innocence…

WORCESTER EVENING GAZETTE, Worcester, Massachusetts, April 8, 1872 

* Samuel 'Worcester Sam' Perris
* burglar, safe cracker and bank robber

Page 2 has a half column article headed: "Local Matters" "THE ESCAPE OF SAM. PERRIS" "The Condition of the Jail-Other Escapes". This is the notorious bank robbery 'Worcester' Sam Perris, who was called one of the most notorious criminals in America. It is said Perris participated in nearly every major bank robbery in the United States during a…

THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER, West Virginia, March 15, 1886

* Nonpareil Dempsey (Jack Dempsey)
* Early boxing match - pugilists
* Railroad train robbery

The front page has a small one column heading: "Witness a Hard Fought Battle Between Dempsey and Lablanche"
Also on the front page is: "Daring Express Robbery" "And Murder on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Road"
Other news and advertisements of the day. Complete in 4 pages, large sized paper measuring 25 x 19 1/2 inches, irregular…

DESERET EVENING NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Oct. 22, 1890 

* Rare Utah pre-statehood title

Among the front page item: "Daring Robbery--The Watchman Gagged & Bound, and $2000 Secured" in Wellsville, Wisconsin. Also: "The Pinkertons--Are Engaged to Manage the Investigation of Hennessy's Assassins...". Page 2 includes: "Facts & Fiction About 'Mormon' Immigration".
Four pages, large size, never bound nor trimmed, pencil notations on inside pages, some browning at front page folds,…

SAN LEANDRO REPORTER, Alameda County, California, September 18, 1880 

* Rare Old West title 

A very scarce and quite small newspaper of 4 pages. The front page has: "Robberies" and "A Suicide" with page 3 having a full column of: "Local Items".

Other news of the day & many ads. Measures just 8 3/4 by 11 3/4 inches, news agent's stamp on the front page, very nice condition.

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 8, 1883  Likely due to its location on the edge of the Western frontier, this newspaper typically contained a wealth sensational crime reports and events from the West, much more than any found in eastern newspapers.
Among the reports are: "Assassinated in a Saloon" "The Danville Junction Train Robbery" "Masked Robbers" "Frank James at Independence" "Lynched by Masked Men" "Missouri Mail Robbers" "Deadman's Gulch" & so much more.
Twelve pages, very nice…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 9, 1884  Likely due to its location on the edge of the Western frontier, this newspaper typically contained a wealth sensational crime reports and events from the West than found in eastern newspapers. Page 2 begins with: "A CARNIVAL OF CRIME" "A Bloody Battle in the Streets of a Texas Town" "Half a Dozen Murders in as Many Different Dances--Captured Robbers--:Wife Murders". Subheads include: "Sentencing the Train Robbers" "Death at a Dance" "Brutal Wife Murder"…

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Nov. 9, 1884  Likely due to its location on the edge of the Western frontier, this newspaper typically contained a wealth sensational crime reports and events from the West than found in eastern newspapers.
Page 7 has: "Frontier Gamblers" "The Games & Dealers of the Wild Southwest" & more. An interesting article on one of the iconic professions of the Wild West. Also in this issue: "The Man in the Iron Mask" & "The Robbery Record".
Eighteen pages, very nice…

THE DAILY JOURNAL, Wilmington, North Carolina, July 28, 1876 

* Red Hill, South Carolina 
* Negro lynching 

An uncommon title from the South during the post Civil War reconstruction era. Contains news of the day with many interesting advertisements.
The front page has one column headings that include: "Lynch Law and Robbery In South Carolina" and more. 1st report coverage on a Negro lynching in Red Hill. South Carolina

Complete in 4 pages, a little margin wear, otherwise good.

THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 26, 1879  This newspaper was published 17 years before it became a state. Included is an interesting report concerning a stagecoach robbery. Also Mormon-related items, with articles headed: "The Mormons And The Indians" & "Sugar Made In Utah" "Murder" and "Discourse Delivered by Elder Geo. Q. Cannon at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City...".
"The Electric Light" is interesting, mentioning: "The excitement about electricity as an illuminating agent has,…