|
|
Print Archive: Daily
Yellowstone Journal 06.09.1887
On 06.09.1887 the Daily Yellowstone
Journal published a letter to the editor from Harry A. Longabaugh. The
text follows.
In your issue of the 7th ins. I read a very sensational and
partly untrue article, which places me before the public not even second
to the notorious Jesse James. Admitting that I have done wrong and
expecting to be dealt with according to the law and not by false reports
from parties who should blush with shame to make them, I ask a little of
your space to set my case before the public in a true light. In the first
place I have always worked for an honest living; was employed last summer
by one of the best outfits in Montana and don’t think they can say aught
against me, but having got discharged last winter I went to the Black
Hills to seek employment – which I could not get – and was forced to
work for my board a month and a half, rather than to beg or steal. I
finally started back to the vicinity of Miles City, as it was spring, to
get employment on the range and was arrested at the above named place and
charged with having stolen a horse at Sundance, where I was being taken by
Sheriff Ryan, whom I escaped from by jumping from the cars, which I judged
were running at the rate of 100 miles an hour.
After this my course of outlawry commenced, and I suffered terribly for
the want of food in the hope of getting back south without being detected,
where I would be looked upon as I always had been, and not as a criminal.
Contrary to the statement in the Journal, I deny having stolen any horses
in Canada and selling them near Benton, or anyplace else, up to the time I
was captured, at which time I was riding a horse which I bought and paid
for, nor had I the slightest idea of stealing any horses. I am aware that
some of your readers will say my statement should be taken for what it is
worth, on account of the hard name which has been forced upon me,
nevertheless it is true. As for my recapture by Deputy Sheriff Davis, all
I can say is that he did his work well and were it not for his ‘playing
possum’ I would now be on my way south, where I had hoped to go and live
a better life. – Harry Longabaugh
Back
|
