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Robert Pinkerton to H.G.
Burt
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Confidential |
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New York, February
14, 1903 |
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| HG. Burt, Esq. |
| President, Union
Pacific Railroad Co., |
| Omaha, Nebraska. |
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| Dear Sir: |
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| You will recall during
your visit to New York, my speaking to you with reference to Harry
Longabaugh, alias Harry Alonzo, alias “The Sundance Kid”, and
George Parker, alias “Butch” Cassidy, being located in the
Argentine Republic, and as Longbaugh was one of the men concerned in
the “hold up” robbery of the U.P. at Wilcox, Wyoming, you
thought at the time you might be willing to participate in sharing
the expenses of his arrest and extradition. The matter at present
stands as follows: |
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| The American Bankers’
Association have about concluded to have us make the effort to
arrest and extradite these men for the robbery of the First National
Bank of Winnemucca, Nev., but they have asked us, if possible, to
arrange for any others interested in their punishment to share the
expenses. If we succeed, the expense might be in the neighborhood of
$5,000 to land the men here. Should we be unsuccessful, the expense
would probably not be so great. |
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| Should we be successful
in bringing the men back to Nevada for trial, or they are killed in
the Argentine Republic resisting arrest, and proof of this is
produced, the First National Bank of Winnemucca will pay $3,000
towards the expenses. |
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| We are endeavoring, and
expect to arrange with the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Humboldt, Nevada, of which Winnemucca is the county seat, to pay
$1,000 of these expenses, if we succeed in bringing the men there
for trial. This leaves the American Bankers’ Association to
practically underwrite the proposition, and they taking all the risk
through us brining Longbaugh and Cassidy back for trial to
Winnemucca, Nev. They have not fully decided to go ahead, but if
they could get some insurance of assistance in bearing the expense,
I think they would go ahead. We cannot say exactly what the cost
would be, but approximately consider the amount to be in the
neighborhood of $5,000 and considerable less should we fail for any
reason in their capture. |
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| Knowing this “Wild
Bunch” as you do, you will understand we could not guarantee the
successful capture of Longbaugh and Cassidy, but we will agree to
send two men to the Argentine Republic who will do everything in
their power to bring this about, and with the proper aid from the
authorities, we believe we have a fair chance. Longbaugh is
considered to be on of the worst men in the “Wild Bunch”, and
this is saying a good deal. People know both men say that he and
Harvey Curry are about in the same class as desperadoes. |
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| These men are ranching
in a new country, 350 miles inland, and it will take about 60 days
from here to reach them by steamer, riverway and overland the last
350 miles of the trip. Horses would have to be purchased to make the
last part of the journey. |
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| We propose to send #11
and one other man selected from one of our (unintelligible)
officers. |
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| The arrest of the two
men would be the last of the “Wild Bunch” except (unintelligible). |
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| I leave for Chicago on
(unintelligible) and will be there the balance of the week, and
(unintelligible) from thereafter. |
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| Yours truly, |
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|
Rob. A. Pinkerton |
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