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Relentless Fate Pursued. Members of Bandit GangWho Slew Col. DavertportA MYSTERY lor tlirec score'and ten years, the fate of William Fox and Robert Birch. two members of the gang that murdered Cob George Davenport, was revealed by J. D. Barney In I The Democrat of August 30. 191G. the day he told about it'in a paper read before the Scott County Old Settlors' meeting.John .Long, the leading figure in the crime, his brother Aaron, an^ j GraodvJlle Young were sentenced uml hanged. Richard Baxter, j tried separately, died in prison Iwq years after lie had entered upon a life term.Before flay Of the zuen had been tried. Fox and Birch had brih^d the jailor and escaped.3n the year 1S64.' while Mr. Barnes’ regiment was in Brownsville, Tex., Mr. Barnes became, acquainted with a man by the name of Co!. HoweJb who. learning that .Mr. Barnes was from SeoLi county, Iowa, asked, him if he ever knew .anything about the murder of Col. Geo. Da\enport.ort Rock Island in the 1545.Mr. Barnes said that he was familiar with all its details, whereupon Col. Howell said that a mantknown as Bill Anderson, who had lived’ in the same town with liim about* fifteen years, had revealed bia real name aa William Fox before he died in Corpus Christa, Tex., just before the outbreak of the civil war. In liis confession, however, Fo\ said that he had not fircrl the faAnl shot.Fox stated that in company with John Loftg and Robert Birch he entered Duvon port's house, leaving Aaron iLoug on the outside as -guard against danger; that when they hnri entered, they were met by Col. DavenjJH. and that to frighten the old man John Long without saying a word pulled out his pistol and in cocking it accidently diseharged it. The hull struck the old man nnd fatally wounded | him.After Birch and Fox had escaped from jail, they dog up what •money and valuables the gang bud buried, and fled to Texaa. Birch, however, dTd jiOt remain long in Texas; ia 1849 he went to the goldficld9 ’of California, and was killed the sauie Jear in a pistol duel o\*cr a game of cards. /
Newspaper Details
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Iowa, US
Sun, Jul 20, 1924
Page 52
Full Page
Clipped by
Elkhart P.
IN, USA 17 Sep 2017
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