The Life And Adventures Of Robert Mckimie, Alias "Little Reddy," From Texas. The Dare-Devil Desperado Of The Black Hills Region, Chief Of The Murderous Gang Of Treasure Coach Robbers. Also, A Full Account Of The Robberies Committed By Him And His Gang In Highland, Pike And Ross Counties; With Full Particulars Of Detective Norris' Adventures While Effecting The Capture Of Members Of The Gang

BRIDWELL J. W. [COMPILER]

Publication: Printed and published at the Hillsboro Gazette Office, 1878, Hillsboro

First edition. Original pictorial wrappers, 56 pp., illustrated, portraits. According to Jeannine Roediger of the Ohio's Times Bulletin, in an article entitled, "Skeleton's in the Colset," and dated April 27, 2013, "Robert McKimie, "Little Reddy," was born near Rainsboro, Ohio. He joined the army and was sent to Texas in 1869. Letters sent home indicated he had left the army and was raising cattle. He returned to Ohio in 1877, married a local girl and became a merchant. He was very successful and word of his success spread, by word of mouth, to the West. What had happened out west, wasn't the story McKimie told, however. When Western Sheriff Seth Bullock heard some of the stories about this red-headed merchant from Ohio, he put two and two together and thought maybe this was the famous "Little Reddy," a notorious outlaw from Texas. His hunch proved true and he arrested McKimie in 1878. It seems that while in the West, McKimie held up stages, stole horses and took lives indiscriminately. In fact, he had been terrorizing travelers in the Black Hills for a time. McKimie was captured then escaped and hid for weeks, finally going to Bermuda. There he ran up a hotel bill he could not pay and was again arrested. When released he again began a life of crime in and around his hometown of Rainsboro. Arrested again, he spent 14 years in the Ohio State Penitentiary and when released returned to the Black Hills." Six Guns 274 says, "The original edition is an exceedingly rare item about an outlaw of the Black Hills who made a specialty of robbing the treasure coaches of the Deadwood-Cheyenne run. McKemie is credited with the daring holdup at Cheyenne Crossing and South Pass City and with the murder of Johnny Slaughter, the well-known stage driver. He was a member of the Joel Collins-Sam Bass gang at the start of their criminal careers, but after his careless murder of Slaughter he was run out of the gang. I know of but three copies of this book, one of which I once owned." After leaving the Collins-Bass gang, he started a horse stealing ring, was captured and upon acquittal, continued his lawless ways. He fled to Ohio where he was apprehended by Sheriff Seth Bullock. A few small chips to the front cover and two small chips to the top and bottom corners of the rear cover, else the interior is clean and bright for an overall near fine copy. Housed in a leatherette clamshell case with titles stamped in gold gilt on the front cover and spine. An exceptional copy of an exceedingly rare book

Inventory Number: 50620