from the Sunday, May 16, 1954 Daily Corinthian, by Mrs. Don Watkins

There are many interesting stories connected with the history of Corinth. The one that created the most excitement and has been told many times is the story about Jesse James and his gang robbing Taylor's banks.

This story creates as much excitement today as it did that bleak December day when a newspaper correspondent sent a telegram to The Appeal at Memphis stating --"five men late yesterday (December 7, 1874) robbed the Tishomingo Savings Bank in Corinth and escaped with $15,000. The entered the bank after hitching their horses to the rack in front of the building, locked the front door and forced President Taylor of the bank to give them the keys to the vault. Besides money, they took a number of gold watches and diamonds. President Taylor refused them the vault keys and was badly beaten up before he yielded to their demands."

The Sources

This writer has read and been told many different stories about this great bank robbery. The ones used in this "Jesse James" story comes from Lon Taylor Sr., grandson of the banker; Dr. W.A. Johns and Mrs. Magie Morgan, who as children witnessed the episode; J.W. Rankin, who owns the building that once housed the bank; Joe Reynolds, whose father A.B. (Jot) Reynolds was at a restaurant a block from the bank and saw the riders pass with blazing guns; Mrs. Maury McRae, whose great-grandparents unknowingly gave the desperadoes shelter the night of the robbery; and Thomas Price Holman and this writer, whose father Tom Holman was at the blacksmith shop of this father Holloway Holman (our grandfather) when the men brought their horses in to be shod before they robbed the bank.

Alonza H. Taylor, a native of Carmel, N.Y., was the owner and the president of the Tishomingo Savings Institution. He came south to make his fortune in the much talked-about "empire county" of Tishomingo, Miss., and settled in the railroad town of Corinth. Mr. Taylor opened his bank in the building that is owned today by J.W. Rankin, who bought the property 40 years ago from the banker's son, John H. Taylor, also a banker.

Mr. Taylor's bank was the only one in North Mississippi in 1874. The institution grew so rapidly that Mr. Taylor had to send his surplus money to banks in Memphis and St. Louis. So, on the day of the robbery Mr. Taylor was not "wiped out."

The James Decision

The fame of this bank spread over the country-side and the James gang, operating at that time in Missouri, heard about the rich bank in a small town. Frank James was sent to Corinth to scout the town. His report must have been favorable, as it brought his brother, Jesse, Cole and Jim Younger, and J. Frank (Kit) Dalton to the outskirts of the country. They first stopped in McNairy County, Tenn., where they stayed in the home of a citizen of that community.

These men apparently had plenty of money and paid for whatever they wanted and were very agreeable. They made frequent trips to Corinth and brought back plenty of provisions to the farmhouse. About the middle of the month (November, 1874), the men moved into Alcorn County and spent one night in the home of a farmer a few miles west of Corinth. It must be said here that in those days a stranger was always given a night's lodging and no questions asked. At that time no one knew who these men were. They posed as horse traders and while closing in on Corinth they stayed at several farm homes. When these men came into town they mingled with the crowds on the streets and were accepted here as out of town buyers of livestock.

While the men were i the county they put on shooting exhibitions, so the story goes, to pass away the time and to keep in practice. One stunt that is talked about to this day was the card-trick. A member of the gang would place a card on a tree and a rider, believed to be Jesse James --the fastest with gun-- would ride around the tree at break-neck speed and without missing would put a bullet hole in the center of each spot on the card.

The Big Robbery

Then, the day for the robbery dawned and the riders, who carefully worked out all the details, trotted into Corinth from their country abode. They picked a suitable day to stage a hold-up, as court was in session and the streets were almost empty.

After reaching town, they decided to get new shoes for their mounts. They knew there would be some hard and fast riding ahead of them after the robbery and they wanted their horses to be fit. So they found a black-smith shop near the two railroads, on the ground where the G.M. & O. freight depot now stands. This was the Holloway-Holman blacksmith shop.

This writer's father, Tom Holman often told his children, including the son mentioned, Mrs. Effie McKerley of Orlando, Fla., and Mrs. Calvin Pyle of West Point, Miss., who these men were.

He learned the identity of these five men, h said, from J. Frank (kit) Dalton himself when he lectured in Corinth in 1910.

The Jesse James' Gang

There were many men who rode with Jesse James at various times. And according to a record found by this writer in a book written by Thomas P. Kelly (a close friend of the James family) these men were: Charlie Pitts, Clell Miller, Bill Chadwell, Hobbs Kerry, Dick Litle and the cut-throat "Commanche" Tony. And there was, of course the three Younger brothers, Cole, Jim and Bob, as well as Patsy Martin, "Big Jim" Cameron, Tom McDaniels, Jim Reed, Jack Keen and others, all fearless, desperate men and dead shots. Kit Dalton rode with the James boys on several of their raids. But the six chosen gunmen of the above lot were, Clell Miller, Charlie Pits, Bill Chadwell and the three Younger brothers. All of these men were "as tough an outfit as ever drew the breath of life, and a gang that would have ridden into the pits of hell, if there was loot to be found there."

At The Blacksmith Shop

When these five men rode into Holloway Holman’s blacksmith shop he knew right off that the horses were too high-strung, slick and shining to belong to farmers or traders in this country. And he noticed one horse in particular, as it was larger and more like a thorough-bred than the other four.

One of thee men, believed to be Jesse James, threw a wad of greenbacks at the Negro boy who helped around the blacksmith shop and told him to buy two of the best felt hats across the street at Rubel's. The stranger took one of the felt hats and a horseshoe and with a knife made a pattern and told the blacksmith to put one like it between the shoe and the hoof of each horse. He told the Negro he could have the other felt hat if the blacksmith did not use it, and to "keep the change."

these men left and went to Bill goings' restaurant a block from the bank. This place was on the government parking lot by the post-office. And this was where Joe Reynolds' father, A.B. (Jot) Reynolds, first noticed the men as they left their table and walked across the room and studied a map that hung on a wall. These same men were the ones Mr. Reynolds later saw riding down Fillmore Street, after the robbery, "shooting and hollering."

Jesse's Horse

After an hour these men returned to the blacksmith shop. Four of them mounted their horses in the usual way, but the man who had been the spokesman (and believed to be Jesse James) without asking the price pitched the blacksmith a ten dollar bill. Then he looked his horse over, scratched the animal's neck and whispered something in his ear. The blacksmith noticed that the horse began to nicker and prance, and the minute the man flung himself into the saddle, the horse make a leap through the door. The blacksmith measured the hoof prints and found tht the horse had leaped 20 feet. This amazing feat was witnessed by several by-standers.

A description of Jesse James' horse is given in the book mentioned above and reads as follows: "Jess James' horse was named "Skyrocket." He was a coal black animal with shining coat. Jesse loved this horse and the animal knew it. He also knew that when Jesse dug in his spurs -- which were not the cruel-looking instruments of torture worn by cowboys -- there was reason for haste. Between hold-ups Jess gave Skyrocket loving care. He would talk to the horse, pat him, give him salt or sugar or an apple. And He would scratch his neck behinds the ears and talk to him. The coal black animal seemed to understand everything Jesse said.

From this description and what the blacksmith noticed the horse Jesse James rode into Corinth and into the blacksmith's shop must have been "Skyrocket."

Jesse, The Man

Taken from the book as mentioned above "One day in 1862 a band of Union Calvary flogged Jesse's father, a southern sympathizer, almost to death at his home in Missouri. And they flogged Jesse. The 14-year-old boy was tied to a tree and flogged until he fainted because his brother Frank had joined Quantrell. Three weeks later Jesse followed the example of his big brother. for the next two years he rode across the middle states of America, a follower of "The Black Flag Legion."

"Jesse James distinguished himself by his marksmanship and utter contempt for danger. He was riding stirrup to stirrup with some of the most desperate men that ever drew the breath of life. But Jess could always whip out his revolvers from their holsters in that so important second sooner than the others. Where danger was the greatest, there young Jesse could be found, his two six-shooters blazing.

Jesse Woodson James was never a big man physically. At best he weighed no more than a 155 pounds, and upon reaching manhood stood five feet, nine inches in height. His eyes were blue and hard as agate; his hair was dark. In action he was usually quick in his movements and seemingly tireless. His marksmanship was uncanny. He always wore a double shoulder holster containing two revolvers - one a 44 Colt and the other a pearl handled Smith and Wesson."

The Holdup

This was the man and his gang that galloped toward Taylor's that December day. Reaching the bank the five men dismounted and hitched their horses to the rail, three men entered the bank and locked the door, two men sauntered around outside the bank. The men covered Mr. Taylor and a Negro named Anthony Williams with six guns. No one else was in the bank. The men were in a jovial mood that day and wanted to have a little fun. So they made Anthony kneel and offer prayers for his soul. Then, turning to Mr. Taylor, the men demanded all the money in the bank.

Mr. Taylor, it is said, told the men that he had "rather be in hell than in Corinth without money." One of the bandits, believed to be Jesse, cut Mr. Taylor across the forehead with a knife. It was only a sight flesh wound, but when the blood trickled into Mr. Taylor's eyes partially blinding him, he handed over the money which was between $15,000 and $20,000. One of the men took his keys and opened a box in the vault and grabbed a double handful of watches, diamond rings and other jewelry. One piece was a gold horsehead studded with diamonds.

The men stuffed the loot into a leather bag which they had just bought at a store up the street and unlocking the door backed out of the bank and jumped upon their horses with guns blazing. The Negro ran out of the bank to spread the alarm and one of the men, later revealed as Kit Dalton, shot the Negro in his left leg below the knee.

The Negro ran past the post office and almost to the present Wilson Drug Store before he fell.

The Gallop

The men spurred their horses and galloped madly down the street toward the railroad where they jerked their mounts around and headed back up the street toward the bank, shooting out windows in the buildings as they passed. A Shepard dog, it has been told, was in the street between the present Crawford-Lindsey Clothing store and the Wilson Drug Store and just as the horses flew past this corner, one of the men turned and fired at the dog sending a bullet through his head and killing it instantly.

Along this stretch two children were witnesses to this stirring escapade. Mrs. Maggie Morgan, a child of six was standing on the corner where Dr. Hamrick has his clinic today waiting for her father, Silas Barr, who was editor of the Dub-Soiler and Democrat. She heard the shots and ran up to the corner and, seeing a crowd in front of the bank, pushed her way in and saw "some men carrying banker Taylor out of the bank and wiping blood off of his face."

Dr. Johns A Witness

Then a little five-year-old boy, known today as Dr. W.A. Johns, was swinging on the gate in front his home that had formerly been the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Inge (known as Rose Cottage) where Albert Sidney Johnston had made his headquarters before the Battle of Shiloh. He saw the riders pass with guns in their hands. When he learned the men had robbed the bank he went crying to banker Taylor and asked him if the men had stole his $5. The banker assured him his money was safe and handed little "Willie Johns" a $5 gold piece.

The men rode on up the street to the Tom Adams old home place (where the First Baptist Church now stands) then turned west to the Rubel's home where they turned north as the passed the home of Dr. A.J. Baeurm, (the grandfather of J.L. Baerum). One of the men held the leather bag up in the air and shouted to Dr. Baerum who was at his front door "Here goes your Corinth Bank."

The men then took the old Purdy road (Selmer Road) to the Henderson School house, turned east and went across to Shiloh road. then they cut through to the Fields community near Kendrick, went by Youngs Crossing and cut through to a settlement near Glens an stopped at the Liberty Church where they counted their loot. And near this place is where the men spent the night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Eli Wilson, the great-grandparents of Mrs. Maury McRae.

Unwitting Hosts to Gang

At that time the Wilsons did not know who the strangers were. But when Mr. Wilson made a trip to Corinth the next day and heard the news of the bank robbery, he went back to his home and told his wife Jemina who her guests were the night before. Mrs. Wilson naturally, was shocked but she said to her husband and to others through the years that she had never entertained anyone who was as well mannered and polite.

The First Clue

A logger, Bud Patrick, found some of the bank notes and took them to the Haynes' Sawmill in that community. Mr. Haynes had heard about the robbery so he rushed to Corinth and gave the papers to Mr. Taylor who identified them as part of the stolen money. Mr. Taylor was so glad to get on the trail of these robbers that he bought Mr. Haynes a suit of clothes. Mr. Haynes was the grandfather of Lon and Fred Haynes.

A posse was quickly formed in Corinth and followed the bandits as far as the Henson School, but after a horse was shot out from under Will Cunningham the bandits made their get-away.

Before Jesse James and his gang left this territory, they robbed the Cannonball, a fast passenger train on the M & O Railroad. And it has been told that the money was buried on Peak Berkle, a small mountain peak near Corinth. This peak was named for a German who once owned the land. And the peak can be seen near the Oscar Hinton farm on Highway 72 East. Peak Berkle is on property owned today by Mr. and Mrs. John Billingsley.

Other Clues

Col. Taylor tried for years to trace the whereabouts of these men. He offered a reward for their capture and hired private detectives. Lon Taylor Sr., his grandson, has copies of letters and telegrams his grandfather received in answer to many inquiries. One telegram dated Dec. 20, 1875, and sent to Col. A.H. Taylor from Forrest City, Ark, states: "We have in custody here the man White that helped rob your bank. Come and bring evidence at once." Signed M.D. Curlie and J.H. Curlie.

Col. Taylor wired back for detailed description and this is the answer dated Dec. 21, 1875.

"He weighs about 180 pounds, is five feet ten inches high, heavy set, heavy black mustache, dark hair, eyes protrude and has a strange looking slight defect in left eye." Signed M.D. Curlie and B.D. Sory.

And Col. Taylor received a letter dated April 28, 1876, from Lack City, Fla., asking the banker for a description of all the diamonds stolen from his bank. The writer, believed to be a detective stated he was on the trail of two men who had some diamonds that fit the description of some of the diamonds stolen from the bank, but the "gold horsehead studded in diamonds was not among these." This, as well as all the other tips, proved of no value.

Nothing Recovered

Mr. Taylor said his grandfather never did recover any of the watches, diamonds, or money stolen from his bank in 1874. And after a few years Col. Taylor gave up the search.

This little added episode will close the Jesse James story by this writer. Dr. Allen D. Towne, osteopathic who has an office in the old bank building, said several years ago an old man came into his office one morning and asked him if this was the building where Col. Taylor once had a bank. Mr. Towne assured him it was the place. He showed the man the room where the money bags and old vault stood and even had him look out a window at the bricks protruding from the concrete foundation.

Then, this old man, who said he was from Texas, took Dr. Towne to the front of the building and pointed to a chipped brick and told him that Jesse James was the man who put a bullet through that brick as he backed out of the bank the day he and his gang robbed Taylor.

Dr. Towne said he had never noticed that chipped brick before, and it was news to him and the others who stood on the sidewalk that day. And it was news to J.W. Rankin who had owned the building for over 40 years. Dr. Towne said he had never quizzed people who came into his office to see the famous bank site, so he let the old fellow go without asking him any questions. But he now wished he had asked the visitor some questions that day -- at least his name.
[Source: Published in Cross City Connections, Volume 13, No. 3, SSN1072-7868, March 2005]