Tom-The-Teacher’s American Western History Blog

Tom Mccarty's Own Story. Autobiography Of An Outlaw Below are excerpts from McCarty’s account of the Bank of San Miguel Bank Robbery.   This will be an interesting and tough read. If true, this is the closest first-hand account of the robbery we have explored, written about ten years after the robbery.   Tom McCarty I transcribed the material myself, attempting to keep the wording, spelling, and punctuation as presented.   Tom McCarty Own Story. Autobiography Of An Outlaw (excerpt) … After drifting around the country for a considerable length of time I landed in the western part of Colorado, where I again commenced in the mining business with considerable success. I also worked at other occupations. I remained here several years having no adventures of any consequence. In that part of the country were men of all grades and I soon joined with some that longed for excitement of any kind, and having been quiet for so long a time, my restlessness began to annoy me....

Excerpts from Telluride: Tale of Two Early Pioneers – L.G. Denison and L.A. York on the Telluride Robbery L. G. Denison's Account L.G. Denison Being there when the bank was robbed, my store being just a few doors east, I saw the whole thing. The editor has asked me to write about It. The Cosmopolitan Magazine is carrying one of the bandit's, Matt Warner story. I will defer that until my next article, for two reasons— I want to give the history of the first bank and others; and secondly, in Warner's first article in the Cosmopolitan, I could add several things that he overlooked, skipping around, evading officers, and I want to read his second article. … At the time of the robbery, C. L. Hyde was Assistant Cashier, and there was a little over $40,000 stolen. Charles Painter was Vide-President and Acting Cashier but was out at the time of the robbery. Later L.L. Nunn established the First National Bank.  Mr. L.A. York, in his “Telluride of the Eighties” has tol...

  The Delta Independent, Volume 7, Number 19, July 2, 1889 (The same account went out nationwide)   San Miguel Bank Robbery. The following is an Authentic report of the Bank robbery at Telluride last Monday: Ouray, Colo ., June 27.—The bold bank robbery at Telluride on Monday is still the all-absorbing topic of conversation. Until this afternoon no authentic account beyond a few telegrams could he obtained: Mr. H. H. Corbin, a long-time resident of the San Juan and at present a resident of Telluride, came over today via the High Line trail and gives the following interesting account: “I was in the bank just a few moments before the robbery and had just returned to my office when the firing of at least nine shot's notified me that all was not right. “Just prior to my return to the office a party of four men dressed as cowboys rode into town and stopped at the brewery. From this point they mounted their horses and rode directly to the bank; all dismounted leaving their horse...