Cherokee Co. OKGenweb Newspaper articles on:
The Chaney Brothers and Henry Starr
posted: 5/12/2003
Copyright: Tom Kircher, tomkircher@sbcglobal.net

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cherokee/cherokee.html
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Subj:Cherokee Co. OK 
Date:4/29/2003 10:39:43 AM Central Daylight Time
From:Tom Kircher, tomkircher@sbcglobal.net


In researching my great grand uncle Alfred Hezekiah Chaney, I happened 
onto the newspaper articles I've pasted below.
 
When I happened onto your sight just now I thought you might find them 
of interest.
 
"Alf's" brother James Franklin Chaney "Frank" , from my research was best 
friends with Henry Starr.  Starr implied in his book, "Life of Henry Starr", 
that Frank and Alf's  life of crime began when Starr rode into Frank's farm 
north of Wagoner.  This information was copied by Glenn Shirley in his book 
"Henry Starr - last of the Real Bad Men".  Mr. Shirley told me personally in 
a phone conversation that his entire research of his book came from Starr's 
book, mentioned. 
 
Apparently Alf and Frank looked alike. (I'll know more soon as his federal 
prison mug shots are supposedly on their way).  Alf was identified as one of 
the Bentonville Bank robbers, and sentenced to 24 years in prison by "Hanging 
Judge" Parker, in early November of 1893.  
 
Since this was prior to Federal penitentiaries Alf was sent to a prison in 
Brooklyn (again I've more information in the mail to me as I write this). 
Later he was transferred to the new Federal (and second built) Prison in 
Atlanta.  It was here he received a Presidential Pardon from Teddy Roosevelt 
in late 1903.
 
Frank Chaney....in a word....is a mystery....especially his death.  I've 
several documentations, none concrete, and none I, at the moment believe.  
At the very least he did a stint to south America almost a decade before 
the famous Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid die.  One of my goals is to learn 
what ever happened to him.  I simply do not believe the scant story that he 
was ambushed and killed by a deputy sheriff near Eagle Town Okla.  I've done 
a bit of research on this, and it doesn't fit.  That some outlaws were 
ambushed and killed I don't deny, but, according to at least two sources, 
these men were the last of either the Doolin or Dalton gang...sorry at the 
moment I don't recall and my notes are buried in my files.
 
Anyway, I hope you can use the following.
Cordially,
Tom Kircher, USN, Ret.
Fort Worth, Texas
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
 
The Indian Chieftain
Muskogee I.T. or Vinita ?
October 05, 1893
page 3 col 2
 
"Alf Chaney, arrested recently by Deputy Bruner at Wagoner, has been  
identified as one of the Pryor Creek train robbers and also as being in 
the Bentonville bank robbery.  He maintained here that it was his brother 
the officers wanted but it looks as though both brothers are wanted."
 
Guthrie Daily Leader
October 29, 1893
page 1 col 2
 
"TRAIN ROBBERS CONVICTED
Starr, Wilson and Chaney to Get the Full Penalty of the Law.
 
Fort Smith, Ark. Oct. 28--In the United States court Henry Starr, John 
Wilson and Alf Chaney were convicted of the robbery of a Missouri Kansas 
and Texas train at Pryor Creek, Ind. Ter.  The robbery was committed at 
8 o'clock on the night of May 2, 1893.  Judge Parker will give them the 
full extend of the law, as he is determined to wipe out train robbing if 
it is within his power"
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The Indian Chieftain
November 2, 1893
page 3 col 3
 
"Much Convicted
 
The Fort Smith court has convicted Henry Starr, Kid Wilson and Alf Chaney 
of the Pryor Creek train robbery, Star and Creekmore for robbing Carter's 
store.  Starr was also sued for $10,000 damages by Mrs. Floyd Wilson for 
the murder of her husband and an attachment was issued upon the money taken 
from Starr when arrested.  The judgment against Starr in favor of the 
Bentonville bank has been set aside because at the time it was secured 
he was on trial for his life and was not represented in court.  Wilson 
swore on the train robbery trial that Alf Chaney, the man arrested at 
Wagoner, was not in that robbery but that it was his brother Frank, but 
did not convince the jury.  This hold up yielded $50."
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Stillwater Gazette
November 03, 1893
page 2, col 4
 
"TRAIN ROBBERS CONVICTED
Starr, Wilson and Chaney to Get the Full Penalty of the Law
 
Fort Smith, Ark. Oct. 28--In the United States court Henry Starr, John 
Wilson and Alf Chaney were convicted of the robbery of a Missouri, Kansas 
& Texas train at Pryor Creek, I. T.  The robbery was committed at 8 o'clock 
on the night of May 2, 1893.  There were fifteen counts in the indictment 
and the jury convicted the prisoners on six.  There were a large number of 
witnesses and nearly every one identified Wilson and Starr, though only a 
few had seen Chaney well enough to identify him.  The attorneys for Starr 
and Wilson early gave up the hope of saving them, but the fought hard to 
keep down the number of counts on which there should be a conviction.  A 
hard fight was made to clear Alf Chaney.  "Kid" Wilson took the stand during 
the trial and said that the robbery was committed by himself, Starr, Frank 
Chaney, Jim Wilson (the Kid's brother) and two others, whom he knew only as 
Bill and Jack, and that Alf Chaney had nothing to do with it.  Frank Chaney 
and the other two members of the gang are at large.  Judge Parker will give 
them the full extent of the law."
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The Cherokee Advocate
November 18, 1893
page 2, Col. 4
 

" TRAIN ROBBER INSANE
 
Alf Chaney, who was convicted with Starr and Wilson of the robbery of a train 
on the M.K. & T. road at Pryor Creek, has become insane.  He is not violent in 
his insanity, but is wild and restless, and is kept locked up in his cell to 
prevent him doing any damage should he become violent. The first symptoms were 
not thought much of until the last few days.  Chaney claimed on the trial that 
he was not guilty and that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.  He and 
his brother Frank, who was one of the robbers resemble each other very closely."
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The Cherokee Advocate
November 25, 1893
page 2, col 8
 
"ROBBERS SENTENCED
 
This morning, in the United States court, Judge Parker passed sentence upon a 
number of persons.  Alf Chaney and Kid Wilson each were sentenced to twenty 
four years for the Pryor Creek train robbery.  Milo Creekmore got five years 
for assisting Henry Starr in the robbery of two stores.  W.H. Johnson got forty 
five months for using the mails in order to defraud.  Clark Collins and Mose 
Catcher, whiskey peddlers in the Indian Territory got two years and six months 
each, while Rose Riley got eighteen months for introducing.  William G. Thompson 
was convicted of incest and was sentenced to three years.  All the prisoners 
will be sent to the King's County penitentiary at Brooklyn N. Y., to serve out 
their sentences."
 
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The Vinita Daily Chieftain
December 21, 1903
page 1, col 2
 
"A PARDONED TRAIN ROBBER
 
Alf Chaney, who will be well remembered by the citizens of Wagoner who resided 
here ten or twelve years ago arrived in town this morning.  Alf was sent to the 
penitentiary in 1893, under a 24 years sentence from Judge Parker's court.  He 
was convicted of being mixed up in the Pryor Creek train robbery, although he 
still says he is not guilty of that charge.  He was first sentenced to the 
United States penitentiary in New York, and was transferred from there sometime 
over a year ago to Atlanta, Ga.  He was pardoned out of the penitentiary four 
weeks ago."
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The Vinita Weekly Chieftain
December 24, 1903
page 1, col 1 & 2
 
"A PARDONED TRAIN ROBBER
 
Alf Chaney, who will be well remembered by the citizens of Wagoner, who resided 
here ten or twelve years ago arrived in town this morning.  Alf was sent to the 
penitentiary in 1893 under a 24 years sentence from Judge Parker's court.  He 
was 
convicted of being mixed up in the Pryor Creek train robbery, although he still 
says he is not guilty of that charge.  He was first sentenced to the United 
States 
penitentiary in New York, and was transferred from there sometime over a year 
ago 
to Atlanta, Ga.  He was pardoned out of the penitentiary four weeks ago."
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