Millerville History
Millerville Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, USA
THE STAGE ROBBER.
from
"History of Otter Tail County
Minnesota
Its People, Industries and Institutions
Volume 1"
John W. Mason, Editor
© 1916
Pages 603 - 605
I would not want to go on record as saying that there
was more killing done in the county in those days than
afterwards, but there was certainly more highway robbery.
A stage then ran from Alexandria to Otter Tail City
carrying passengers, mail and the American express. One
afternoon in the spring of 1871 this coach, laden with
a solitary passenger inside and the driver with his
express box on the outside, was "held up," as the phrase
went in those days, about six miles west of Otter Tail
City. The driver, in obedience to a pressing invitation
presented at the muzzle of a double-barrelled shot-gun,
threw out his express box. The passenger, frightened
almost to death, jumped out on the opposite side and took
to the woods. The driver, relieved of his box and not
stopping for his passenger, retained just sense enough
to put whip to the horses and run them all the way to
Otter Tail City. There, with trembling voice and chattering
teeth, he told the story of his robbery. A posse started
after the thief, taking the driver along to identify him
when caught.
They rode out to the scene of action and scattered, one
party soon coming upon the passenger, half-dead with
fright. The conclusion was jumped at immediately that
he was the robber. A rope was put around his neck and
he was given five minutes to make his prayers. About
this time it occurred to one of the would-be executioners
that it might be well to have the man identified by the
driver before he was hanged. Search was made and when
the other party, including the driver, was found the
latter was not certain, but inclined to the opinion that
they had caught his late passenger. Consequently the
proposed execution was temporarily postponed to await
further developments.
After a few days the real highwayman was captured. By
this time excitement had abated sufficiently to permit
the law to take its course. The officials of the stage
company were naturally anxious to secure the conviction
of the prisoner. So, along in the fall, some time before
court set, they sent an agent to Otter Tail City, then
the county seat, to interview the county attorney in
relation to the coming trial. E. E. Corliss was then the
incumbent of that office, the first position which Mr.
Corliss held in the county, although by no means the last.
At Otter Tail City the agent of the stage company was
informed that the county attorney was out at his farm
near Clitherall. So, he turned about and started for
the shades of that peaceful retreat on the shores of
the lake, long afterwards famous as the location of
"Camp Corliss." The county attorney in those days was
industrious and on this occasion was busy attending
the mason who was plastering his house. The express
agent drove up to the place and inquired of a tall,
red-headed man in shirt sleeves and bare feet, if he
knew where he, the agent, could find Mr. Corliss. "Yes,"
said this individual, "I'm Corliss." "What," cried the
agent, "are you county attorney of this county." "Well,
I should smile," said Corliss. "What do you want?"
"Well, I did want to convict that robber," said the agent,
"but I think we might as well let him go." Mr. Corliss
closed one eye, investigated the agent with the other and
said: "My friend, you just have your witnesses there, and
I'll do the rest." When the case was tried and the prisoner
convicted, you may be sure that the agent changed his
opinion of the prosecuting attorney of Otter Tail county.
Mr. Corliss held the office of county attorney for a good
many terms. I think it stands to his record that he secured
more convictions after actual trial than any other man who
served for a like length of time in the county. He was a
most vigorous prosecutor, always partisan and imbued with
the spirit of justice in the cause he represented, and
declared that he never prosecuted an innocent man or defended
a guilty one. Those who know him best believe that he states
what he thinks to be true.
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
November 26, 2003