‘Railroad Bill’ sighting caused ‘ripple of excitement’ in March 1896

Constable J.L. McGowin and Railroad Bill

This month marks 127 years since the famous Alabama outlaw known as “Railroad Bill” was shot to death by law enforcement officers on Ashley Street in Atmore.

Railroad Bill’s real name was Morris Slater, and his story begins on March 6, 1895 when Louisville & Nashville Railroad detectives attempted to restrain him when they caught him sleeping on top of a water tank beside the railroad tracks. Bill fired shots at detectives and hijacked a train car before jumping from a boxcar and disappearing into the woods. A manhunt ensued and a posse of about 20 men tracked Bill to Bay Minette, where a gunfight resulted in the death of Baldwin County deputy sheriff James Stewart.

Bill escaped, and details of the Bay Minette killing were publicized in newspapers across the country. Nearly four months later – on July 3, 1895 – Escambia County Sheriff E.S. McMillan formed another posse to capture Railroad Bill and later the following night at Bluff Springs an immense gun battle ensued. McMillan was shot in the chest and died while Bill escaped once again. Railroad Bill’s story came to an end on March 7, 1896 when he was shot to death by Constable J.L. McGowin near the Tidmore & Ward Store on Ashley Street in Atmore.

During the time that he was on the loose, sightings of Bill were reported all over the Southeast, including in Monroe County. In August 1895, The Monroe Journal reported that a “ripple of excitement was created in (Monroeville) by the rumor that the desperado Railroad Bill had been seen a mile or two south of this place. Two children of Mr. Chas. Busey were returning home from the performance of some errand, when they came upon a man lying under the shade of a tree near the pathway leading through a dense wood, with his rifle beside him. On seeing the children, he bounded to his feet and took precipitate flight, leaving a piece of his clothing on the ground.

“The children hurried home and reported to their father what they had seen, who from their description of his arms and personal appearance, suspected that it might be the notorious outlaw. He came at once to town and gave the alarm. An armed posse was quickly raised and set out on the hunt. After thoroughly scouring the woods without discovering any trace of Railroad, the posse returned to town.”

The newspaper noted that rumors were rife that Bill was in the Monroeville area because the sighting mentioned above occurred a few days after a mail carrier was robbed two miles east of Belleville. Authorities found the mail horse, wagon and registered mail pouches concealed in the roadside bushes. The mail carrier was also missing, and it was surmised that Bill had “foully dealt with” this unlucky mailman.

In the end, there is much more to Railroad Bill’s story than the information above. If you’re interested in learning more about his exploits, I highly recommend that you read Larry L. Massey’s 2015 book, “The Life and Crimes of Railroad Bill.” As far as I know, no other book has been written that so thoroughly documents Railroad Bill’s infamous career.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)