Howdy.

I have been searching some information on Billy Raidler. I have an interesting story as to why.

Almost 20 years ago my Grandfather gave me a Colt .44 army issue pistol that his Grandfather gave to him. The gun was in good shape except that it had the serial number filed off and I had a firearms expert check it out to verify make and model. The story he passed along to me with the pistol was that a 'train robber' by the name of Billy Raidler had sold it to my Great Great Grandfather by Mr. Raidler for money to start a tobacco stand. He had just gotten out of prison for a train robbery that he had participated in. According to my Grandfather's Grandfathers story, during the train robbery the robbers made their way to the mail car. In the mail car was a black mail man. The rest of the robbers wanted to kill the black man but Billy stopped or prevented them from doing so somehow. When Billy Raidler was captured this fact came to light in trial and he was granted a reduced sentence. When paroled he sold his gun to start a tobacco stand. He sold his gun to my Great great grandfather.

The Gun, now framed, has a big 'R' carved in the butt on the left side. There are also 6-8 notches in the handle (several on each side). My mother had or still has a news paper article verifying this story. I am in the process of finding this article to frame along with the gun.

In my search I came across this forum to my pleasant suprise. So I thought I would pass along the story that was passed to me. If anyone has any idea where I could look to get me pointed in the right direction with my search it would be much appreciated.

Good day.

Take a peek at Glenn Shirley's "West of Hell's Fringe;" and Shirley's "Heck Thomas," and Shirley's "Six Gun and Silver Star." DeArment's "Alias Frank Canton" also has material and all of these books point the way to source documents. Raidler was shot to doll rags in his capture then sentenced to 10 years with one source saying he went to Lansing and the other saying he went to Columbus. Neither was long on confort. Shirley says he developed "locomotor ataxia" as a result of his wounds while in prison and the President pardoned him after the doctors gave him only a few months to live. Bill O'Neal's "Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters" said Raidler was paroled from an Ohio pen and that he got married shortly after. O'Neal then says Raidler never regained his health and he died after several years as a cripple. Sounds like a tobacco shop might have been about all he could manage.

Hi all,

Raidler was placed in the U.S. Pen at Columbus, Ohio from my recollection!

Mike

It's okay for you young folk to recollect things, but us smooth mouths have to look things up. I think Raidler went to Columbus, but I've not seen the doucmentation and it was Shirley who, in different books, had him going to both institutions. Most who write on it quote Columbus.

Thanks guys for the info... I found a revolver attributed to Billy Raidler (which was one of a pair) that sold on Bonhams auction for around 6200 USD. I'm not wanting to sell mine but they are not the same gun. Not to say that he only had two. When I got the gun from my grandfather the trigger was tied back, a real gunslinger thing to do to your iron. I don't think that I mentioned this in my orginal post. My grandfather's family hails from OK and KS orginally so geographically the story makes sense. I will post back with any new information that I am able to collect. Merry Christmas everyone!

Jack