The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner - Last of the Old-Time Bandits

by Mark Dugan, John Boessenecker

The life story of an oldtime American Robin Hood reads like a good western as it traces the criminal career of Bill Miner--a train robber who stole but never killed, and whose charisma charmed even his victims.

Genres: History

260 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1992

Reviews

[Bern J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is history, deeply researched & dryly written, that loosely follows the film of the same name.In reality, Bill Miner aka George Edwards was an unsuccessful stagecoach & train robber.He kept getting caught.He spent multiple terms in San Quentin & other prisons & jails. Over 30 years in all.He was a charismatic person who charmed people with his soft spoken nature and polite manners.The stagecoach, railroad & express companies that he robbed not so much.
When the sheriffs & the Pinkerton detectives were getting too close for comfort, Bill went to British Columbia where he became somewhat of a folk-hero. He is credited with Canada's first train robbery and originating the term "Hands Up". To this day,in Kamloops, B.C., reenactments of his train robbery are held as a tourist attraction. Sort of like the Gunfight at the OK Corral reenactments that are held ad nauseam down in Tombstone.
It's an accurate, dirt under the finger nails,look at the West at the turn of the 20th century.
I still miss the romance between Bill & the intriguing Kate Flynn so beautifully captured in the film. Alas,there was no Kate Flynn in Bill Miner's life.
Bill died peacefully at age 66 while in prison at Milledgeville ,Georgia in 1913.

[Ann Hriciga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last chapter is a ‘must read’ as it goes into the folklore of the ‘good bandit’ like RobinHood and whether that made any sense for the culture that existed in the American West vs peasant Europe. Good story, very dry writing

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Its more of a chronology of his life and a bit dry at times.