The Banditti of the Prairies

by Edward Bonney

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ... Bowling Green. My plans as described to him by Phips appeared to meet his approbation. "The Judge says he does not care for any of them but the race mare. If she can be secured so that he can get her, he will pay well for your trouble and delay." "I know he will. If I can succeed in getting the horses as proposed, I will leave the mare about twenty miles above Terrehaute, near the Wabash river, where she can be secreted. Then I can send word to Fox where he will find her, and hasten on to Cincinnati, where I must be as soon as possible." "But," said Hiram, "if you are going to Cincinnati, it will not be much out of your way to go and see Fox." "I do not know where he is now." "He has gone to his father's in the eastern part of this State, and I think will remain at home until you can get there and see him." It was with difficulty that I could repress a strong exclamation of pleasure at being told of the present lurking-place of Fox, but endeavouring to conceal my satisfaction, I proceeded to remark upon the subject of the horses: "It will require so much time to carry out our plans about the horses, that probably I shall not see Fox. If I succeed in getting them, yon had better write to Fox, that he will find the mare where I will leave her, with a friend near the Wabash Biver." "I will do so." "And now about the witness to swear that the horses belong to me." "You had better remain here, and send Phips after John Birch, the Old Coon: he will be the best witness I know of." "That will consume a good deal of time. Let me suggest a plan. I believe they are getting a little sick of keeping the. horses. Perhaps if I go and claim them as my...

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1850

Reviews

[Jordan Dumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bandits, Mormons, lynch mobs, the Mississippi River, Murder- this 1850 True Crime Memoir of Private Investigator, Man hunter and Undercover Agent, Edward Booney, aka Tom Brown, seems to have it all.

Bad Fiction, Edward Booney shows little, and tells everything. But this is not fiction, this is real life, and Booney's style comes off as rationale, letting facts tell the story, and leaving the emotions in the background.

Still worth a read, as the story tells itself, and its a story as dark and crazy as the Mississippi River itself. Image, Little House on the Prairie and the Heart of Darkness, but in the 1840's, and all this stuff really happened.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in a first person story of a man (Edward Bonney) who takes it upon himself to track down an 1850s Illinois prairie gang and bring them to justice, this is a must-read. Eye opening!

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of crime in the 1830’s in Illinois and Indiana-what was then known as “The West”. The book is available via archive.org.

[Daniel Stephans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real life action thriller. A most excellent account of early settlement of the western country, the Mississippi Valley and the "far west", western Illinois and eastern Iowa being the center of the action.
If you're looking for an author, an artist, don't try to read this one. If you enjoy journals and first hand accounts of life by common folk, you'll love this one.

I discovered the book because I was looking for an account of the murder of Col. George Davenport, July 4, 1845. In the 182o's George Davenport knew and associated with Jason Shull, for whom Shullsburg, Wisconsin is named.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

He is a bit overwhelming and full of himself, but a good read into the Mormon and non-Mormon conflicts of Midwest in the 1840s.