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How the Canyon Diablo Train Robbers Escaped the Death Penalty

April 7, 2016 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Free

In March 1889, four men robbed the Atlantic Pacific train near Canyon Diablo. The robbers were eventually caught in what became an epic manhunt that lasted nearly two and a half weeks, and covered a reported 300 miles. The robbery also served as the first test case for a new Arizona law making train robbery a capital offense. The bandits eventually pled guilty, but were not sentenced to death. Instead, they received sentences ranging from twenty-five to thirty years. This presentation examines the Canyon Diablo robbery, the subsequent manhunt, and explains why the bandits were not executed for their crime.

SB - Paul Hietter pth_head - WEBPaul Hietter currently serves as a history professor and the chair of the Social Sciences Department at Mesa Community College. He received his Ph.D. in history from Arizona State University and has published a number of articles and book reviews on his area of specialization, crime and criminal justice in frontier Arizona and the West. Hietter has been a member of the Arizona Humanities Speakers Bureau for more than 10 years and is excited to continue sharing his knowledge and passion with Arizonans statewide.

Details

Date:
April 7, 2016
Time:
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Category:

Venue

Prescott Public Library
215 E. Goodwin St.
Prescott, AZ 86303 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
928-777-1509
View Venue Website

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