One of California’s earliest
and most notorious criminals, Charles E. Bolton, robbed
28 Well Fargo stage coaches between 1875 and 1883. He wore
a flour sack with eye holes over his head and left poems
behind at the scene of the crime.
After eight years of a
growing legend, Bolton was eventually arrested and jailed
in San Francisco after being traced by a laundry mark on
a handkerchief left behind at the scene of his 28th robbery.
Black Bart pled guilty to
one count of robbery and was sentenced to six years in San Quentin.
After four years, he was released and then disappeared forever
from public sight.