Dick Fellows, California Bandit

He crawled down the tunnel, pushing the box ahead of him. He reached a camp on the Tehachapi Creek, where he found an axe to break open the box. Inside was just $1,800, but his biggest haul yet. He threw away the box. Then he made some crutches out of some tree branches and hobbled away toward town. He stole another horse and went on his way.

In the meantime, Hume had heard about the stage being robbed and started to hunt him down. He came across the man from whom Fellows had stolen the horse. Fortunately for Hume, Fellows had stolen a horse that had a mule shoe on one foot. It would be easy to track. Hume tracked him down and put him in jail. His trial came up several months later after his leg had healed. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

One day before being sent to San Quentin, Fellows escaped from jail by breaking up the planks in the floor. He was only on the lam for two days. He tried to steal another horse that didn’t want to be ridden. The horse raised such a ruckus when Fellows tried to mount it that it attracted the attention of a posse. He was recaptured. He arrived at San Quentin on June 16, 1876.

Again, he was a model prisoner and was released early. But within two months of his release, he was back to robbing stages. Hume got on his trail again and easily captured him. He was tried in Santa Barbara and this time, received a life sentence at Folsom Prison.

On April 2, 1882, Fellows overpowered his guard and escaped the jail. Once again he tried to steal a horse. Again the horse would have no part of it. Within 100 yards the horse bucked him off. A few days later he began his stay at Folsom prison. In 1894, he received a pardon after having served 12 years. After his release, he was never heard from again.

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