Bill Miner
Encyclopedia
Ezra Allen Miner more popularly known as Bill Miner, was a noted American
criminal, originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky
, who served several prison terms for stagecoach
robbery. Known for his unusual politeness
while committing robberies, he was widely nicknamed The Gentleman Robber or The Gentleman Bandit. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase "Hands up!".
in Canada
, where he adopted the pseudonym George Edwards and is believed to have staged British Columbia's first-ever train robbery
on September 10, 1904 at Silverdale
about 35 km east of Vancouver, just west of Mission City
. It is often claimed that Miner was the robber, but neither he nor his accomplices were ever tied conclusively to the botched Silverdale heist. It is also widely reported that Silverdale's train robbery was the first in Canada, but Peter Grauer's definitive study ("Interred With Their Bones", 2005) cites a train robbery in Port Credit, Ontario
30 years prior as the first.
Miner was eventually caught after an aborted payroll train robbery near Kamloops
at Monte Creek
(then known as "Ducks"). He and his two accomplices, Shorty Dunn and Louis Colquhoun, were located near Douglas Lake
, B.C. after an extensive manhunt. When found, Miner apparently surrendered to the arresting officers with his customary courteousness, but Dunn attempted to fire at police and was himself shot (in the foot) during the arrest. Miner's arrest and subsequent trial in Kamloops caused a media spectacle. Upon his conviction, he, Dunn and Colquhoun were transported by train to the provincial penitentiary in New Westminster
. By that time, Miner's celebrity status had risen to the point that the tracks were reputedly lined with throngs of supporters, many of whom expressed satisfaction with the fact that someone had taken the very unpopular CPR to task.
After serving time in the B.C. Penitentiary Miner escaped and was never recaptured in Canada. It is presumed that he moved back to the US, becoming once again involved in robberies in the South. There, he served more prison time, and escaped again.
, have named drinks and their famous Billy Miner Pie after the train robber. Their early decor also showed many photos of Miner.
A mural depicting Miner's robbery near Monte Creek is being painted on the exterior south wall of Cactus Jacks Saloon & Dance Hall located in the building at the corner of 5th Avenue & Lansdowne Street in Kamloops, BC.
Maple Ridge BC. features the Billy Miner Pub which is located in historic Port Haney on the bank of the Fraser River. The Pub is located in the original Bank Of Montreal building built in the early 1900s
Some speculate that Miner left a hidden cache of loot in the forests south of Silverdale after the first robbery. Some believe he used these funds to fund his escape, while others surmise that there is still hidden loot to be found there.
Miner was the subject of the 1983 Canadian film The Grey Fox
, in which he was played by Richard Farnsworth
.
Miner is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery
in Milledgeville, Georgia
.
Miner escaped in death as well. It was discovered several years ago his headstone was in the wrong location and name spelled wrong. A new headstone was put in correct spot and spelled correctly. The old one was kept where it was.
Mount Miner near Princeton
, formerly Bald Mountain or Baldy, was re-named in Bill Miner's honour in response to a motion by the Princeton Board of Trade in 1952. Miner had lived on the ranch owned by Jack Budd, which was on the other side of this mountain from Princeton, while planning the robbery at Duck's.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
criminal, originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
, who served several prison terms for stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
robbery. Known for his unusual politeness
Politeness
Politeness is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette. It is a culturally-defined phenomenon, and therefore what is considered polite in one culture can sometimes be quite rude or simply eccentric in another cultural context....
while committing robberies, he was widely nicknamed The Gentleman Robber or The Gentleman Bandit. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase "Hands up!".
Life
After his third prison term, Miner moved to the province of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he adopted the pseudonym George Edwards and is believed to have staged British Columbia's first-ever train robbery
Train robbery
Train robbery is a type of robbery, in which the goal is to steal money or other valuables being carried aboard trains.-History:Train robberies were more common in the past than today, and often occurred in the American Old West. Trains carrying payroll shipments were a major target...
on September 10, 1904 at Silverdale
Silverdale, British Columbia
Silverdale is a semi-rural neighbourhood of the District of Mission, British Columbia, Canada c. 40 km east of Vancouver on the west bank of the Stave River at its confluence with the Fraser. Noted for its historic Italian Canadian community, its economy was farming, fishing and logging based...
about 35 km east of Vancouver, just west of Mission City
Mission, British Columbia
Mission, the core of which was formerly known as Mission City, is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the north bank of the Fraser River overlooking the City of Abbotsford and with that city is part of the Central Fraser Valley. Mission is the...
. It is often claimed that Miner was the robber, but neither he nor his accomplices were ever tied conclusively to the botched Silverdale heist. It is also widely reported that Silverdale's train robbery was the first in Canada, but Peter Grauer's definitive study ("Interred With Their Bones", 2005) cites a train robbery in Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
30 years prior as the first.
Miner was eventually caught after an aborted payroll train robbery near Kamloops
Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
at Monte Creek
Monte Creek, British Columbia
Monte Creek is a rural locality on the South Thompson River east of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, approximately equidistant from Kamloops and the village of Chase, British Columbia. It is mostly notable as a major highway junction where British Columbia Highway 97 branches off from the...
(then known as "Ducks"). He and his two accomplices, Shorty Dunn and Louis Colquhoun, were located near Douglas Lake
Douglas Lake
Douglas Lake, also called Douglas Reservoir, is a reservoir created by an impoundment of the French Broad River in Eastern Tennessee. This lake is located only a few miles from the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area, and also the Great Smoky Mountains National Park...
, B.C. after an extensive manhunt. When found, Miner apparently surrendered to the arresting officers with his customary courteousness, but Dunn attempted to fire at police and was himself shot (in the foot) during the arrest. Miner's arrest and subsequent trial in Kamloops caused a media spectacle. Upon his conviction, he, Dunn and Colquhoun were transported by train to the provincial penitentiary in New Westminster
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
. By that time, Miner's celebrity status had risen to the point that the tracks were reputedly lined with throngs of supporters, many of whom expressed satisfaction with the fact that someone had taken the very unpopular CPR to task.
After serving time in the B.C. Penitentiary Miner escaped and was never recaptured in Canada. It is presumed that he moved back to the US, becoming once again involved in robberies in the South. There, he served more prison time, and escaped again.
Legacy
Miner's time in BC propelled his celebrity there in many ways since. BC restaurant chain, The Keg Steakhouse & BarThe Keg
The Keg is a chain of steakhouse restaurants and bars in Canada and the United States.-Background:It was founded in 1971 in North Vancouver, British Columbia by George Tidball and today operates in all provinces and five American states...
, have named drinks and their famous Billy Miner Pie after the train robber. Their early decor also showed many photos of Miner.
A mural depicting Miner's robbery near Monte Creek is being painted on the exterior south wall of Cactus Jacks Saloon & Dance Hall located in the building at the corner of 5th Avenue & Lansdowne Street in Kamloops, BC.
Maple Ridge BC. features the Billy Miner Pub which is located in historic Port Haney on the bank of the Fraser River. The Pub is located in the original Bank Of Montreal building built in the early 1900s
Some speculate that Miner left a hidden cache of loot in the forests south of Silverdale after the first robbery. Some believe he used these funds to fund his escape, while others surmise that there is still hidden loot to be found there.
Miner was the subject of the 1983 Canadian film The Grey Fox
The Grey Fox (film)
The Grey Fox is a 1982 Canadian film written by John Hunter and directed by Phillip Borsos. It is based on the true story of Bill Miner, an American stagecoach robber who staged Canada's first train robbery on September 10, 1904. The film stars Richard Farnsworth as Miner...
, in which he was played by Richard Farnsworth
Richard Farnsworth
Richard W. Farnsworth was an American actor and stuntman. His film career began in 1937; however, he achieved his greatest success for his performances in The Grey Fox and The Straight Story , for which he received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.- Early life :Farnsworth was born...
.
Miner is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery
Memory Hill Cemetery
Memory Hill Cemetery is an American cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia. The cemetery opened in 1804.-Notable Interments:*Thomas Petters Carnes, United States Representative for Georgia and state court judge....
in Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
.
Miner escaped in death as well. It was discovered several years ago his headstone was in the wrong location and name spelled wrong. A new headstone was put in correct spot and spelled correctly. The old one was kept where it was.
Mount Miner near Princeton
Princeton, British Columbia
Princeton is a small town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, Canada. It lies just east of the Cascade Mountains, which continue south into Washington, Oregon and California. The Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers converge here...
, formerly Bald Mountain or Baldy, was re-named in Bill Miner's honour in response to a motion by the Princeton Board of Trade in 1952. Miner had lived on the ranch owned by Jack Budd, which was on the other side of this mountain from Princeton, while planning the robbery at Duck's.