Notes for JOHN HILL: John Hill was living at Mammoth Springs AR, in 1893 when he along with five other bandits attempted to rob a train at Olyphant in White Co, AR. According to stories in the Arkansas Gazette, when captured he used the alias "Albert Mansker". He and two others were hung for the murder of the conductor during the robbery. The hanging took place in 1894 at Newport, AR in Jackson Co. "John Hill was hung April 6, 1894 for his part of the Olyphant train robbery and the killing of conductor W P McNally near Newport AR on 11-4-1893. John Hill was hung in Newport on one gallows simultaneously with Tom Brady and Jim Wyrick. They maintained their innocence of the actual murder to the end and spent their last night singing hymns and praying while waiting for the reprieve that never came. Hill was convicted by a second trial, the first ending in a hung jury." "Others of the 10 member gang received sentences; George M Padgett turned states evidence, Jack Williams was captured later at Witt Springs (most were captured at Jamestown, Independence Co, AR near Batesville). One gang member, not named but said to be "from good family" in Madison Co and thought to have done the actual shooting of the conductor, was caught two years later. But by then people had had enough hanging and he was released without punishment. James W Butler was the trial judge and Sheriff's Patterson and Pennington were instrumental in the arrest. Several gang members were from Silom Springs, AR, John Hill alias Albert Mansker", was reported to be "a respected citizen of Mammoth Springs, AR. This was the only triple hanging in Newport's history. Reference: the Independence Co. Chronicle, Vol II, No. 1 published by the Independence Co Historical Society, Batesville, AR Oct. 196?