St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

1875 Robbery (James & Youngers)

St. Clair County Courier
15 July 1976
Bicentennial Corner

St. Clair County History
1875 Robbery

D.B. Lambert keeps a thriving country store twelve miles north of Clinton. His store stands alone on the prairie and in a portion of it he lives. The store is the resort for young people in that neighborhood. A croquet set is planted there, and on Thursday last, May 13, 1875, at 7 p.m. in the yard a party of eight were playing croquet, and Mr. Lambert was in the store. Two strangers, tall, slim and genteel men, rode up and came in, and after a few minutes in came two more, looking similar to the others. Just as they were inside the door the first drew a pistol and told Lambert to stand, and the other two went to the croquet ground and told the eight croqueters to “Walk in, ladies and gentlemen, and be seated.”
Three of the robbers came in and assisted in guarding them while the fourth one robbed the store. Lambert was marched into the rear room with the others.
In the meantime a little over $300 in greenbacks was taken, also a very favorite silver watch, a fine shotgun, two revolvers and a lot of other goods from the store. They turned up every box in the house, and searched every corner. They came in from the west, and when they left started in the direction of Clinton. They were all well dressed, well armed, and mounted on the finest of horses. No uncouth language was used by any of the robbers. Lambert had his money in his pocket, also his watch, when they made him shell out.
The robbing was done so quickly that a blacksmith, 100 yards distant, pounded away and knew nothing of it until it was over.
Mat Dorman is a truthful citizen and lives near Clinton, and he has stated that about noon last Tuesday he was in company with two of the Younger Brothers and two other men, and that he conversed with them; and, further, he states that he is personally acquainted with both of the Younger Brothers. It is supposed that their companions are Jesse and Frank James.
About one year ago two men came into Lambert’s store, and he saw and suspected them from their actions, and he thinks tow of this gang are the same ones. No effort is being made by any officers in Clinton to capture these outlaws, and it is not supposed that there will be.