Category Archives: Black Bart

The Last Years of Black Bart

All Charles E. Bolton (aka Black Bart) wanted was to disappear. He was the most famous stagecoach robber in California but he had served his time in prison. Now he didn’t want to be pestered by reporters or pointed out … Continue reading

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The Disappearance of Black Bart

Charles E. Bolton was released from San Quentin State Prison on January 21, 1888. What next? Not “a bad sort of man, for a highway robber,” was the opinion of one lawman, who went on to describe him as “an … Continue reading

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Black Bart in San Quentin

Charles E. Bolton, aka Black Bart, entered San Quentin State Prison on November 21, 1883. It had only been eighteen days since his arrest. Justice was swift in those day. While in prison Bart wrote letters to his family in … Continue reading

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FX07

FX07 was the code that brought down Black Bart. It was a laundry mark. In the day when men had their shirts, detachable collars and cuffs, handkerchiefs, and other items of clothing cleaned at a laundry, the items were marked … Continue reading

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Black Bart: The Search is Over

Law enforcement lost track of Charles E. Boles, the gentleman bandit known as Black Bart, after his release from San Quentin Prison on January 21, 1888. During March he was seen in Stockton, Oakdale, and Modesto. He was last spotted … Continue reading

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Black Bart in Butte County, Again

Black Bart’s first stagecoach robbery in Butte County, and his fifth overall, occurred on July 25, 1878. He held up of the Quincy-Oroville stage about a mile from Berry Creek. Although not noted in this newspaper report, this was the … Continue reading

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Black Bart in Butte County

On this date — June 21 — in 1879 the notorious stage robber Black Bart held up a stage coach near Forbestown in Butte County. It was his first robbery in the year 1879 and his ninth robbery since he … Continue reading

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Black Bart in Butte County

On July 25, 1878, the notorious outlaw “Black Bart” held up a stagecoach on the Oroville-Quincy Road. Twenty-eight stagecoach robberies are credited to Charles E. Boles (aka “Black Bart”) and this was his fifth. Boles had not had a great … Continue reading

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