gns and
passwords. Murrell himself was married to the sister of one of his
gang. He bought a good farm near Denmark, Madison county,
Tennessee, where he lived as a plain farmer, while he conducted the
most fearful schemes of rapine and murder from New Orleans up to
Memphis, St. Louis and Cincinnati.

"Nature had done much for Murrell. He had a quick mind, a fine
natural address and great adaptability; and he was as much at ease
among the refined and cultured as with his own gang. He made a
special study of criminal law, and knew something of medicine. He
often palmed himself off as a preacher, and preached in large
camp-meetings--and some were converted under his ministry! He often
used his clerical garb in passing counterfeit money. With a clear
head, cool, fine judgment, and a nature utterly without fear, moral
or physical, his power over his men never waned. To them he was
just, fair and amiable. He was a kind husband and brother, and a
faithful friend. He took great pride in his position and in the
operations of his gang. This conceit was the only weak spot in his
nature, and led to his downfall.

"Stewart, who purports to be Murrell's biographer, made Murrell's
acquaintance, pretended to join his gang, and playing on his
vanity, attended a meeting of the gang at the rendezvous at the Big
Cottonwood, and saw the meeting of the Grand Council. He had
Murrell arrested, and he was tried, convicted and sent to the
Tennessee penitentiary in 1834 for ten years. There he worked in
the blacksmith shops, but by the time he got out, was broken down
in mind and body, emerging an imbecile and an invalid, to live less
than a year.

"Stewart's account holds inconsistencies and inaccuracies, such as
that many men high in social and official life belonged to
Murrell's gang, which his published lists do not show. He had
perhaps 440 to 450 men, scattered from New Orleans to Cincinnati,
but his downfall spread fear and distrust among them.

"At Vicksburg, on July 4, 1835, a drunken member of the gang
threatened to attack the authorities, and was tarred and feathered.
Others of the gang, or at least several well-known gamblers,
collected and defied the citizens, and killed the good and brave
Dr. Bodley. Five men were hung, Hullams, Dutch Bill, North,