On This Day In Alabama History: Outlaw Railroad Bill Escaped Gunfight

By Graydon Rust
Alabama 200

March 6, 1895

L&N Railroad employees attempted to apprehend an outlaw named Railroad Bill as he slept near the tracks, but failed after he opened fire and escaped into the woods. The incident spurred a large-scale manhunt and a series of firefights that caused the deaths of lawmen and misidentified suspects alike. While Railroad Bill’s true identity was never conclusively determined, the hunt ended on March 7, 1896 when lawmen gunned down a man identified as Bill McCoy in Atmore. Often portrayed as a “Robin Hood” character, Railroad Bill’s legacy continued through the years in a variety of cultural representations, including music, fiction and theater.

Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.

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