William Carlisle, 74, Wyoming Train Robber
Coatesville, Pa. (AP)--William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, 74, one of the last train robbers of the West, has died of cancer. Carlisle robbed his first train in 1916. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Wyoming but was paroled in 1936 and received a full pardon in 1947.
(Omaha World Herald, Omaha, NE, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday), Page 18)
Will L. Carlisle, 74, died at the home of a niece, Mrs. Francis Cammie, 2 Spruce St., Westwood, yesterday afternoon after a lengthy illness.
He was a son of the late David and Salome Lentz Cottrell. Mr. Carlisle is survived by:
Two sisters, Mrs. Lydia C. Morris, Coatesville, and Mrs. Karen Shuhayda, of Virginia. Also several nieces and nephews and a grand daughter. His wife, Lillian Lavina Berquest died in 1961.
Mr. Carlisle was born in Chester and attended Hagerstown, Md. schools. He was a member of St. Cecilia's RC Church and Laramie, Wyo., Knights of Columbus.
Also the Chuck Wagon Trailers and Westwood Fire Co.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
CARLISLE- Of 2 Spruce St., Westwood, Pa., Will L. Carlisle, aged 74 years.
Funeral will be held from the Harry E. Wentz Funeral Home, 342 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, on Monday, June 22nd, at 8:15 A.M. Low Requiem Mass, St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, at 9 A.M. There will be no viewing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Chester County Cancer Society.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
COATESVILLE, PA.- (AP) William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, who once earned headlines as "the Robin Hood of the Rails" for his daring train-robberies is dead at the age of 74.
Carlisle, who turned over a new leaf while in prison, earned a pardon and spent the rest of his life praising and living the honest life, died of cancer Friday at the home of a niece, with whom he lived.
Carlisle first won notoriety with a train robbery in 1916. It was followed by three more. Thousands of dollars reward were offered for his capture.
After his capture he was imprisoned in Wyoming for life. Denver attorney Fred Mazzulla, an acquaintance of Carlisle, calculated that the escapades of "Wild Bill" (or "Big Bill" as he was also known) on the Union Pacific line netted him only $1,023.32.
PAROLED IN 1936
Carlisle was paroled in 1936, a changed man.
The new Bill Carlisle settled down in small businesses- first a gas station, later a tourist camp, attracting customers by his reputation. He married and raised an adopted daughter, now married.
His new life was so exemplary that in 1947 he won a full pardon.
WAS 74 IN MAY
After his wife's death two years ago, Carlisle returned to Pennsylvania, his birthplace, to live with his niece, Mrs. Hilda Cammie, a professional nurse and her husband, Francis.
It was Mrs. Cammie who cared for him over the past 10 weeks. Bed-ridden, Carlisle had observed his 74th birthday only last month.
He was only semi-conscious during his last days, but in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Carlisle reviewed the lessons of his life.
Asked what made him spend his youth in crime and in jail, Carlisle answered:
"Just to keep going. It was just a wild idea. Would I do it over? No. I've given it a lot of thought in the last year- in fact in the last 20 years. I've made it so much better. It makes a man see what he missed."
"Everything I've done since I got out of this trash shows there wasn't anything in it." he continued. "I've had a far better life working for myself and others."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
(Daily Republican, Phoenixville, PA, 20 June 1964 (Saturday))
Coatesville, Pa. (AP)--William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, 74, one of the last train robbers of the West, has died of cancer. Carlisle robbed his first train in 1916. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Wyoming but was paroled in 1936 and received a full pardon in 1947.
(Omaha World Herald, Omaha, NE, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday), Page 18)
Will L. Carlisle, 74, died at the home of a niece, Mrs. Francis Cammie, 2 Spruce St., Westwood, yesterday afternoon after a lengthy illness.
He was a son of the late David and Salome Lentz Cottrell. Mr. Carlisle is survived by:
Two sisters, Mrs. Lydia C. Morris, Coatesville, and Mrs. Karen Shuhayda, of Virginia. Also several nieces and nephews and a grand daughter. His wife, Lillian Lavina Berquest died in 1961.
Mr. Carlisle was born in Chester and attended Hagerstown, Md. schools. He was a member of St. Cecilia's RC Church and Laramie, Wyo., Knights of Columbus.
Also the Chuck Wagon Trailers and Westwood Fire Co.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
CARLISLE- Of 2 Spruce St., Westwood, Pa., Will L. Carlisle, aged 74 years.
Funeral will be held from the Harry E. Wentz Funeral Home, 342 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, on Monday, June 22nd, at 8:15 A.M. Low Requiem Mass, St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, at 9 A.M. There will be no viewing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Chester County Cancer Society.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
COATESVILLE, PA.- (AP) William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, who once earned headlines as "the Robin Hood of the Rails" for his daring train-robberies is dead at the age of 74.
Carlisle, who turned over a new leaf while in prison, earned a pardon and spent the rest of his life praising and living the honest life, died of cancer Friday at the home of a niece, with whom he lived.
Carlisle first won notoriety with a train robbery in 1916. It was followed by three more. Thousands of dollars reward were offered for his capture.
After his capture he was imprisoned in Wyoming for life. Denver attorney Fred Mazzulla, an acquaintance of Carlisle, calculated that the escapades of "Wild Bill" (or "Big Bill" as he was also known) on the Union Pacific line netted him only $1,023.32.
PAROLED IN 1936
Carlisle was paroled in 1936, a changed man.
The new Bill Carlisle settled down in small businesses- first a gas station, later a tourist camp, attracting customers by his reputation. He married and raised an adopted daughter, now married.
His new life was so exemplary that in 1947 he won a full pardon.
WAS 74 IN MAY
After his wife's death two years ago, Carlisle returned to Pennsylvania, his birthplace, to live with his niece, Mrs. Hilda Cammie, a professional nurse and her husband, Francis.
It was Mrs. Cammie who cared for him over the past 10 weeks. Bed-ridden, Carlisle had observed his 74th birthday only last month.
He was only semi-conscious during his last days, but in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Carlisle reviewed the lessons of his life.
Asked what made him spend his youth in crime and in jail, Carlisle answered:
"Just to keep going. It was just a wild idea. Would I do it over? No. I've given it a lot of thought in the last year- in fact in the last 20 years. I've made it so much better. It makes a man see what he missed."
"Everything I've done since I got out of this trash shows there wasn't anything in it." he continued. "I've had a far better life working for myself and others."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
(Daily Republican, Phoenixville, PA, 20 June 1964 (Saturday))
William Carlisle, 74, Wyoming Train Robber
Coatesville, Pa. (AP)--William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, 74, one of the last train robbers of the West, has died of cancer. Carlisle robbed his first train in 1916. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Wyoming but was paroled in 1936 and received a full pardon in 1947.
(Omaha World Herald, Omaha, NE, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday), Page 18)
Will L. Carlisle, 74, died at the home of a niece, Mrs. Francis Cammie, 2 Spruce St., Westwood, yesterday afternoon after a lengthy illness.
He was a son of the late David and Salome Lentz Cottrell. Mr. Carlisle is survived by:
Two sisters, Mrs. Lydia C. Morris, Coatesville, and Mrs. Karen Shuhayda, of Virginia. Also several nieces and nephews and a grand daughter. His wife, Lillian Lavina Berquest died in 1961.
Mr. Carlisle was born in Chester and attended Hagerstown, Md. schools. He was a member of St. Cecilia's RC Church and Laramie, Wyo., Knights of Columbus.
Also the Chuck Wagon Trailers and Westwood Fire Co.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
CARLISLE- Of 2 Spruce St., Westwood, Pa., Will L. Carlisle, aged 74 years.
Funeral will be held from the Harry E. Wentz Funeral Home, 342 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, on Monday, June 22nd, at 8:15 A.M. Low Requiem Mass, St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, at 9 A.M. There will be no viewing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Chester County Cancer Society.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
COATESVILLE, PA.- (AP) William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, who once earned headlines as "the Robin Hood of the Rails" for his daring train-robberies is dead at the age of 74.
Carlisle, who turned over a new leaf while in prison, earned a pardon and spent the rest of his life praising and living the honest life, died of cancer Friday at the home of a niece, with whom he lived.
Carlisle first won notoriety with a train robbery in 1916. It was followed by three more. Thousands of dollars reward were offered for his capture.
After his capture he was imprisoned in Wyoming for life. Denver attorney Fred Mazzulla, an acquaintance of Carlisle, calculated that the escapades of "Wild Bill" (or "Big Bill" as he was also known) on the Union Pacific line netted him only $1,023.32.
PAROLED IN 1936
Carlisle was paroled in 1936, a changed man.
The new Bill Carlisle settled down in small businesses- first a gas station, later a tourist camp, attracting customers by his reputation. He married and raised an adopted daughter, now married.
His new life was so exemplary that in 1947 he won a full pardon.
WAS 74 IN MAY
After his wife's death two years ago, Carlisle returned to Pennsylvania, his birthplace, to live with his niece, Mrs. Hilda Cammie, a professional nurse and her husband, Francis.
It was Mrs. Cammie who cared for him over the past 10 weeks. Bed-ridden, Carlisle had observed his 74th birthday only last month.
He was only semi-conscious during his last days, but in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Carlisle reviewed the lessons of his life.
Asked what made him spend his youth in crime and in jail, Carlisle answered:
"Just to keep going. It was just a wild idea. Would I do it over? No. I've given it a lot of thought in the last year- in fact in the last 20 years. I've made it so much better. It makes a man see what he missed."
"Everything I've done since I got out of this trash shows there wasn't anything in it." he continued. "I've had a far better life working for myself and others."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
(Daily Republican, Phoenixville, PA, 20 June 1964 (Saturday))
Coatesville, Pa. (AP)--William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, 74, one of the last train robbers of the West, has died of cancer. Carlisle robbed his first train in 1916. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in Wyoming but was paroled in 1936 and received a full pardon in 1947.
(Omaha World Herald, Omaha, NE, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday), Page 18)
Will L. Carlisle, 74, died at the home of a niece, Mrs. Francis Cammie, 2 Spruce St., Westwood, yesterday afternoon after a lengthy illness.
He was a son of the late David and Salome Lentz Cottrell. Mr. Carlisle is survived by:
Two sisters, Mrs. Lydia C. Morris, Coatesville, and Mrs. Karen Shuhayda, of Virginia. Also several nieces and nephews and a grand daughter. His wife, Lillian Lavina Berquest died in 1961.
Mr. Carlisle was born in Chester and attended Hagerstown, Md. schools. He was a member of St. Cecilia's RC Church and Laramie, Wyo., Knights of Columbus.
Also the Chuck Wagon Trailers and Westwood Fire Co.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
CARLISLE- Of 2 Spruce St., Westwood, Pa., Will L. Carlisle, aged 74 years.
Funeral will be held from the Harry E. Wentz Funeral Home, 342 E. Chestnut St., Coatesville, on Monday, June 22nd, at 8:15 A.M. Low Requiem Mass, St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, at 9 A.M. There will be no viewing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Chester County Cancer Society.
(Coatesville Record, Coatesville, PA, 20 Jun 1964 (Saturday))
COATESVILLE, PA.- (AP) William L. (Wild Bill) Carlisle, who once earned headlines as "the Robin Hood of the Rails" for his daring train-robberies is dead at the age of 74.
Carlisle, who turned over a new leaf while in prison, earned a pardon and spent the rest of his life praising and living the honest life, died of cancer Friday at the home of a niece, with whom he lived.
Carlisle first won notoriety with a train robbery in 1916. It was followed by three more. Thousands of dollars reward were offered for his capture.
After his capture he was imprisoned in Wyoming for life. Denver attorney Fred Mazzulla, an acquaintance of Carlisle, calculated that the escapades of "Wild Bill" (or "Big Bill" as he was also known) on the Union Pacific line netted him only $1,023.32.
PAROLED IN 1936
Carlisle was paroled in 1936, a changed man.
The new Bill Carlisle settled down in small businesses- first a gas station, later a tourist camp, attracting customers by his reputation. He married and raised an adopted daughter, now married.
His new life was so exemplary that in 1947 he won a full pardon.
WAS 74 IN MAY
After his wife's death two years ago, Carlisle returned to Pennsylvania, his birthplace, to live with his niece, Mrs. Hilda Cammie, a professional nurse and her husband, Francis.
It was Mrs. Cammie who cared for him over the past 10 weeks. Bed-ridden, Carlisle had observed his 74th birthday only last month.
He was only semi-conscious during his last days, but in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Carlisle reviewed the lessons of his life.
Asked what made him spend his youth in crime and in jail, Carlisle answered:
"Just to keep going. It was just a wild idea. Would I do it over? No. I've given it a lot of thought in the last year- in fact in the last 20 years. I've made it so much better. It makes a man see what he missed."
"Everything I've done since I got out of this trash shows there wasn't anything in it." he continued. "I've had a far better life working for myself and others."
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
(Daily Republican, Phoenixville, PA, 20 June 1964 (Saturday))
Gravesite Details
Birth name was William Lawrence Cottrell.
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