Volume 16 , Issue 7

Butch Cassidy Has A Double (3 July 1904)

According to page three of The Salt Lake Herald, dated 3 July 1904, Sunday, the headlines read: Butch Cassidy Has A Double. Edward Holton, a local gambler, was mistaken for the outlaw.

The news story began with, "How would you like to be the dead image of the most noted murderer, outlaw and train robber of modern times, Butch Cassidy?"

As the rest of the story goes that Edward Holton, a gambler dealing faro in a local green cloth house, resembled the noted outlaw that even the detective force of that city had been fooled. A dozen inquiries had been made during that past few weeks of 1904 of the police department and state authorities as to the whereabouts of Butch Cassidy and the rewards that were still in force. Holton, it seemed, had been in town for some time, a doubt was still existed in the minds of some officials as to whether the gambler was not in truth Butch Cassidy reformed.

They were loud in claiming that he was the much wanted man. Of all the turmoil that had been aroused since his coming, a few months ago, Holton had been to a great extent unaware. Right there is where those familiar with Cassidy, alias Parker, showed how sincere was their belief that he had come tot he City of the Saints for reasons best known to himself. Butch had a reputation for being handy with his shooting iron, and the would be finders held a wholesome respect for his prowess.

When the man first drifted into Salt Lake City there were several detectives who thought they recognized the famous outlaw, and wanted to cop out a bunch of money by arresting him for the rewards hanging over his head. They were not so certain of their game as to warrant their attempting the arrest.

It was stated that one man, so confident was he that the man in question was the murderer, went to Governor Wells and asked concerning the rewards which he supposed were hanging over the man's head. It was reputed that the chief executive told him there were no rewards now in existence for Cassidy; that they had been pulled down months before.

Ed Holton, the double of the notorious Butch Cassidy, may have been seen any night in the northwest corner of the room in which he tempts chance with outsider. He either occupies the lookout chair or was seated at the card case, his apparent occupying the elevated position tot he right.

It was no wonder that clever detectives and men personally familiar with Cassidy were taken in. Cassidy had a scar over the right eye, where a deputy sheriff of Wyoming struck him. Holton had a scar over his right optic that was forever the grim reminder of some past unpleasantness.

Butch had a falling out with his pal, and before he could kill him the other fellow had pumped a few ounces of lead into Cassidy's left hip. The accident left the outlaw with a limp. The gambler had a limp, so it was said, by those who had seen him walk.

It was said that Butch through misrepresentation, became a member of the Elks. From thongs which the double had said, it is surmised that he, too, was entitled too.

Holton had the unruly hair that the outlaw had. The parting was made in about the same location. The former was possibly thinner featured than Cassidy. Cassidy's determined jaws and chin were well covered with flesh. Holton's face, through wear and tear and nature, was not so full.

In 1904, Cassidy was 37 years old. Holton appears about two years younger. Holton came to this town several months ago from Colorado and had followed gambling as a profession since his arrival.

The rumor that Butch Cassidy was in town was strengthened by his alleged recent utterance to the effect that he was about to reform and settle down.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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