Bill Miner

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Bill Miner (1847 - September 2, 1913) was a noted American criminal, originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who served several prison terms for stagecoach robbery. Known for his unusual politeness while committing robberies, he was widely nicknamed The Gentleman Robber or The Gentleman Bandit. He is reputed to have been the originator of the phrase "Hands up!".

After his third prison term, Miner moved to the province of British Columbia in Canada, where he adopted the pseudonym George Edwards and staged Canada's first-ever train robbery on September 10, 1904 at Silverdale about 35km east of Vancouver, just west of Mission City. Miner was eventually caught after an aborted payroll train robbery near Kamloops at Monte Creek (then known as "Ducks"), surrendering to the arresting officers with his customary courteousness. After serving time in the B.C. Penitentiary Miner moved back to the US, becoming once again involved in train robberies in the South, serving more prison time, and escaping once again.

Miner was the subject of the 1983 Canadian film The Grey Fox, in which he was played by Richard Farnsworth.

Miner is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville, GA

[edit] External links

• A Bill Miner page at AOL
• Bill Miner at Find A Grave