The Soap Gang at McNeil Island prison.

November 8, 2010

Thanks to the McNeil Island Penitentiary records on microfilm at the National Archives I was able to find some of the members of the Soap Gang sent there after Soapy was killed. There were over 800 mugshots I had to sort through and unfortunately none were of the gang. The written records upon being received into the prison are revealing and well worth the effort. Several mysteries remain, such as what became of the prison records for John L. "Reverend" Bowers, W. E. "Slim Jim" Foster and Van B. "Old Man" Triplett?

(Click image to enlarge)

1898 Part 1

 (Click image to enlarge)

 1898 Part 2

The records above show the following information for

Edward Fay: Although not known as a member of the Soap Gang, his shooting of Deputy U.S. Marshal Rowan in Skagway, Alaska and the subsequent protection he received from Soapy make him an interesting study. his name is believed to have been John Fay and under his name listed in the record is the underlined words "true name" which appears to be pointing at his last name. There also appears to be possibly a question mark there. Hopefully future records found will clear up the name issue.

Number of Commitment: 821

Number: 104488

Conviction when: November term 1898

Where: District of Alaska

Offense: Manslaughter

Sentence: 8 years and $100 fine

Date of Sentence: Jan. 6, 1899

Expires When With "Good Time Counted": Sept. 13, 1905

Born: Boston, Mass.

Single or Married: Single

Reads: Yes

Writes: Yes

Age: 33

Height: 5'-9-1/2"

Weight: 155 ["148-1/2" written underneath]

Hair: D Brown [dark brown]

Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Very light blue
Occupation: Bartender
Religion: [missing]
Where Arrested: Surrendered himself at Sitka, Alaska
When Arrested: Feb. 3, 1898
How Long in Jail Before Trial: Since arrest
First or Second Offense: 1st
Temperate or Intemperate: Temperate [Merriam-Webster: "Absence or avoidance of extravagance, violence or extreme partisanship." Also "Moderate in the use of alcoholic beverages."]
Plea of Guilty or Not Guilty: Not Guilty
Residence: Spokane, Wash
Attorney for Plaintiff: N/A
Attorney for Defense: Leddy & Pratt
Judge: C. S. Johnson
Remarks: Received at Pen Jan. 13, 1899. Dis'd 8:30 a.m. 10/5/05
[additional notes]: Large scar under chin, ___ finger right hand crooked. Beard black, mustache redish [sic]

It is interesting to finally learn that Fay was convicted of manslaughter, and not murder. Although he was sentenced to 8 years he only served 6 years - 9 months.

W. H. "Professor" Jackson: All my records and newspaper archives from 1894 onward show his first and middle initials were W. H. However after his capture in Skagway his first name is listed as Turner. As official court records are not reliable I am not going to make a stand on his name issue, but rather use both names with an explanation just as I have done in my book.

Number of Commitment: 1014

Number: 104589

Conviction when: November term 1898

Where: District of Alaska

Offense: Assault with dangerous weapon

Sentence: 10 years

Date of Sentence: Jan. 6, 1899

Expires When With "Good Time Counted": May 23, 1907

Born: New York

Single or Married: Single

Reads: Yes

Writes: Yes

Age: 45

Height: 5'-9"

Weight: 190

Hair: Black

Complexion: Light
Eyes: Reddish Hazel
Occupation: Cattleman
Religion: [missing]
Where Arrested: Skagway, Alaska
When Arrested: June 10, 1898 [Should read July]
How Long in Jail Before Trial: Since arrest
First or Second Offense: 1st
Temperate or Intemperate: Temperate [Merriam-Webster: "Absence or avoidance of extravagance, violence or extreme partisanship." Also "Moderate in the use of alcoholic beverages."]
Plea of Guilty or Not Guilty: Not Guilty
Residence: Buffalo, New York
Attorney for Plaintiff: Fredricks
Attorney for Defense: Hawes and Cruze [sic: Hume and Crews]
Judge: C. S. Johnson
Remarks: [quote marks indicate that it is a repeat of the information from Fay's comments] "Received at Pen Jan. 13, 1899," with the addition of, "Release out on ____ habeas corpus 9/20/05 - 12 noon."
[additional notes]: Scar under right jaw. Small scar in forehead over left eye. Slightly lame in right leg.

George Wilder: The records I was able to find before publication show that Wilder did not serve time in prison but obviously this is not the case having been sentenced to 7 years.

Number of Commitment: 1013

Number: 104490

Conviction when: November term 1898

Where: District of Alaska

Offense: Assault with dangerous weapon

Sentence: 7 years and $100 fine

Date of Sentence: Jan. 6, 1899

Expires When With "Good Time Counted": Nov. 13, 1904

Born: Ohio

Single or Married: Single

Reads: Yes

Writes: Yes

Age: 52

Height: 5'-9"

Weight: 170 ["168-1/2" written underneath]

Hair: D Brown [dark brown]

Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Very light blue
Occupation: Miner
Religion: [missing]
Where Arrested: Skagway, Alaska
When Arrested: July 11, 1898
How Long in Jail Before Trial: Since arrest
First or Second Offense: 1st
Temperate or Intemperate: Temperate [Merriam-Webster: "Absence or avoidance of extravagance, violence or extreme partisanship." Also "Moderate in the use of alcoholic beverages."]
Plea of Guilty or Not Guilty: Not Guilty
Residence: N/A
Attorney for Plaintiff: Fredricks
Attorney for Defense: W. T. Hume and Cruze [sic: W. T. Hume and W.E. Crews]
Judge: C. S. Johnson
Remarks: [quote marks indicate that it is a repeat of the information from Fay's comments] "Received at Pen Jan. 13, 1899," with the addition of, "Release out on ____ habeas corpus 9/20/05 - 12 noon."

[additional notes]: Right ____ under to __________. Bald from forehead to back of center. Sandy Mustache

Interesting that Wilder was sentence to 7 years when previously he was thought to have escaped conviction. When he "assaulted with a dangerous weapon" was probably the night of Soapy's death, being one of the gang members who pulled a gun along with Jackson.

 Sources
McNeil Island Penitentiary Records of Prisoners Received, 1887-1951; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1619, 4 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Record Group 129; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

McNeil Island Penitentiary Prisoner Identification Photographs 1875-ca. 1923 (ARC # 608846); Bureau of Prisons, Record Group Number 129; National Archives Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle).

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