The Buckingham Outlaws: PART XVIII
A False Trail
The story of the Zimmerman-Thomas Gang fell from the headlines for several days. Then, on October 14, 1908, Roanoke’s The Evening News ran a provocative article, introducing a new piece of back story. If true, the officials of Buckingham County may have been embarrassed and suppressed this detail. On the other hand, it may have been a rumor or even fabricated, creating an excuse for a sensational headline.
SAW OUTLAW GANG
IN WOMEN’S CLOTHES
Report to Effect Officers Were Led Off on False Trail
Buckingham Va., Oct. 14.
. . . a certain young man told the officers if they would pay him $100 he would take them to the place where these men were hiding and show them to the officers, stating that they had been working in the woods while dressed in women’s clothes, and the officers led off on this false trail went to Arvonia. Then followed the sensational reports of the shooting of N. M. Gregory and the organized efforts of the people of Arvonia to locate these men.
It is a subject of great regret to Buckingham people that the idea should have gone abroad that lawlessness and riot were so rampant in this county.
There was moonshine whiskey sold and it is reported that it is sold now.
Coming Next: Arrest!
Need to catch up? Click here: The Buckingham Outlaws: Part I
slate river ramblings . . . . 
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