Ben E. Kuhl | |
|---|---|
 Mugshot of Ben Kuhl, 1917 | |
| Born | 1884 Michigan |
| Died | 1945 (aged 60–61) Northern California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | stage coach robber, mail robber, horse thief, baker, drifter |
| Known for | Robbery of a mail stage wagon |
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Criminal status | Commuted |
| Spouse | Minnier |
| Children | 1 son |
| Motive | Financial |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
| Criminal charge | robbery, murder |
| Penalty | Death |
| Accomplice(s) | Ed Beck, Billy McGraw |
| Details | |
| Victims | Fred M. Searcy |
| Date | December 5, 1916 6:30 PM |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Northern California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon |
| Location(s) | Jarbidge |
| Target(s) | mail stage wagon |
| Killed | 1 |
| Weapons | .44 caliber |
Ben E. Kuhl (1884 – paroled 1945, date of death unknown, possibly 1945) was, in 1916, the last known stage coach robber in the United States. Kuhl took part in the robbery of a mail stage wagon in Jarbidge, Nevada, US; the driver, Fred M. Searcy, was killed. The incident became a myth: "Staging a Robbery Without a Coach".[1][2] While most of the evidence against him was circumstantial, a bloody palm print on an envelope led to Kuhl's conviction. Kuhl's trial, which began in September 1917, was noted to be the first time palm prints were used as evidence in a U.S. courtroom.[1][3] State v. Kuhl also set the precedent that palm prints were as valid as fingerprints in criminal cases for identifying individuals.[4]
- ^ a b Rocha, Guy (November 2003). "Staging a Robbery Without a Coach". Nevada State Library and Archives. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Wines, Claudia; Northeastern Nevada Museum (5 November 2008). Elko County. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 107–. ISBN 978-0-7385-5886-8. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Stage Lines". clan.lib.nv.us. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Newton, David E. (2008). DNA Evidence and Forensic Science. Infobase Publishing. pp. 64–. ISBN 978-1-4381-0019-7. Retrieved 25 May 2012.