The Outlaw Billy Miner
Back in the 1880s the outlaw Billy Miner
Was either breaking the law or breaking out of jail.
Up in these parts in the City of New Westminster
He did time in the B.C. Pen for robbing CP Rail.
Bill spent some time in New York in the social climbing game.
Dressed up in a three-piece suit he used different name*.
When his cash supply was gone back out west, he came.
An outlaw riding through the land was his claim to fame.
He held up stages in the states and trains in Canada,
Always travelling with a gun and running from the law.
There never was a prison that could hold him very long.
He’d find a way to break out and then he’d be long gone.
In 1904 Canada’s first train robbery
was pulled off by Bill Miner making history.
He held up the C.P.R. with outlaw Shorty Dunn.
Ten thousand worth of gold and bonds put them on the run.
Again In 1906 he robbed the C.P.R. in May.
In June he was sentenced to a lifetime prison stay.
He stood in court and told the judge “No jail can hold me sir.”
In August of the next year he’d back up his word.
He broke out of the B.C. Pen in 1907,
was back in jail in Georgia by spring 1911.
He busted out of Georgia pen two more times and then
in this life here on earth he never escaped again.
On September 2nd, 1913 Billy Miner drew his final breath
and made his last escape arm in arm with the angel of death.
*The other name Billy Miner used in New York was Eric Edwards.