Episode 314: Ezra Allen Miner, more commonly known as Bill Miner, was an infamous American stagecoach and train robber born in Michigan in 1846. Bill Miner’s criminal career included an early arrest on April 3, 1866, for robbery, leading to a three-year sentence at San Quentin. Over thirty-five years, Miner was incarcerated for a cumulative total of nearly 30 years, experiencing two official releases and making five escapes from custody. He became infamous in Canada for robbing the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and securing his status as a legendary figure in Canadian outlaw lore, which included an escape from the B.C. Penitentiary in New Westminster.
Known by nicknames such as “The Grey Fox” and the “Gentleman Bandit,” Miner was celebrated for his courteous demeanour during his heists. Furthermore, he is often credited with popularizing the now-iconic command during robberies, “Hands up!”; however, this may be hyperbole. Miner’s blend of politeness and notoriety helped cement his legacy in the annals of Canadian criminal folklore.
Sources:
This Week in History: 1906 – The legendary outlaw Bill Miner robs a train near Kamloops
Bill Miner | Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine
Bill Miner | The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Grey Fox (1982 film) | The Canadian Encyclopedia
“The Grey Fox” (1982) – Movie on Bill Miner – Western Stagecoach Robber | YouTube
The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner – Last of the Old-Time Bandits
Bill Miner | Historica Canada Education Portal
Bill Miner | BC Penitentiary Collection
Bill Miner – The Gentleman Outlaw – Golden BC Museum
Old Bill Miner: Last of the Famous Western Bandits
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