The Little Girl and the Outlaw

A chance encounter that later led to Cole Younger getting out of prison.

In September 1876, preparing for the ill-fated Northfield Robbery, Cole Younger stopped in St. Peter, MN. There, he gave six-year-old Horace Greeley Perry a ride atop his horse. The child and the bandit were smitten with each other and promised to stay in touch. In 1891, Horace became owner/editor of The St. Peter Journal and turned her pen toward fulfilling the goal of freeing Cole Younger. In 1901, her efforts succeeded. If there was one person responsible for Cole leaving prison behind, it was Horace Greeley Perry (she is in upper left of photo, behind Cole).