San Marcos in Hays County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Newton Gang
Photographed by James Hulse, October 14, 2022
1. The Newton Gang Marker
About 1914 the Newton brothers Jess, Willis, Doc, and Joe were getting tired of facing mules' rumps as they plowed their daddy's Callahan County farm. So they drifted into train and bankrobbery in a four-year career that took them throughout the Midwest and central Canada. In 1923 they broke into this building in the early morning of January 4 to rob the old State Bank and Trust Company. They poured so much nitro in the vault door that the side of the bank was partially blown away and coins showered across the street, as they made their haul and casually escaped. Consequently the Texas legislature dramatically increased the penalty for the illegal use of heavy explosives. The Newtons' Careers ended at Rondout, Illinois, on June 12, 1924, after they pulled the biggest train hold-up in American history.
On completing long prison terms the brothers lived in comfortable retirement at Uvalde, while the locals speculated about their income which probably wasn't social security. In 1968 Doc Newton attempted one last bank heist at Rowena, Texas. But at seventy eight he had lost his edge. Brother Willis later proclaimed, as he himself was nearing ninety, "I'm not gonna rob anymore banks--not because I'm too good, I'm just too damn old." As Willis saw it: "We was businessmen, just like doctors, lawyers, bankers, and insurance executives. Robbing banks and trains was our business."
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is January 4, 1914.
Location. 29° 52.992′ N, 97° 56.498′ W. Marker is in San Marcos, Texas, in Hays County. It is at the intersection of West Hopkins Street and North Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling west on West Hopkins Street. The marker is located on the right side of the front entrance to the building. Touch for map.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country and in the Austin Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 100 West Hopkins (here, next to this marker); Founding of the First Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); 107 E Hopkins Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 131 North Guadalupe (within shouting distance of this marker); Glover-Wood Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Triangle (within shouting distance of this marker); Hardy Williams Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Courthouses of Hays County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct
Photographed by James Hulse, October 14, 2022
2. The Newton Gang Marker is on right of the front entrance to the building
Also see . . . Newton Boys. Texas State Historical Association
The Newton boys were a criminal gang composed of brothers Willis, Joe, Jess and Wylie (Doc), who operated mostly in Texas during the 1920s. Willis "Skinny" Newton robbed over eighty banks and six trains from Texas to Canada with his brothers and other outlaws, including the single biggest train robbery in United States history. By the time they were captured, they may have stolen more money than all other outlaws at that time combined.(Submitted on October 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed by James Hulse, October 14, 2022
3. The entrance to the old State Bank and Trust Company building
Photographed by James Hulse
4. The view of the old State Bank and Trust Company building from across the street
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 994 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
