Sam Bass and the Bold Banditti Gang gained nationwide fame in the late 1800s for robbing trains and stagecoaches nationwide. Bass and his outlaw friends often used the rail line between Weatherford and Benbrook to “do business.” It’s reported that the train robbers would board the train in Weatherford and deboard at the Marys Creek Crossing in Benbrook.
What distinguished Bass and the Bold Banditti Gang from other train robbers of the time was the dignity with which he treated friends and “clientele.” Both acquaintances and victims of Bass noted how polite and friendly the outlaw was to those he encountered. Stories began to circulate about how Bass would leave his victims with enough money or possessions to get to their destination. The irony of the “polite” train robber catapulted Bass to fame. Some even began to refer to Bass as the Texas Robin Hood.
Bass’ biggest hit in Benbrook netted the outlaw a whopping $40,000 in stolen money. The large sum of money was never officially recovered by sheriffs. For years, many believed remnants of the $40K heist to be buried or hidden in Marys Creek. Thousands would search for the buried treasure, hoping to find a small fortune and a real piece of Texas history.