Railroad Bill

Morris Slater (died March 7, 1896) was an African American murderer, notable for many dramatic escapes from the law. Morris Slater, better known as “Railroad Bill,” was a laborer turned outlaw who gained notoriety for his brazen exploits against southern railroad companies during the late 1800s. The legend of Railroad Bill originated following an incident that happened on the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad in Alabama. The story goes that a railroad employee threw Slater off a moving train for not paying for the ride. The event spawned Slater’s vendetta against L&N and other railways of the South. later went from being a worker at turpentine camps to a gun-toting outlaw and head of a gang of train robbers. As his crimes grew, so did his infamy. Numerous newspaper accounts explicitly dubbed Slater “Railroad Bill” and stories about his criminal activities proliferated. For many, the symbol of Railroad Bill became synonymous with Robin Hood. There were numerous claims that Slater gave the supplies and food from his train robberies to the poor.  Slater’s criminal acts became increasingly violent over time, with several deaths attributed to his doing. Known for carrying both a rifle and pistol, Slater was described as capable of doing just about anything to evade the reach of justice, including gunfights to the death. Eventually the law caught up with Railroad Bill. In March 1896, a group of lawmen ambushed him at a general store in Atmore, AL. While Railroad Bill was busy eating, a signal was given and the lawmen opened fire. He was killed on the spot. His body was eventually brought to Pensacola, Florida, where it was interred at St. John’s Cemetery. Following the death of Railroad Bill, stories of his renegade life grew into song and legend. Famously, he is immortalized as the subject of the folk song, “Railroad Bill.