Old-time style outlaw ballad. Banjo picking by Alan Friend, harmonica by Allen Hopkins.

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Young, handsome, charming, and completely ruthless, brothers Jake and Joe Tobler, robbed and killed two men in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in 1885. United States Marshall Jack Stillwell tracked them down and brought them to Wichita, Kansas, where they were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. When they were hanged in 1888, Jake was only 23 years old and Joe was just 21.

THE TOBLER BROTHERS
Words and music by Steve Suffet © 2008

Out in the Indian Territory, a long long time ago,
Out in the Indian Territory, a long long time ago,
Jake Tobler went a-ridin' with his little brother Joe.

Jake said to his brother, "Better take your forty-four,"
Jake said to his brother, "Better take your forty-four,
A load of gold is comin' to the reservation store."

Jake rode to the campsite, and Joe was close behind,
Jake rode to the campsite, and Joe was close behind,
They shot two Indian agents, they left them there to die.

One hundred double eagles, all made of shiny gold,
One hundred double eagles, all made of shiny gold,
They put them in their satchels, left the agents lyin' cold.

U.S. Marshal Stillwell, hot on the brothers' trail,
U.S. Marshal Stillwell, hot on the brothers' trail,
He put them Tobler Brothers, into the Wichita jail.

The judge he read the verdict, he said what gotta be done,
The judge he read the verdict, he said what gotta be done,
The judge said to the marshal, "These brothers gotta be hung."

Jake said to the marshal, "Please let my brother go."
Jake said to the marshal, "Please let my brother go."
"You can hang me from the gallows pole, don't kill my brother Joe."

But ten o'clock they killed them, both on the scaffold high,
Ten o'clock they killed them, both on the scaffold high,
And many a brown eyed girl, hung down her head to cry.