"The Honey Grove Kid"
Honey Grove had a person born here of some notoriety back around 1899-1910. The Los Angeles Times had an article in a 1899 paper about L. E. Hindman, better known as "Honey Grove Kid," who shot and killed a railroad engineer in Sedalia, Mo. The engineer had apparently lost some money while gambling to Hindman and demanded it back. They quarreled and the engineer, named Oscar Strand, was killed. Hindman was later arrested in St. Louis, saying he had killed Strand in self-defense. A later article stated that Hindman's father was a prominent Dallas merchant. Hindman was 22 years old when arrested. His grandfather was Gen. Hindman of Confederate army fame.
Another article in the Washington Post in 1910 recounts that Hindman was arrested in connection with fake horse race, fake prize fight, and fake wrestling match swindles. He was charged with fradulent use of the mails. He was 37 years old at this arrest. His home at that time was listed as Paris, Texas. He was credited with belonging to the Maybrey gang who is said to have cleaned up about half a million dollars through their enterprises. According to a 1910 New York Times article, he had bail set at $5,000 for those crimes. Another Washington Post article that same year describes him as plump, well dressed, smooth shaven, soft-voiced and blue eyed.
Mr. Hindman again appeared in the press in a New York Times article in 1914. The article stated that police had been looking for members of the gang of Charles Gondorff. Gondorff was a notorious wire-tapper and had already been sent to prison. Three detectives just happened to see Hindman leaving a taxi at the Hotel Knickerbocker.
Honey Grove has had some notable citizens, but Hindman might not be one of them!