Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-06-07
PORTER. THE MAIL RoBsER.

The Philadelphia Bulletin, TO crafty public
opinion, has procured all the particulars which
could be obtained OF the life of Jnmes Porter,
who is under conviction for having robbed the
u. S. Mail. tie was born i'll the North ot Ire
land IN the wear 1900. and Is represented as
having exhibited even 10 childhood. reck-
less and wicked disposition which dehed Con-
troll. Like Wilson. he was not under parental
authority, aud his associations we're win the
miserable aud abandoned class ot tue lowest
prolllgates. He belonged to gang OF petty
thieves, who finally committed burglary; and
al the age of seventeen was compelled 10 fly
10 Liverpool, to avoid pursuit. He remained
concealed there for some weeks, until he ship
ped as a sailor i'll a vessel bound tor New York.
Here where his crimes and his person we're I'M
known, he might have lived by honest labour.
But the old leaven was still al work within him.
lie was employed for some time on the Erie
canal where his conduct was noticed as ex-
lremely pronigate Tor his years. He was
foremost in many riots, some OF which had san
culinary results.
=" On one OCCASION, a man 10 whom Porter
had been opposed IN conflict fellow coun-
trymau AID fellow labourer, was found mar
dered in gloomy and nnfrequented part OF IA
neighboring thcket,hls body mungled IN man.
ner too shocking to be here descrbed.-An
inquest was held upon the body, aud a verdict
OF " murdered by some person or persons un-
known" was returned by the jury. although,
as Porter and one of his companions in the
preceding alfrdy, we're seen 10 come out of
the thicket only Il few hours before, strong
suspicious rested upon them as being the per.
peira,ors OF the foul and dreadful deed. No
absolute proof could he adduced that they
committed the CRIME, and they were Consc-
quenhy suffered to go at large"
! Some years after this event, he committed q
crime moi specified, for which he underwent m
imprisonment for several ears in the Mary
land Penltentiary, where he became hardened
altogether aud accomplished in vllainy. aud
made an acquaintance with Poteet the accom-
pice aud States evidence in the late robbie
ry, who has been five times convicted of felony,
aud with Wilson, the other robber. Whea
these three were discharged from the PeuIIen-
liary, they renewed in concert their depreda,
tons on the public, and committed many small
larcenies. Being dissatisfied with their petty
gains. they projected the robbery OF the mail.
They stole the pis' OILS Tor the purpose from a
snnsmiihs shop N West Philadelphia. The
manner OF The robbery has been detailed in
tho testimony gwen at the trial, as already
Published. Porter was most active IN IN Is
transaction, aud tied Singly aud robbed all the
passengers. Ills countensnce Is described by
the Bulletin. as belng absolutely the blacklist
and most dendlsh ever looked upon.
Imagination can scarcely picture face in
which the clements of murder robbery aud all
other grades Of crime. are grouped NJ together
with snch horrld accuracy. The dark scowl of
IN eye sunk deep into black add weather
bealen socket-strongIy marked lines ola coun-
tenance hleared and dishgnred by the favages
of the small poX, added TO the knowledge of
his atrocious career, altogether form picture
which cannot be- contemplated withputa secret
and involuntary shudder. a single human
being appeared to sympathise with him in his
wtni dfhicnlty, and she Was female, apparent.
~ thirty years OF age, who watched the pro-
gress Of the trial with the most asonzcd
interest, frequently shedding tears whenever
the prosecutors INDUCED in observations on his
crimes. She was said TO be his wile--surelr
no wife could show the intensity Of her afrc-
ton for a husband more evidently than she did
When the jury came in with their verdict, she
~as not 10 be seen within the Court iooni AT
her usual stand fearful perhaps, that the
ovCrpowerlnS nature of thai verdict il against
hhn, might cause TOO great pressure AZ TUE
heart 10 be endured be fore a crowd oil men"
Among the schemes of plumber devised by
this trio, was a bold one for robbips the Penn
township Bank at 3 in the afternoon, when the
clerks were not general y present, which might
probably have succeeded, II their arrest had
not taken place. The Bulletin contains wood
cat Of the scene Of the robbery and its vicinity.
II Lappened that on The night when il was
committed, the keeper of the Toll Gate
had Ieft it open, as is usual, near the hour when
the Reading Mail passes. and had fallen INTO
a sound sleep. His vile ha,l been unahle to
sleep, and she was FIRST alarmed BY tie cries
Of the passengers. She is conidsn, .Nsi she
heard persons pas i'll ii hurried manner over
the piazza OF the hous', some time previously
and IL is Probable tie 1obbers were examin-
ing who Vas awake [(N. Y Com. AdU.
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From Tie Cd No. Of The Liberia Herald, Ipri! ..