Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-05-26


master and family. and never gave the
slightest cause Of regret that he had
been admitted into his house. A tho
rough reformation had apparently Ia
Ken place; when, most unfortunately.
man was taken into the service of
MIR. Hagany who had formerly been a
constable IN Philadelphia. and who
knew that George had been a tenant
OF the state prison. This man. igno-
rant OF the experiment making upon
Georsc's character, imprudenily. and
Tor no good reason, divn!gc,l the secret
to his fellow apprentices. Their taunts
and jeers succeeded, and il was soon
whispered among all the lads with
whom he bad made acquaintance
Ihey-ignorant of any crime them
seivcs-shuRned him. as If fearful of
contamination and the fact of the Sc.
cret being known. coming Ia Mr.. Hac-
any's knowledge, he iclt II his duty. in
order to guard the other lads under his
care from improper associations, TO tell
George that he must leave his house.
accordingly, putting dollar into
George's hand, he told him To return
to MIR. Wood and acquaint him with
The circumstance.
But George never did return a. he
had been directed. The blow was so
tremendous. and came upon him with
such startling suddenncs.. a. almost Ia
deaden his faculties. His desire TO
become virtuous and worthy citizen
had been sincere, and the hope that
former tran>grrssions were forgotten.
had cheered him NJ, and served still
more to encourage him IN doing well.
but now his hopes were suddenly, IN
kindly, and irretrieyably blasted. He
wandered away from Mr.. Hssany's
friendly dwelling into the adjacent
country. working among the farmers
Tor precarious living. lie crossed
over into New Jersey, where he la
bourcd in the harvest-field or at the
plough-tail. rs chance threw a Job in
his way. BY this unsettled mode of
life. his good desires became blunted,
and the vIrtuous impressions left upon
his mind. gradually faded away and be
came slm"-, totally obliterated. While
thus situated. he committed a larceny
IN the state of MARYLAND, for which he
was sentenced Ia some years hard la
Dor IN the Peni'entiary. While CON
lined there. he became acquainted with
Porter and Poieet, the two other indi-
viduals concerned in the mail robbery.
Alter serving out his time, he was re-
leased and some time afterwards meet
ing Porter and Poteet, he renewed
with them that intimacy which had
been commenced within the pcniten-
tlarv. Among other projects Of plum
der proposed among The three, that Of
robbing the mail was started. TO this
George asserts he expressed un willing
ness; but that I've was finally ovcrawc.l
by thcstlTeats OF the others. who forced
hun TO become partner in the scheme
Of plumber.
Their hrst movement was to break
open house and steal firearms. They
next determined upon robbing the
great Western Mail between Philadel
phia aud Pittsburg, and left the city
with the intention 81 doing SO. Ar
rived at West Philadelphia. a small
village directly over the Permanent
bridge. they stationed themselves in a
'shingle she'd. on the edge of the hill
which o,erlooks the Sch0ylkiIl. and in
the centre of the village. Here Georges
heart failed him but fearing to give
an open refusal, knowing tho savage
and desperate character of his associ-
aies. he frigned sickness. While the
other two were consulting whether IL
would be safe for them 10 attempt the
robbery, the mail stage drove by. The
whole party then moved across the
helds, Porter and Poteet swearing vio.
lenily at George, aud declaring they
would have game Of some kind before
morning They accordingly lay IN
wait for the KImberton Mail. When IL
drnve up. Georges better grnius for
sock him, and he assisted ia the robbie
ry.
Encouraged by their success, though
the money they got FROM the mail bag
did not exceed $50. they attacked the
Reading Mail. the particulars Of which
are too we'll known to need a recapitu-
iation here. in lhat adventure. not
$500 were obtained. immediately on
pcrPetrating the robbery. they return
cd 20 Georges lodgings ~ South. street.
In this city, where all the letters and
papers we're destroyed. FROM thence
they divided themselves. 20 elode de
lection. until they again met 10 Bal,,.
more, where Potect shot az the keeper
ct the Maryland Penitentiary. and put
a ball through bis hat. an offence fur
which, he ) yet 10 be punished. Here,
jealonsy Of each other efcpt ipfo the
minds oE all, and each one became
Suddenly spprehensisc that ibc others
had ft,sffavcI ht,o Afvto.l =, 80. f.s.,,.,..