Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-07-13

dead. ''''A"'''
will be rccolccted tina, Wilson, his associate il
eImc, had been pardonedthe Capital offence by tho
president Of the United States but remains subject
TO imprisonment for life on ether counts of tho ,ndict
nents Against him Wilson is an American Porter was
an irislimsn. This seeming partality caused powcr
IoI excitement IN Philadelphia among the people gen.
orally and especially Portcrs countrymcn Wehaye
heard many particulars but shall not rene AZ them
which showed the public feeling.
But so 1T was. that confident belief was entsr.
tnined that rescue at tae gaows would be attemnt
Cd and the crowd Of spectators was more thsn once
nguated On that account In consequences the mar
shall Of the district issued the summons inserted be-
low 10 many citizens, who attended horseback
armed with poles, IA very prudent procceJing(-all
the city constables and watcbmcn also collected
and organized. bearing the insignia of their Office
and the United States troops from fort MIliu. and
marines from the navy yard, We're presenl with Fixed
oayoncts and otherwise ready for These pre-
paratons perhaps. had the effect prevent bat was
feared and no riot took place though much and lou
dissatisfaction was expressed by the people, believing
that me snne measure Of justice should have been
me'ed 10 '" son and Porter. And the excitement so
raised showed itself for days ates the execution
intbe cutting down of hickory poles' and rerersine
some tavern signs but The public peace not much
disturbed by those transactions to the credi, of the
population and police.
As maay erroneous ste tements have been publ shed
concerning Porter and w son, and because of the
excitement above alluded to, it may be proper that
come leading facts should be given which were OF
c,siiy known 10 the this rs one of the late
directors of the Maryland penItentiary; and during
the years 1928 and 1899 of the two members of
the board who had chief charge over the police of the
prison, OF which these men were inmates.
NHsoD was received III August 1926, for three
years. for grand larceny, The particular offence not
stated, as beng % years od-nnd discharged by the
expiration of his sentence, . rh August, 1929.
Porter was received in February 1927. for f,co
years, for store breaking and stealing dozen combs
as being p years old-and was discharged s2d Feb.
1929. by the expiration of his sentence.
M IN no I'd Of h. =
nearly 20 years, and Porter was less than 20 years
old
They were both accounted bad men but Porter
was IN the language of the penIten,iary, called
good prisoner and u is not reGoecteG that lie ever
vas punished except by slight confinement IN his
cell, for not doing his task.
After his release in Feb 1929, Porter commenced
his trade OF weaver IN Baltimore and pursued II un
I'll Wilson in August, who Joined Porter q
for short time labored at loom-but they soon pro-
cecced TO Philadelphia together and there were
shortly afterwards joined by Abraham Poeet, who
made his escape from the said penitcniary in June
i82o-and then these three planned and executed tie
robbery ofthe NAL near the city just named.
After which Wilson and Poteet proceeded to Bal
t'more' for the purpose of killing Mr. Owens, the
principal Keeper of the pen,tenary, and Dir. Disney
one of the dspn,ykeepers-Porter refusing to take
any part IN the affair. On Friday night the 22d Jan
1880, they IN company with man named Riddle also
recently prisoner knowing that NJ Owens was &C
customed to attend his meeting that evening of the
week, reconnoIired the church, but not finding Mr
Owens, (who remained at home that EVENING" they
proceeded to the penitentlary and conceang them
selves, waited for their prey. At about night,
they discovered Mr Disney returning from his own
house. which was near, accompanied lay females.
the matron, and young lady related 10 her.
When they reached the gate and were watinr
abundance. WILSON end Poteot advanced close upon
them. and each took ciru Mr D. Poteet's pistol
snapped, but Wilson's ball passed through the hat
OF the deputy Keeper, about half an inch otsve bis
head the women being closo at his side, II
nf no rx-,tr hot
w son seemed 20 advance one step after he had
ievelled bis pistol, which probably .aved ihe life
oi Disney, for Wilson then stood q piece of
ground little elevated above the COMMON level of
the street. On Sunday night following hey PINNED
robbery of the great eastern mail and went so far es
TO build fence across the road about four miles from
Baltimore; but they thought the night WIS no, dark
enough for their purpose, and abandoned IT. The next
morning before day, they stationed themselves en- the
Washington road, with an intent to rob the passen-
gers IN the early stage; and the person who vas to
have stopped the horses having "fnohed," Wilson
and Poteet both instantly fred upon the driver. and
dangerously wounded him. but he still kept his seat
and the horses. being frightened, away SO de-
feated their project. Soon after these things Porter
arrived in 3 ltlmorc and Joined them. Phe whole
were arrested at nearly the sanno time. Porter has
been cXecu' edWson is confined for life, Poteet for
twenty five years. aud Riddle fer teB--:he whole OK.
tent OF the punishment ba, could be given the two
latter for their offences in Mnryiand, in all which
Wilson was
These facts derived from the confessions of the
parties, and the various testimony that appeared on
the trials
Porter seems 10 have been the leader in the robbie
~ of the mails Philadelphia, and it for nf
offence for which he and Wilson were found guilty
and punished. Porter is dead and we hope at rest,
and our best wishes are that Wilson may reform
the thoughts Of his heart earnestly exhorted by
Porter, on taking last leave of him.
From the Philadelphia lnqGrer-a Jack son paper
II is said in Afternoon paper that "boldness
illness, and daring, contrsd snguishing traits in
the character of Porter, "were exactly the dangerous
ones" Are we to understand by this that they are
deemed more dangerous and less redeeming oharac-
ters,ics than those of "sn akng and cowardy viai-
N.Y." Are we to understand, that the wretch who
comes npon YOU unawares and punges a weapon into
your back is worthy objec, of mercy. than the
robbeT who boldly c"nronjs tells you def nd your
self and demands YOUR purse your iiei if so,
differ altogether from our evening contemporary.
whose "incxorshle morality" has, IN this instance
fear, led him into ungenerous "A bod.f,ced
villain is seldom without redeeming traits; and, r VIC
remember Alright, Porter exhibited some such traits ut
the time the robbery of the mail IF cted,--inas
much as he returned one his watch, and another
sufficient sum to purchase breakfast