Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-13
Hnn, Niles's Eegisfer.

.,msny erroneous statements nave oee!i p''o-
l;.hed concerning PORTER and NILsoS' II may
he proper that some leading facts should Dc s'Nei'
which were officially known TO the writer oil u,S'
as one of the late directors OF the Maryland re-
ntentiary; and. during the years 1873 ana To-,
one of the two members of the board VINO haa
chief charge over the police OF the pfisoh' u
which these men were inmates. IL.
TfTy,on was received in August SEQ, for three
wears. for grand larceny tne particular ofieHCe
NOT stated. as being twenty-five years old-aAd
Gi.cbarred BY the expiration Of has sentence, 24th
August, 1929. ,-
P1ner was received in February 1872. tor f'c'
years for store-breaking and ste4 ing a dozen
combs. A. being D wears oid-and was discharg-
ed 93d February 1899 BY the expiration OF h's
According to the records of the prison Wilson
is nearly 90 wears, and Porter was less than 20
wears. old.
They were both accounted bad men. bnt por-
fer was. in the language Of the penltenrlary call
Oh q :. GOOD prisoners" and II Is not recoilected
that he ever was punished, exceptby slight con-
+nement in his cell. for not doing his task.
After his release in Feb. 1928. Porter con-.
menced his trade Of weaver IN Baltimore ana
pursued il until Wilson came outIn August, VINO
ioincd Porter, and for short time, la0oFed a
loom. but thes soon proceeded to Phladeiphia
rocether, and there were shortly afterwards JOIN
ed bv Abraham Poteet. who made his escape
from the said penitentIary III June l92S; ana
then these lhrec planned and executed the rooDe-
w Of the mail near the city just named.
After which Wilson and Poteet proceeded to
Baltimore. for the purpose OF killing Mr.. o%ens'
the principal keeper OF the Penl;en'iary' ana M
Disney. one of the deputy-keepers; Porter reius-
l. rhn
ni5ht..he 22d Of Jan 1880. they, IN company with
: man named Riddle, also recently prisoner.
D knovin@ that Mr.. Owens was accustomed to at
tend his meeting Oh that evening Of the week. re
I connoiterr the church, but not finding Mr.. Owens
! iwho remained at home that eyenng,) they pro-
J ceeoet 10 the penitentiarv, aud conceaIlns them
selves, waited for their prey. At about at night
: thew discovered Mr.. Disney returning from his
), own house. which was near. accompanied by TWO
e females. the natron, and young lady related t'
her. When they reached the gate. and were
e waiting admittance, Wilson and Poteet advanced
!. close nnon them; and each took aim al Mr.. ~
: Poteetss pistol snapped, but Wilson'S ball passet
: through the nat of the deputy keeper about hal
q an inch above his head. the women being close a
his SIDE! II appears BY the testimony OF the vii
- nessrs. thai Wilson seemed TO advance one stel
m after he had leveled his pistol, which probabl.
y saved the life Of Disney, fdr Wilson then stood ~
r niece of ground little elevated above the com
al mon level OF the street. On Sunday night follow
IT Ing they planned a robbery Of the great caster
n mail. and went so far as. 10 build tence acros
re the road. about miles from Bi1tuinTe but the
n thought the night was not dark enough for the
5. ussrase and abandoned it. The next mornin2
"a Washington road, with an intent to rob the o,s
- sengers in the early stage: and the person I'm
- was TO have stopped the horses having :. finch
l., ed Wilson and Poteet both instantly fired upo
~, The driver, and dangerously wounded him; bu
he still kept his seat. and the horses, being fright
- ened, away. and SO defeated their project
" Soon after these things, Porter arrived IN Balti
more and Joined them. The whole were arrest
=. ed at nearly the same time. Porter mas been ex
Il ecuted; Wilson is confined for life. Poteet 70
" twenty-five wears and Riddle for ten: the Who'll,
!; extent of the punishment that could be given t.
the two latter for their offences in Maryland, il
= all which Wilson was an actor.
These facts are derived from the confessions
= Of the parties. and the various testimony that ap
- peared on the trials.
: Porter seems to have been the leader in the
' robbery Of the mails near Philadelphia, and il
:, was for that offence for which he and Wilson were
:. found guilty and punished. Porter is dead, and
, we hope at rest; and our best wishes are tina,
: Wilson may reform the thoughts Of his heart,
= as earnestly exhorted by Porter, on taking last
6 leave Of him.