Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-05-12
GENERAL IuTELLIarNcE.
MAIL ROBBERS.

MAIL ROBBERS.
The trial Of James charged
IA an aecUmplice of Wilson. who has
been already tried AMI Convicted in
the robbery Of the Puttsville mail, wss
to have come on at Philadelphia on the
4th inst. An effort had been made by
hls counsel TO procure a pOs,ponement
OF his trial until the next term of the
District Court-aileging as the ground
uf II. the great dsgJee OF excitement
which appeared TO prevail, occasioned
or increased by the recent trial of Will
son. aud which would render it diff cult
To get AN impartial jury. The effort
was, however. unavailing; and the tri-
al was ordered for yesterday.
The Philadelphia Morning Journal
contains the following extract from the
testimony Of Mr.. Jeifers, a police off
Ger OF this city. given On the trial of
Wilson. who was convicted Of the capt
tai offence, as charged IN the indict
ment. Bait. Pat.
a. asked him wilson who were
with HIM: lie said Abraham Poieet.
alias George Williams. and James Por.
ter, alias James May. They went ou,
two or three times To stop the Lanoas-
ter Mail, but he. the prisoner, was w.
willing, anal he would have nothing TO
do with II, but was afraid Porter would
have shot him. lie then proceeded TO
tell the incidents a. before related.
One seized the leading horse aud or.
dered the driver To stop. Wilson made
an Intellectual attempt To eItinguish
the lamp. which another accomplished
with his pistol. They found no money
IN the letters, and left the bag ia the
road. Wilson pawned the watches.
On the road to Philadelphia. Wilson
showed LETTERS a gunsmi,h's shop, on
the other side OF Sohuylkill. which they
had robbed Of the pistols used on the
occasion. The pistols were found
loaded. Wilson and Poteet stood
guard whilst the stage was plundered.
They got about 500 in money. Viii
son was at good employ ment 10 Phila
delPhia When scduced into the crime.
To another officer ..ho assisted in
bringing him TO Philadelphia, Wilson
said that it was all over with him that
he should plead guilty to every charge,
for he thought there was too much evil
dence against him. Upon being asked
If he Was not afraid Of robbing a stage
with so many passengers in it. he said
not-tbat three good men could rob
twelve at any time. They had no rope,
for 1t was presumed every man had a
handkerchief Whilst the passengers
were tied, Wilson's business was to
walk round the horses and keep the
passengers IN a row. Porter returned
the watch TO the passenger who asked
Tor II, and gave half dollar To MIR.
Hester. Upon being asked what they
would have done IL resistance had bee n
made, he said, suppose we should
have shot two or three. and that would
have dampened the rest.
Whilst in the Baltimore jail, Wilson
told Reside, the mail contractor, thar
himself aud his accomplices were wea
vcrs in the Northern Liberties that
- was very anxious for him 10 Join
IN robbIng the Lancaster mail he had
refused several times 20 JOIN him -
insisted on IL, and stated that il wa
better to 20 and rob mail and get
something for it, than to be- picking w
little ME things, as silver spoons, sc.
as they had been in the habit Of doing
Wilson objected, unless Potret would
JOIN, which was at last assented To. and
they went out several times 10 rob the
Lancaster mail, which they learned
was valuable, from an old convict who
had been clerk in the Lancaster Pos,
Office. His heart failed him: the Last
time they wentout, The coach va, full,
aud - threatened lis life ifhe fiinth h.
cd. lie pretended to be sick. -
proposed the KImberton mail a. less
dangerous undertaking. to which he
consented. - then induced him To
join in an attempt on the Reading mail.
which was supposed 70 carry large
sums OF money 10 Pottsville. After
that robbery, one of his accompIices
suggested that the six o'clock stare
would be coming, and that they might
as well give that a touch Wilson
objected, upon which the other thrra.
tened him 30 violently that he left him. :"
WHEELING, vs.. MAYI.
.7nofheT Steam Boat Disaster. On