The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-04-23
DlABoLfclL HIGHWAY ROB.
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!, DlABoLfcAL HIGHWAY ROB.
BERY.-As Mr. GigE, a respectable
Merchant from Fairfield, Jefferson Couh-
| ~ in this Territory, was travelling On
foot to Fort Madison on Tuesday last at
which place he intended to take steam
boat for st Louis, and when within mile
and half Of Fort Madison, he was at
tackled by three men, who had been trav.
cling with him for about 20 miles. They
attacked him in the timber near. Fort M.
with hickory clubs, knocked him down, and
robbed him of between four and five hun.
bred dollars. Mr. Gage was found by one
of the citizens of Fort Madison in almost
a lifeless condition, who conveyed him to
the Iowa House in that town where he
now remains. Our informant, Mr. An
drews, one of the officers in pursuit of the
robbers, states that the physicians were
dressing the wounds of Mr. Gage when he
left. and that they thought it very doubt
full in regard to his recovery. He was
so shockingly mangled as to make it diff
cult for his friends to recognize him.
The above shocking affair took place on
Tuesday afternoon between three and
four o'clock. The higbwaymen were
met in company with Mr. G. about 200
yards from the place where MIR G.. was
found, by Mr. Miller, who was riding out
with his lady. This must have been i'm
mediately before this murderous; transac-
ton took place. AS soon as the circum-
stance was known the people of Fort
Madison turned out as one man, about SO
of whom were on horseback, in pursuit
of the villains.
These three men can be easily recog-
nized. One Of them is short thick set
fellow, about "a or IS years Of age, dark
complexian, black hair, black eyes about
feet or 6 inches high, had on at the
time black frock coat, tarpaulin hat and
red and white calico Shirt remainder of
his clothing not recollected.
Another of them has light complex
ion, round full face, is considerably peck
marked, has sandy hair, about feet or
3 inches high, about 25 years old, he
wore the same kind of clothing as the one
before described.
: The other is about 6 feet high, rather
slender, sharp face, light complexion, had
on blue jeans or cassinet roundabout,
knit or cloth cap Of brownish color,
white shirt with red scarf around his
neck, supposed to be about % years old.
The above described fellows arrived in
this city some day last week and put up
at the Iowa Hotel, where their baggage
still remains. They left this place on
Saturday morning last and were seen at
Augusta on Skunk river, about twelve
o'clock of that day. They were after
wards seen on the same day on the Mount
Pleasant road, about four miles from Au.
gusta, going in the direction of Henry
County. On their route they probably
fell in with Mr. Gage, and as he no doubt
told them that he was on his way to pur-
chase goods in St Louis, they kept his
company for the purpose of waylaying
and robbing him.
The first one described above gave his
name while in this place as Jacob Alden,
but he afterwards told Mr. Gage that his
name was Jacob Bowers. The name Of
the second is Guy, his given name not
recollected. He is native of Mercer
County, Pa. The last one said he was
from Indiana.
We do not think that these fellows can
escape. We hope that passengers and
officers on board of steam boats will be
on the look out. When they left the Ho-
tel on Saturday they informed the land.
lord that they would call or send for their
trunks shortly.
Since the above was written we learn
that the trunks of the robbers have been!
opened, but nothing of importance was
discovered. They landed here off the
Rapids on her last trip up. We also
learn that Mr. Gage has family in Fair
field, and that the sheriff of Lee County
has offered reward of $3.50 for their de.
lection.
We presume the mere fact of the
Abolitionists having rejected the nominal
ton of Gen. Harrison, and taking up a
prominent man in their own party and
presenting him before the public as the
A bo1 ro,.J:xJoxo Al.