Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-21
WILLIAMSON THE BURGLAR.


lish burglar at Harrisburg, has been already
mentioned. Onthe examination of his trunks
and those of an accomplice in his company,
they were found to contain some hundreds
of keys, vices, anvs, files, dark lantern, and
every kind of implement for opening locks,
and aiding their dark profession. There
were found in their possession bills Of ;lading
and invoices of valuable goods, shipped for
Pittsburg by the Pennsylvania Canal, such as
$500 yards of silk and other valuable goods,
supposed to he worth 90 to $4,000. They
also had bill of fading of goods shipped in
''Eand's Line" at Philadelphia for New Or
leans
The Philadelphia Inquirer gives the follow
ing notice of his arrest SC.
The history of this rogue cannot but be
considered as extraordinary, and the impress
sion prevails very extensively in our commu-
nifty, that his recent release i'll this city, was to
say the least somewhat strange, all the cir
cumstances considered. 1t will be remem-
bered that he was arrested some time since,
charged with an attempt to rob Mr.. Finley's
store in Walnut street. By some jugglery he
contrived to get off, and was next heard of in
connexion with some robberies in Boston,
The authorities there were very anxious to
hold him, satisfied that he could be convicted
and put in prison foryears. One of the ludg-
es too if we remember Alright, and we beg our
Boston contemporaries to refer again to the
matter, expressed an apprehension that if per-
mitted to go on to Philadelphia, he would al
SO be permitted to escape. Not SO, however,
he was assured, and Williamson was brought
on. He was here held on two charges-one
in connexion with the robbery of Mr.. Les
cures store at the corner of Third and Market
streets, and the other in relation to his escape
under the charge made against him by Mr.
Finley. In the first case, Mr.. Lescure found
to his surprise, that the principal witness on
whom he depended, had been siienced; that
Williamson had powerful friends in this city,
and that thus, he would be unable to substan-
tiate, his charges against him. In the other
case, Mr.. Finley's matter, the burglar employ
ed powerful counsel, secured one or two wit
nesses, and then, when finally held to bail,
succeeded by means which are yet to be ex-
planned, in inducing two or three individuals
to come forward, swear that they were worth
the necessary amount, and thus facilitate his
release Mr. Lescme, however, still felt con-
scious that he had hand in robbing his
store; and thus was induced to keep vigil
liant eye upon him.
Williamson had not been out of prison
week before several other burgaries were
perpetrated in Philadelphia, and as already
stated in our columns, he was few days
since again arrested at the instance of Mr. J.
NJ G.. Lescure, brother of the gentleman
whose store was robbed, under the following
circumstances. Mr.. Lescure happened by
accident to take passage in the rail road cars
that left the city at IL O'Clock at night, ON Sa-
turday last for Harrisburg. Towards morn
ing he discovered that Williamson and Smith
were in the cars, bound to the west, under as
sumed names On arriving at Harrisburg MIR.
l.. had them both arrested, and their baggage
searched; when it was discovered that one
trunk contained several hundred skeleton keys
with every other kind ofimplements for house
breaking, &C. There were also found erten-
Sue inuoices of valuable goods, comprising
from four to five thousand yards of choice
silks-sevcra hundred pieces Of satin ribbons
"a large quantity of cambria and silk hand
kerchiefs, with great variety of other fancy
goods. Bills Iading were also found i'll
their possession, showing that these goods
had been sent within few days from Phla-
delphia % Pittsburg. One of these boxes has
been opened in Harrisburg, and found to con-
tain the goods recently stolen from Mr. Metz;
while officers have been despatched to Pitts
burg, with the object of examining the boxes
sent on in that direction: The public are
greatly indebted to Mr.. l.. for his untring vi
GLANCE in this matter Not half the truth
we feel satisfied, has yet been told in relation
to the movements of this burglar, nor can we
expect its development, until all chance Of
escape shall have departed. Then he may be
induced to unfaihom the mystery i'll which
many points ef his case ure still involved