Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-09
AstcnishinE DiscIosures--.S Strange Condi-
ton Of Things,

count of a gang of rascals, whose dcprcdatons
and atrocities have been very extensive in the |
Western part OF the country:
RoBsERy AND MURDER 1T is supposed that
Birch and Sutton, alias William Fox. two noto-
rious villains, who have been running the lines |
of Missouri Iowa and Illinois, for the past four
years, are two of the gang who murdered Col.
Davenport Birch is said 10 be the man who
sold a cream-colored horse at Peru, not long
since, Ohe circumstances OF which may appear
at the Winnebago Court,) to the same man with |
whom Bridge (now in Rockford .jaD changed |
the money with that he robbed Mulford OF. We
cannot yet get the name OF the person at Peru
whe has the horse, but he is kept on tae island,
and could tell strange stories il he conid talk
in this same gang is "Davis the Kentuckan.'
who in Lee County late in November last.
lie was arrested in Iowa, last year, and with
drons on his feet was sent out to chop wood with
guard. lie struck the guard over the head
with an axe, and then got of his shackes and
run off to Brides in Washington Grove, Ogic
county, with his head shaved. he remained
at Bridges, and wore black handkerchief oyer
iIis head Till his hair grew out. He then went
90 Indiana, and persuaded man to come tO Lee
and Ogle counties with several yoke OF oxen
hnd cart, to sell apples. The man had abou,
$500 with him. lie proposed to West 10 go
and kill him. West would not 60 ond SO tLe
u,an was saved. This Davis, about six Years
ego. with man by the name O. Sea,es, found
out that man was travelling between Prince
ton and llennepin with money. They waited
m the brush, near Leeper's Mills, and shot him
from his horse as he rode nong tac road They
got his anney, from 5000 to $500, dragged him
Ia within thirty rods of the creek. the left
baud side of the road, aud left him hci,nd log
This murder was never mistrus,ed, nor has the
body ever been found. This Davis may be
known by having one of his bit oft AT
bridges, in the bushes near the house. caucus
was held, which decided on the murder ofCamp.
bell, Bridge was present, as also were several
OF the Driskclls, Birch and Sutton 1t was vo-
we'd that young Driskell should kl! Campbell,
as he did
Bridge was at Inlet Grove on the night Of the
murder, aud West was making bogus and SELL
ing it two for one for Michigan money at Platte
vile, Wisconsin. West got clear when ares
ted for his knaeeries there, by getting Dewey
and Bliss, of Inlet Grove, to 90 his bail, and he
ran away. Bliss and Dewey are now in Alton
Penltentiary. After the murder of Campbell,
old ,naa Driskell and his son, VIM. Driskel,
were Llnched, and young Drskeli and b. idge
fled from the Lynchers. Driskel never return.
ed to his State, but has figured extensively as
an incendary in ST. Louis and other Southern
cities. He was last seen trying TO get passage
down the river from st. Louis, bu. the Captain
would not take hIm. Soon after the Captain
refused HIM the police came on board TO arrest
hun for setting buldlug on fire. Sutton stole
ho,Se from DR.. Adams three yenrs ago, and
fed at Bliss house, who is now in the Peniien-
tiary. Birch, Thomas, Aiken and Baker stole
horses two years ago this summer, at Warren
county, and brought them up to Washington
Grove, Oglc county, and were there arrested by
the Warren county officer and were Ia ken back
Birch vas not bound over, but Aiken and Baker
were, aud afterwards broke jail. Thomas AT.
ken lives 300 miles up the Missouri river on
farm, six miles back from it, and keeps enter.
tainment. Baker is still in service, here, ard
there and every where, stealing horses, roLbing
houses, killing men. and passing bills on swell
regulated banking institutions, stockholders indi
vldualy responsible" In the Mulfo-d robbery,
Birch was present and told Mulord whilst
searching his house, "My name is Haines |
am robber it is legal profession have fol
lowed it for years, and no two men can take
me-"
McDole. now in Rockford Jail, held the rife
TO Mulford's breast. Davis helped Birch search
the house. Charles Oliver, now in Rockford
Jail, planned the concern. but did not attend
Birch gave Oliver large share of the money
which he owed him Tor board and on an old d
vision of stolen property. Oliver not daring Il
pass the money, made an exchange with Bridge
for lot of stolen horses and Bridge vent t.
Peru and got friend there to exchange it
There was a robbery in Iowa, last winter, o
Dicrcr, formerly merchant at Rockford. Oil
Yer is said to have planned it, and put Birch OF
the track. Although Bierer was a brother.in
law of McDole, and he knew what was on foot
he dare not interfere TO prevent it, Birch i
known to be the man who stole horse at Ii
Mole, IN Aureau county, on the Sd June, on
rainy night, and run him until he tired him ou
and then jumped off at the east end of Palistin
Grove, and went on foot. lie went TO Bridge.
and was followed by the inlet people wthou
I, = Ia, hot b,