Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-08-20
From tie Enquirer.
EXTRAORDINARY VILLAINY-
EPES SAID TO BE KILLED.

I EPES SAID TO BE KILLED.
A letter from Franklin, Alabama, to
the Charleston Courier, states that, on
the 1st Of July, gentleman Of Harris
CO., Georgia, named Billingslea, was
robbed Of eight thousand dollars of A.
merican gold, and four thousand dol
lars Of State bonds; and that the same
banditti had, on the 10th of July, rob-
bed another gentleman of Hancock
county, Ca, Mr.. Watts, 1000 dol
lars, principally in American gold. 1t
is said that the villains gave morphine
to the families where the robbery oc-
CURED, by throwing it into the drink
ing water. Soon after the news reach :
ed Fort Gains, on the 29th July, two
men passed through, who answered
the description Of the robbers, and ven,
on to Alabama. They were pursued,
and found at the house of Gen Irwin,
in Alabama, who had, after enlreaty,
consented to let them remain the night.
The two robbers were DR.. E. A. Rob-
erts, and the other supposed to be
VIM. Epes, though he called himself
John Jacobs. When ordered to sur
render, the latter drew a revolver, and
threatened to kill any one who advan-
ced upon him. Gen. Irwin then order
ed two very large and fierce dogs to be
let loose. Epes then gave up his pis-
tol, and surrendered. A quarrel ensu.
ing between the two parties, who were
in pursuit, as to the right to secure the
prisoner, the reward being 5000 dol
lars, Epes endeavored to escape on his
horse, and was on the verge of sue.
ceeding, when one Butler rode up and
shot him in the head, at least seven
buck-shot taking effect. He fell from
his horse, never spoke again, and died
in about two hours.
During the great excitement after
Epes was shot, DR.. E. A. Roberts got
off his horse, went up to Epes, pulled
off his finger ring, took out his gold
watch land his collar and collar buttons,
purse, and a roll of money, Ton the
Bank of Darlen, and put In his peck
et-the ring, collar and buttons, have
not since been seen, the watch was
recovered from Roberts when he was
searched after arriving at Folt Gains
the superstition is, that Epes' name,
Or initials, were either on the collar.
buttons, or ring. On examining Rob
erls after they got to Fort Gains, they
found on him, and in Epes' saddle
bags, near $1,000, principally Amer-
Can gold-26 skeleton keys, 2 lock
pickers, several pieces of spermacell
candels which had been lit, several
boxes of matches, black mask for the
face and head, bowie knife, in Epes'
or John Jacobs saddlebags, with the
name of William Epes written on the
scabbard, 2 phials morphine, 2 or 3
phials sirschinine, and l phial suppo-
sed to be the extract of morphine
They were both we'll dressed, and had
fine horses, but not paper about
them that would give the least instruc.
ton Of their names and business. DR..
E. A. Roberts was identified by three
or four individuals"
He once stood high as an eminent
physician, and married daughter or
near relative of Gen. Mitchell Of Ala
bama, but has spent all his property,
and turned a regular backlog. The
following is the description of Epes.-
Ii would be a most singular event,
should he be identified with William
D. Epes of Dinwiddle, the murderer of
Muir, though we presume the dates and
the descriptions would conflict with
this superstition. The last heard of
Epes, however, was at Louisville, and
this dead robber wore hat made in
that city:
"Jacobs or Epes was dead before
saw him, consequently cannot de-
scribe him as accurately as | would
wish. ! think lie was about six feet
high, would weigh about 16o pounds,
thin visage, good teeth, moderately
fair, hair inclined to be dark, and not
very thick; he was from 81 to 40 years
old: | suppose he was the man advel-
tised as the murderer Of F. Adolphus
Muir, of Dinwiddie county, Va; his
companion, Roberts, said he did not
know his name, if it was not John ia
cobs-tbat he had knoaon him only a
fen doys-that he had told him his
name was John Jacobs-ihat he was
| from Virginia; the hat he wore when
sho: was made in Louisville, KY
Wilson and two other men, left with
Roberts. vel! ironed. for Harris coun-