Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-04-22

=
n the Louisiana State Prison. At the expiration o
that period he started for home but when near til,
island of Sixty six, on the Mississippi be conclu
ded to take a trunk and jump overheard. This
feat lie accomplished successfully; but unluckily
for him, it was in the same year in which so many
outlaws were put to death by the citizens, and
having connected himself with band who were
at that time flooding the river with counterfeit COIN
negro-steaing, and tdulging in all manner Of vii
lany, he was taken by company and with about
forty others put TO death. some being shot, and
others tied up ia sacks and thrown into the Mis-
sissippi.
/ The fifth brother was now in the Ohio Peniten-
tiary, the fourth in the Indiana State Prison, but
! the eldest brother was released from confinement,
and returned to Cincinnati. His long confinement,
however. seems to have had no very beneficial ef-
feet, for in few months he was again convicted
Of petit larceny, and sentenced TO serve in the
chain-gang Here he conducted himself so well
as TO gain the unqualified communication of one of
the drivers, who in consequence treated him in
diligently, About this period, there was much ex-
citement, by frequency of night robberes, and no
trace of the thieves could be found, by which they
could be detected. The most vlglant means were
used, and many were sent to the jals and peni-
tentiary, but still the robberies went on Among
those committed at this period, was the fifth bro
ther, who for short period had enjoyed his liber-
ty. The eldest brother served out his time in the
chain gang, and after being liberated, suddenly
disappeared; and what surprised many, the driver
of the chain gang disappeared at the same time.
A day or two after their disappearance, dfover
from Kentucky, who had been at Cincinnati. and
was on his way home, was taken from his horse,
robbed, his throat cut, and left for dead upon the
road side. They had, however, merely severed
the windppe, and on being discovered, he was
able TO give such Information as led to the detec-
ton Of the driver and his friend, the convict
They were arrested and identified by the mangled
drover; and the citizens, knowing the desperate
character of the elder brother, who had served an
apprenticeship in their own State Prison, gave
them trial according to /" Lynch" custom, and
hung them both. Thus ended the life of the e-
dest of the brothers-the third who had suffered
the penalty Of death for their crimes.
The suspicious OF the people were excited by
this occurrence. and train Of investigation set on
foot which left no doubt but that the recent robbie
ries were committed by the chain driver and his
gang. At night they were freed from their chains,
allowed to prowl about and plunder, and brought
their spoils to the prison. where itcould easily be
slowed away without suspicion. We believe. that
we are quite within the mark, If we attribute one
eighth of the robberies committed in large cities,
to the police, orperpetrated with their connvance.
Many, we hesitate not to say, are done by men
whom the public believe to be in prison. 1t has
become proverb, ''Set thief to catch thief"
It shall ever be. There is an allowed and con-
stant connection between the criminal ard the Of
6cer engaged in suppressing crime, but whether it
be necessary and unavoidable, or the best disposi
ton possible, deserves some consideration The
hangman is in general only little more fortunate
than his culprt. The leader of band Of Regua-
tors is commonly more ferocious, and as lawless
as the victim against whom his fury is directed.
The lawyer unscrupulously pockets fee, which
he knows has been obtained by the plunder Of the
citizens. Not few Of them hang about our jails,
prying into the means of the prisoners, and divide
with them the spoil, sheltering themselves from
communicating any disclosures they make under
their judicial privileges Buff justice be the end
of the law, why should the communication Of a
prisoner to his counsel be held sacred! If the
case be undefensible otherwise, why should it be
defended, unless If be to give fee to the lawyer,
at the expense of justicel With all Difference to
the Legislators of our country, and to the gentle
men of the legal profession, this seems privilege
not to be enyied: to know that you assisting to
deraud, but debarred by custom from disclosing
it; TO know that the culpr is guilty, and deserves
punishment or restraint, but TO send him forth
again upon society TO commit further crime.
& Our readers may be anxious to- know what be-iI
come of the other two brothers, the fourth and fifth
AT this moment we believe they are both in The
State Prison. Now, how was the ruin of this
once respectable family accomplished! Why did |
the fate Of the elder not deter the younger from
crime! Were they merely drawn along by the
contagion of ll-example, or were there more po |
tent influences at work in their destruction! And
why did punishment and penitentiaries do little