The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-03-25
TRIAL OF THE ROBBERS OF JOHN
JACKSON.
FORSYTH. March Nth, II

FoRsYTH, March l4th, 1853,
MessrS Editors The Superior Court of
Monroe county has been in session for two
weeks past, and us it has been occupied almost
the whole of the time in the trial of some OF
the men who were concerned in the robbery
of John Jackson, near the line Of Pike, last
October,it may not be uninteresting to your
readers to have the details of the robbery, as
developed by the testimony placed before
them. .. ia. l. ,-tf-lABk s. ..
1t appears that about five weeks before the
robbery, two men who then passed by the
names Of Cooper and Williams, but who now
answer to the names Of Simpson and C0pen-
haveP, stayed all night at MIR. Jacksons, ana
on paying for their fare the next morning,
handed him a $40 bill to be changed. In
changing it, Mrs. jackson got some money
out of Il trunk in the closet, and thus they
ascertained where the money was kept
About midnight, on the 10Th Of October last
year, the door of his dwelling was suddenly
burst open, and several men entered the room
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson. One,
recognised by them on the trial rs Copen-
haver, a stout athletic man, went to their bed
and caught the old man by the throat with
one hand, and in threatening manner, would
slightly touch his head with a stick in the
other, and upon Mrs Jackson's screaming, he
ordered her to hush, and drawing pistol,
told her he could make her hush. Another
since recognised as DR.. Roberts, held 4 light
ed candle in his hand, while the others opened
the closet door, and took out the trunk
they Immediately left the house. They were
pursued early next morning, and about a
quarter of mile from the house, the trunk
was found broken open, and rfled of its con-
tents, amounting, according to Mr.. Jackson's
testimony, to about $4,000, all silver, except
about 800 in gold. Their trail was followed
| into Meriwether county, where they separat-
ed, three going 4 road in the direction OF
Tennessee, and two towards Newman, CoWeta
| county. These two were arrested late IN the
evening in Newman, and one called himself
John B. Simpson, and the other at hrst relus-
ed to give his name, but afterwards acRnoWi-
edged himself to be DR.. Roberts. In their
saddlebags were found about 1916 IN silver
"a large amount of bills, most of which were
counterfeit: two forcepts, for unlocking doors
on the outside, when the key is withln-a
bunch of skeleton or false keys for unlocking
trunks, bureaus, desks &c, Il brace, such as
is used by carpenters for boring, two pistols
and slung shot, or Il stout piece OF leather
loaded at one end with lead. They were
brought to Monroe, and one of them, SImp-
son, under promise of being released, made
disclosure, by which the other three were
pursued to Tennessee, and two OF them, 20
lpenhaver and Clark, were arrested and brought
back. Clark, when arrested, made full con-
fession of the robbery, without any promise
of being released, and upon the way back, con-
Quoted the persons in charge of him to the
place in Merwether county, where more OF
the money was secreted; it was concealed III
three separate parcels, and amounted to ST.,
2l7 in silver.
Two bills of Indictment were preferred
against them and found true-one Tor Bur
gIary and the other for Robbery; and DIR
Roberts was indicted singy as u rogue anc
vagabond, carrying about pck-locks, falls
KEYS, &c. He was found guilty OF the thre
offences, and sentenced to nineteen year
Imprisonment in the Penitentiary. Copenha
yer was found guilty of burglary and robbery
and senta,... gpq,Iitentiary for fourteen
!. - indicted for perjury