Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-26


There was quite panic IN town Oh Tues
day evening, growing out OF the recent horse-
thief efexciten,ent & examinations, but whether
we'll founded or not. we are unable to say. 1t
seems that some daring villain, on the prece-
dino niaht. set fire to the Brainard House
having probably entered the building with
those visiting Rutter at his room--and, as a
company of suspicious looking characters
were known to have arrived from parts un-
known, in the fore part of the evening alluded
to, (Tuesday,) and put up at the Chemung
House ordering their horses to be ready at
call any time between twelve and four o'clock
an apprehension that something wrong was
in the wind, very naturally seized upon the
public mind.
1t was also reported that an unusually large
number of desperate looking characters came
in on the Williamsport train. and strong fears
were entertained that an attempt to again fire
the Brainard House, break jail and free the
prisoners therein confined or capture Rutter
for the sake of putting an end both to him
and his testimony, would be made These
fears were not little increased by the fact
the Brainard House was visited by the com
pany of suspicious fellows spoken of, one OF
whom was heard to make some harsh obser-
vations with regard to Rutter. So strong did
the apprehension become that some desperate
scheme of villainy was on foot that the Presl-
dent of the Village was waited on, and a large
additional police force put on duty for the
night. with instructions to keep a close watch
of the suspected parties, and the points which
it was feared they might assail The night
passed away, however, without any unusual
occurrence; but we are by no means disposed
to believe that the precautions adopted were
not both necessary and well timed.
That the Horse Thief Gang are deeply
we may say vitally-interested in disposing of
Rutter, there can be no doubt, and a fire, or
anything else which would throw the commu-
nifty into panic, would afford the best oppor
tunity of accomplishing this (to them) all i'm
portant object. While, therefore, he remains
with us, he and his former confederates, in
Jail. cannot be too carefully guarded. TO be
outwitted just at this time by the members of
the Horse Thief Gang who are still at large.
would be most humiliating to the parties who
are engaged in ferreting out this desperate
nest Of villains, and at once open the way for
the most of their number to escape unwhipt of
Justice Let our authorities, therefore, stand
10 their arms, and put none but brave men,
true and tried, on guard IL this band Of
robbers wish to throw themselves into the
arena against the people of Elmira, we believe
in meeting them at the very outset, and nip
ping their villainous schemes in the bud.
Arrest and examination of E,,ocb T'ooler, for
Hiqh,cay RoJ6ery-.Jan,es Smith arrested
for receiviag a Horse stolen from John
/ HarshJerger Of Bedford county, Pa.
Bradtord Harner, charged aoih Larceny,
and Receiging Stolen GOods-A,ricat Of
Harper = HIS admissions appearance,
and Departure icih Bro1c1t and Rtdter-
The latter anxious to get o1c0y-Hoto he
stands Cross -EEraneindtion-Th Thirteen ar
rests, an al, on has Testimony.
ELMIRA, Chemung Co, N Y March IL
On the evening of Friday last, 14th inst,
Enoch Tooker, (who had been arrested the
previous evening at Bath, Stuben county.)
a charge of highway robbery. He is accused
of having been confederate with Rutter and
George I4oup, in the robbery of John Dick
son, on one of our public streets, on the night
of the 1st of November, 1854 The amount
of money taken was SITS Rutter and
Dickson were the only witnesses examined,
and as they were not examined in the pres
ence of each other, it was remarkable how
the latter's testimony verified that of Rutter.
The only important discrepancy between them
is the street on which the robbery took place,
and that is not material. Rutter's testimony
in this case was taken on Friday evening,
and l send you it in full. as well as that given
by Dickson during the afternoon of Saturday
We are unable to publish this testimony
as full as reported by our correspondent. The
following is its substance
Rutter testified that he was at Tooker's
house in the summer of 1854, with George
Loup, late at night; a young butcher was
there, who drank with them. Loup and Took
er agreed to rob him. Rutter and Loup fol-
lowed the butcher out; Tooker shut up his
saloon and followed A short distance from
the house Ruttcr seized him, told him he was
a policeman and would take him to the watch
house: got his pocket book threw him down,
and ran away-Loup stood close by Next
morning divided the proceeds-sixteen or
seventeen dollars-with Loup and Tooker. at
the saloon Expected to have got about a
hundred dollars The butcher had been drink
ing and showing his money. and Tooker Piled
him with liquor to make him drunk Dick
sons testimony corroborated Rutter in every
essential PARTICULAR
When the testimony closed the Justice af-
ter a few remarks decided to hold the defend
ant for trial at the next Court of Sessions;
and in default of So, 900 bail, Tooker was re-
manded TO jad.
James Smith. of Hector, Schuyler county,
(arrested on Friday was brought before JUS
tice Foster, on Saturday morning, on charge
of receiving or purchasing a horse. about
December, 1855, knowing it to be stolen, the
property of John Hershberger, of Bedford
county Pennsylvania. John Rutter testified
as follows:
Became acquainted with defendant at Ray
IN,