Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-01-31
Mail Robbery Anecdotes.

L
ces Of mail robbery are found, some
of which occasioned the display o
great intrepidity and daring, as the
perusal of the following will show;
While the country was yet thinly
settled, and the mails were trans
ported on horseback, or in different
kinds Of vehicles, from the gig to the
stage-coach, often through extensive
forests, whichafforded every facility fol
robbery, the office of stage driver OF
mail carrier was no sinecure. Reso-
lutte men were required for this ser
vice, who on an emergency could handle
pistol as we'll as a whip.
Some thirty or forty years ago,
mail-coaeh ran in the northern part
of the state of New York, through
thefamous s-Chateaugay woods" The
forest was many miles in extent,
and common fame and many legends
gave it the reputation of noted place
for freebooters and highwaymen.
One morning the stage driver on
his route had occasion to examine
his pistols, and found, instead of the
usual charge, that they were loaded
with mEeat bran! A daring villain
had, through an accomplice, thus dis
armed the driver, preparatory to way
laying him. He drew the charges,
cleaned the weapons, and carefully
loaded them with powder and ball.
That afternoon he mounted his
stage for his drive through the Cha
ttaugay. woods. Whistling as he
went, he "cracked up" his leaders and
drove into the forest. Just about the
centre of the woods man sprang out
from behind a tree, and seized the
horses by the bit.
al say, driver" said the footpad,
with consummate GOODNESS, q want to
take look at that mail"
eyes, you do, no doubt, want to
overhaul my nails" replied the dli-
yer; 'sbut | can't be so free unless
you show me your commission. I'm
driver here, and I never give up my
mails except to one regularly author
ised."
90 YOU don't, Ell? Well, here's
my authority" showing the butt Of
a large pistol partly concealed in his
bosom. "Now dismount and bear a
hand, my fine fellow, for you see I've
got the documents about me-"
eyes, and so've l." says the driver,
instantly levelling bis own trusty wea-
pom at the highwayman.
90, you won't hurt nobody, guess.
I've seen boys playing soger before
now.''
/ "Just drop those reins,' says the
keeper of Uncle Sans mail bags, 'or
take the consequence"
| aO!now you're joking, my fine
lad! But come, look alive for I'm in
a hurry, it's nearly night"
A sharp report echoed through the
forest, andthe disciple of Dick Turpin
lay stretched upon the ground. One
/ groan and all was over. The bah had
] entered his temple.
The driver lifted the body into the
!. coach. drove to the next stopping
place, related the circumstance, and
gavehimself up. A brief examination
before a magistrate resulted in ms
acouittal, and highwaymen about the
Chateaugay woods learned that pistols
might be dangerous weapons, even i
thew we're loaded with wheat bran
provided they we're in the hands Q
one who knew how to use them. q
{ Another exciting case occurree
near Utica, early in the present cen
tury, when western and northern New
/ York was a wilderness.
J An old rogue, who had long bee'
steeped in crime, finding his compan
f ions nearly all gone-the prison
: and gallows having claimed their owl
-and his material resource nearl,
exhausted, sought for proiitabi
! alliance. He succeeded In gettln|
! into familiarity with a very youn
, man. son of gentleman of standln
{ and reputation, a worthy citizen an
! an honest man. The two laid the
plans for robbing the mail. Oonsls
cradle sums of money were known I
|. pass constantly in the great ma
! running east and west. -,
al Watching their opportunity, the
stopped the coach one night whe