The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-04-04
STARTLING ROBBERY-..sUM-
MARY PUNISH M ENT!

In the Republican Of last week ",
mentioned most daring robbery which
was committed on the night Of the &c
inst, at the house Of George Taylor, tel
miles west of Omaha. The circumstan
cea of the robbery were substantially a.
We stated them. We might add, tha
one of the robbers welld undoubtedl,
have killed Mrs. Taylor, had he no
been prevented by his accomplice.
The first intelligence Of the robber,
reached this city on the morning Of the
5th, when detectives were immediatel,
on the alert for the apprehension Of the
robbers.
During the day two suspicious stran.
gers, who gave their names As John Tier
and James Bouve, were arrested, but
were afterwards discharged, as nothing
definite could be proven against them
On the following morning Mrs. Taylor
was sent for, and James Bouve and
John Her, with some, fifty others, all
strangers..to her, were collected in the
Mayors Office. Mrs. Taylor wert into
the room and soon recognized Bouye
and Her as the persons who robbed her
house the Sunday night previous. They
we're Immediately re-arrested and lodg-
ed in jail. The statements Of Mrs. Tsv-
lor greatly excited the people, and a
citizens meeting was soon called to
consider the case Of the prisoners. A
long discussion ensued upon the qnes-
ton whether the prisoners should be left
to the ordinary course Of the law, or
whether thcspeop!e should not take the
matter in hand and give them An imme-
diate trial. While it was conceded that
our criminal law was adequate to the
case, and the officers Of the law efficient
yet the want ct a safe place Of confnc-
ment, where the sentence of the law
could be enforced, seemed to place ia
in the same condition as though We had
no law and If ever reo;le were iusti-
fled to act for their own protection, this
appeared to be case. Under all the
circumstances and after careful deliber-
alton, it was decided to appoint com
mittee Of twelve men to inquire into the
guilt or innocence Of the prisoners.
Accordingly committee Of twelve Of
our best citizens was appointed, who
proceeded to the Jail, and had long
interview with the prisoners. Before
the next morning, the prisoners made a
full confession of their guilt, and, with
the assistance of Her, about $4OO Of the
money was found where it had been
buried. The committee made their re-
port Of the case on Thursday morning
to the people and RECOMMENDED that the
life Of Her be spared, as he had prevent
ed his accompl;ce, Bou,e, from taking
the life Of Mrs. Taylor on the night of
the robbery, and for the reason that lie
seemed inexperienced, and under the
control OF Bouve. Douve, on the con-
trary seemed to be an incorrigible vii
lain, and by his own confession, he had
been a leader Of band Of despersdoes
in Utah, and had been engaged in horse
stealing and sim.;;....lr pursuits at aid
around Denver City. The report Of the
committee was accepted and they were
discharged, and the prisoners turned
over to the Vigilance Committee.
During Thursday and Friday, some
further confessions were made by the
prisoners, and some other parties impli
Gated, but no more Of the money was
recovered mp to the present time. The
whole amount taken was about 3 900,
besides some silver and jewelry.
On Saturday morning the prisoner
Bouve, was found At the door Of his cell
hung by the neck-dcad. Tier, we un-
dcrstand, was severely punished and re-
leased, with forcible warning never to
be found in this Territory again
Omaha (Nebraska) Republican.