The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-07
The Notorious Bob Black Lynohed-An
Outlaws Career.
From The Memphis Appeal, Nov. "a.


10 the catalogue OF crime herein given, is
rarely if ever met with.
In this vicinity, near three years ago. the
name OF Bob Black has Oh more than one
large number of countrymen, cotton buyers
and sellers, whose business compelled them
to enter or make their exit from the city
by the way of the fernando or Lake Horn
roads.
"Bob Black came to this city about six
years ago, bringing with him good char
acter for honesty and industry, and contin-
ued TO work steadily here until the outbreak
Of the war at that time he desired TO enter
the gunboat service and for that purpose
left this city for New Orleans, and after re.
naming there some time, he Joined the
crew of Confederate ram, the name of
which has since slipped our memory. While
on the way up from New Orleans, he be-
came enraged at seine wrong, real or fan
cied, at The hands of the Captain of the
ram, and, being Of a impulsive nature,
seized marliug spike, and with blow
felled the Captain TO the deck. He was
Immediately placed in irons, and upon the
arrival of the gunboat at Fort Pillow was
handed over to General Villipigus for safe
keeping. A court-martial was ordered,
and while in progress, the evacuation Of
Fort Pillow became necessary, and the
prisoner was transferred to Granada, Miss.
In the confusion Of everything about Gre
NADIA at that time, he managed TO effect his
escape, and passing safely through the Con.
federate lines, reached Memphis few days
after its occupation by the federal aulhori-
ties. Without any means to provide for
himself food or clothing, with mind borne
down with trouble and suffering, and bereft
of every hope from which the slightest
consolation might be derived the once hon.
est man was driven 10 career of despera-
ton and crime, which, if given in its de.
tails, would cause the blood thirsty tales Of
yellow. covered trash TO pale for their puer-
~
ility and lameness.
In this condition of mind and body, he
remained in the city for some time, wander.
ing about here and there, until, one day,
while standing at the Worsham House cor
ner, he became involved in quarrel with
one James Dolan, member of the 9th Mis-.
souri, regiment, large and powerful man,
while Black was a man of medium height
and stature words between the parties
waged furious, and finally Dolan struck
| Black with cane which he had with him !;
but quickly warding off the blow, Black
wreuched the cane from his adversary, and
dealt him blow, which so fractured the
skull of Dolan as to cause death within a
short time thereafter. Black effected his
escape from the city, and with a couple of
accomplices began a system of wholesale
murder and robbery on the fernando road
The atrocity of these acts created the great.
est excitement in Memphis.
Several parties were robbed of sums va
rying from one to as high as Ten thousand
dollars; and in one instance q Spectator
was compelled to disgorge to the amount of
five thousand dollars in gold. OF course,
these rascals, of whom "Black" was the
leader, often met with men who would
show resistance rather than give up their
money; and in this way no less than three
or four fell victims 10 the fiendish spirit ex.
hibited by these scoundrels. 1t was finally
agreed upon by the military commanders of
the district on both sides, that means should
he taken which would insure their capture.
Accordingly squad Of Blythe's battalion
of the Confederate States army, were sent
in pursuit, and succeeded in capturing,
about ten miles out of the city, Black and
his companion, fellow young in years,
named Whelan. They were placed in the
qua I'd house at fernando, we believe, and
at preconcerted signal, attacked the guard i,
and, mounting some horses belonging to the
soldiers, made off at rapid rate. The
guards Immediately starting in pursuit, and
coming close upon VIII elan, who was some
distance behind Black, shot and killed him.
Black again escaped, and applied himself
wi more vigor than ever 10 plundering,
stealing, and robbing everybody and every.
thing that came within his reach. He would
frequently ride into this city at night, pass
ing through the lines OF will and as an in
stance OF his audacity, on one occasion, rode
| down Adams street. and fred seve,al sbots
into the station houses. 1t was reported
that he had accumulated large sums OF mo-
ney; and the report proved correct. As
his business became either TOO tiresome or
dangerous, he came 10 the city disguised
and took passage on boat for the North.
Since that time, and until recently, nothing
has been heard from him. 1t seems, after
leaving Memphis, he went to St. Paul, Min.
nesota, and embarked in the staging and
saloon business under his proper name,