The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-15
From the Memphis Appeal


The Notorious - Bob Black" Lyuched at Idaho
Life of Adventure Fraught with Thrilling
Incidcnts-His Career Of Murder and Crime
I'm Memphis and Vicinity.
or the many strange circumstances born Of,
and nurtured by the past war, parallel TO
the catalogue of crime herein given is rarely,
if ever. met with.
name of Bob Black has on more than one occa-
sion struck terror 10 the hearts of Il 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 Horn Lake roads.
Bob Black cam" to this city about six
years ago, bringing with him Il good character
for honesty and industry, and continued TO
work steadily her. until the outbreak of the
war at that time he desired 10 enter the gun
boat service. and for that purpose left this city
for New Orleans, and after remaining there
some time he joined the crew OF Confederate
ram, The name of which has since slipped our
memory. While on his way up from New
Orleans he became enraged AT some wrong,
real or fancied, al the hands of The captain OF
the ram, and being of n very lmpulsive nature,
seized marling spike, and win a blow ielied
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 NillipiGue 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 Grenada,
Miss. In the confusion OF everything about
Grenada al that time, he managed 10 effect his
escape, and passing safely through the Con-
federate lines, reached Memphis n few days
after it's occupation by the Federal authorities.
Without any means toprovide for himself 1000
or Clothng-with n mind borne down with
trouble and suffering, and berett OF every nope
from which the slightest consolation might be
derived, the once honest man was driven 10
career of DIES peratlon ana crime winch, II gwen
in its details, would cause the blood thirsty
,.ln HFx vail ,, lGh "a
popularity and tameness.
, In this condition OF mind and body lie re-
manned in the city for some time, wandering
about here and there, until, one day, While
standing At the Worsham- House corner, he be-
came involved in n quarrel with one James
Dolan. n member of the Eighth Missouri regl-
mpnt, Il large and powerful man, While BLACK
was Il man OF medium height ana stature
words between the parties waged furious ana
finally Dolan struck Black with cane which
he had with him; but quickly wardmg oil the
blow, Black wrenched the cane from his adj
versary aud dealt him blow which SO frac-
turcd the skull of Dolan 10 cause death
within Il short time thereafter Black effected
his escape from the city, and with couple OF
accomplices began system OF wholesale muir
der and robbery ON the fernando road. The
atrocity and boldnesS of these acts created the
greatest excitement in Memphis.
Several parties We're robbed OF sums vary
ing from one 10 rs high rs ten thousand dol
lars and i'll one instance Spectator was
cOlnDtlleu 10 IlSEOTpt u IIb ulllOull vi iN'
thousand dollars in gold. OF course these
rascals of which - Black was the leader
often met up with men who would show
resistance rather than give up their money !;
and IN this way no less thah ihree OF loul leli
victims to many Outragcs of the flendlsh spirit
exhibited by these sccundrels. 1t was finally
agreed upon by the military commanders OF
the district on both sides that means should De
taken which would insure their capture
Accordingly. n squad of BlytheS battalion, OF
,1,n( tpFp To IN tpG Y
suit and succeeded in capturing, about ten
miles out from the city, Black and his COM
paniun, II fellow young in years, named " ne
Ian They were placed in the guaTd-hous", IN
fernando, we believe, and At Il prcconcerted
signal attacked the guard and, mounting some
horses belonging TO the soldiers, made OIL AZ 4
rapid rate. The guards Immediately started
in pursuit, and, coming close upon Whelan.
who was some distance behind Black, shOt ana
killed HIM. Black again escaped, and appiled
himself with more NigOr than ever TO plumber
ing, stealing and robbing everybody and every
thing that came within his reach
He would frequently ride into this city al
night, passing through the lines ut will: ana
as an instance OF his audacity, on one occasion
rode down Adams street and fred several
shots into the station houso. 1t was reported
that he had accumulated large sums OF money !,
and the report proved correct. u his ousl-
ness became either too tire>Omc or dangerous,
he came to the city disguised, ana look pas
sage on a boat for the North. Since mat
/
heard from him. II seems, after leaving Mem
phis. he went To st. Paul, Mimi, and en-
barlcd in the staging and saloon business, I'M
der his proper name, John kean. His restless
spirit could not stand The mOnotony OF such
dun business TO him, and organizing 4 BAND
of some twenty men, started for the terrific
ries where their depredationS and murders
became quickly known, aud soon reached the
ears Of the vigilance committee at Idaho tlty.
Black entered that place by himself, ana Dclng
unknown in person, imagined himself perfectly
safe. Here again his quarrcsome spirit cN-
hibted itself for scarcely had he been IN
twenty-iour hours before he was involved Il. al
quarrel with a miner, whom ne deliberately
shot and killed. His character being mmc-
diatclv inquired into by the vigilance commit
tee. became known, and in few minutes NJ
ter. the soul Of John kcan. Mus Bob Black
darkcncd with deeds of multiplied crime, ana
with but as little warning rs he was wont 10
grant his own victims, was ushered lnto ihat
dreadful eternity where " the wicked cease
from troubling and the weary are At rest,
there 10 render an account of his terrible ca
rccr of bloOdShod and robbery.
The statements here given are substantially
correct Ii wouldappcar incredible, however,
that robbery and bloodshcd should hold unln-
terruptcd sway in such close proximity TO our
city, but the fact that detective officer was
seen on the streets with Black : horse shortly
after his departure will explain great deal
of thai increduhty away