Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-09
III. Ups and Downs Of Noted Kentucky
Desperate.

1he NASHVILLE D1"he' H~' '''~ $500
ing interesting sketch Of the career oil
Martin Coffee, horse ,hief, burglar, rob
Der, house burner, convict, quaek, ex-
horter aud soldier by turns, and one OF
the most accomplished desperadoes that
ever picked a pocket or scaled prison
wall:
Martin Coffee, bold and desperate
convict, who so. mysteriohsly ESCAPED.
from the penitentiary on the 9Th OF
November, 1867, was recap.ured IN the
southern part Of Kentucky. on the 9th
of last month, by Mr.. 7. I. Bradshaw
aud two young men from whom Cefiee
had stolen horse, was brought down 70
Nashville Friday night, by Mr.. John
Chumbley, warden OF the penitenuary,
and again compelled TO don the stripe
without the star. The lie and exploits
of this ire pressibe reprobate have been
by no means commonplace. he was
horn in the southern portion of Ken
.,uoky and received good education.
He says that he was the 2" black sheep
of a large family.
Soon after the commencement OF the
war. Coffee entered the Fifth Kentucky
(Union) cavalry, in which he displayed
considerable daring, coupled with an
utter lack Of honesty.
On one occasion he was sent out on
forsging expedition, and returned day
or two after the arrival Of the wagons
with bag full Of ailverware. After his
discharge from the army he came to
Nashville with eeme intention OF taking
mn his residence among us. he states
that during his stay here he became &C
ouainted with the features OF every otiicer
in the city. BE associated generally
with desperate characters, among whom
he was a leading spirit.
During the winter Of 1861, man
named Joe Page represented to Coffee
and Captain Colyer that his sister, re-
siding near the southern boundary of the
city, was possessed of $1,000 in gold,
which she had secreted about the house,
and proposed to rob her of it. They &C.
cordinely connected plan and carried
il out They went early one morning,
thrust the woman out of the dwelling,
found the money, set the house on fire,
and burned it TO the ground. Page and
Colyer made their escape, but Coffee was
caught. tried in the Criminal Court of
this county, and was, in March, 1867,
sentenced to the penitentiary for fifteen
years.
Not long after Coffee entered the
State prison, and while one of the walls
was being rebuilt, he conceived the idea
that BY general aud well planned revolt
all might regain their lost liberty. He
was considered by the convicts as their
leader, and was bold and fearless enough
TO undertake any enterprise, however
dangerous.
On the appointed day, and just after
all the convicts had set down to dinner,
he suddenly arose at one end of the table,
and, with flourish of his knife, cried
out: "All you that love liberty follow
mel" All the prisoners Immediately
sprang up, and were about to carry out
the desperate plan, when one Of the
guards struck Coffee violent blow on
the head with mace, which felled him
to the earth. The other guards drew and
cooked their pistols, and order was re-
stored by the convicts resumipg their
seats
Coffee succeeded, however, on the 9Th
of November, 1867, in making his escape
from the penitentiary in very mystic
rious manner. He had only served eight
months. No locks or bolts had been
broken, no walls scaled. 1t was clear
enough that some one connected with the
prison had connived at his escape.
Even Governor Brownlow thought the
affair looked suspicious. and sent brief
message to the Legislature with regard
thereto.
Coffee states that, after his escape. he
went ont to place known as "Slip-up,
INC Withersville) on the Lebanon road,
about eight miles from Nashville, whence
he crossed the river, journeyed toward
Carthage and finally struck into Ken
lucky, twenty five or thirty miles from
Eizabethtown. He remained there for
several months and "traded" cattle,
hogs, and stock of all kinds under an
assumed name. Finding he had become
too we'll known in that particular local.
ity, he went in a different direction,
nearer to Elizabethtown. Here he
assumed the high sounding title of
doctor Bum" hung out his single
and had several hundred neat business
cards printed. He proposed to cure
almost evory imaginable disease and &C.
tually acquired large and lucrative
practice. He states that he gained much
reputation among old women, who were
possessed of the belief that his prescrip-
lions were infallible. Not coRtent with
his ordinary success in this direction, he
also became Jealous member of the
Baptist church, within twenty miles of
Elizabethtown. During his stay there
Rev. Mr.. Johnson came down from Louis
vile for the purpose of holding pro-
tracted meeting. Coffee assisted, and
We'd with him in exhorting sinners to re.
pentance. At the close of the meeting
The preacher became sick and was unable
TO baptize the converts, who were forty
two in number. Coffee was accordingly
deputised, and administered the right of
baptism 10 a manner that ELECTED the
pious admiration of all who were present
While not engaged, however, in his
medical or religious duties, be made oc-
casional raids on those who lived within
reaching distance. He rode into Lex
ington with one of the finest horses, sup
posed to have been stolen, that Kentucky
could afford. At another time he visited
Cincinnati, where he said he met Col.
Zeb Ward, one Of the lessees of the peoi-
Tertiary, face to face, aud was very glad
70 observe that he was not recognized.
While there be also CHANGED across one
Of the old guards. whose inquiriug glance
he avoided by pulling his hat over his
face and increasing his speed. On look
ing around he met the gaze Of the guard,
who had also turned TO look back. Coffee
then took to his heels and escaped.
After returning TO bis office, near Eliza.
hethlown, be stole horse from Mr.. 7.
T. Bradshaw. he was pursued by Mr..