Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-30
BOLD ROBBERY
Forrest Powell, the Pardoaed conyIct, In
an CID Role.
He Is Sent to Jail Ia Default Of $4,000 Ball

Some weeks ago our readers were
appraised through our report of the
proceedings of the Criminal Court,
That Forrest Powell. Indicted for
the malicious shooting Of Mr.. Robert
Shelton, had plead guilty and been SEN
fenced to two years In the penitentiary.
menA against Powell fer stealing, rob-
blng his room-mate, etc, which were
'tnoueproSsede AFTER his sentence, under
the superstition that the punishment
would be melted out. The Governor,
however, having been Informed by in
%dnentiai parties that the young man had
some slight cause for shooting, with mis-
taken ctemency turned Powell loose on
the community, and gave him q tree par
dom 40
Powell, on recovering his liberty, went
to work (apparently) at his trade, gas
htting, and seemed TO be getting along
very well. Among the places that he was
IN the daily habit of dropping into"
was the furniture store of Nj. Pierson,
in the County Court building, on Second
street. On Saturday he was there twice,
and AFTER closing the store that night Mr..
Pierson saw him near the front door on
the sidewalk.A brother Of Mr.. Pierson
saw him standing almost in the same
place at half past twelve O'Clock the same
night, but thought nothing of it. The
next morning Powell went out to Mr..
Persons house about seven o'clock,
dressed in a new suit of clothes, and told
Pierson that he was going to spend the
afternoon with some young ladies.
Something in his manner in
duced Pierson to think that all was
not right, and calling his brother, Mr..
Tom P~ierson, sent him privately down to
the store to see if it had not been entered.
M -, k-N =. - -
when Powell was also taken with a leav-
ing, " and departed. In the course of an
hour or so the messenger returned and
reported that the store had indeed
been entered, and that a trunk,
in which Pierson kept his valuables
and money, and which was
inclosed in a strong tool chest, has been
broken open and ri1ed of its valuable con-
tents, viz: one gold watch, three silver
watches, n diamond ring and two hum
dred dollars in money. Pursuit was in
stantly determined upon, and Mr.. Pier
son procuring q hack, went to the police
Office for assistance. While there, he
learned that Powell was then at the Louis
Vile depot, about to cave on the next
train. Detective John Kelley being
present, Mr.. Piers0n u he start
there found the youth they
were in search of, in all the glory of his
new garments, and making preparations
to leave these diggings Immediately.
John walked up and laid his hand affec-
tionately on the young mans shoulder
and informed him thai he was a prisoner.
whats that for?" he asked, in well
feigned establishment. "Come along with
me, sonny and you'll find out" cody re-
sponded John. Seeing that his prisoner
was about to get in a rage, he added,
I" don't get mad about it; this gentleman
here pointing to Pierson) will explain
matters when you get up to the station
house."
Powell seeing no other recourse quietly
submitted to arrest, and went to the sta
ton. Here he was searched, M on him
were found b missing diamond ring,
two silver watches Inc m gold one,
forty dollars in money and a ticket to
Nashville. There were also two burglars
nips anda picklOck. These witnesses be-
ing produced against him, the brazen
besriDg of the youth gave way, and he
confessed the robbery, detailing the man
ner of making an entrance, which, to say
the least, reflects anything!but credit Oh
the policeman on that beat. He took a
sign standing on the sidewalk and stood
it against the door. On this he mounted,
and showing in the transome, climbed
over. He lost little time in getting the
valuables, and after counting the money,
opened the front door and walked out.
The thief was committed 70 prison I'M
til yesterday morning, when he wa car
ried before Squire Norton, and again
committed to answer az the next term of
the Criminal Court, in default of $4,000
bail. He was defiant to the last, and said
to Mr.. Pierson, as he was carried off by
the constable, that he intended to kill
the man who sent him to jail" We hope
that he may get his deserts this time, and
that mistaken clemency may not again
urn loose on the community so danger
Gus a character.