The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-20

Hut the old lawyers plan IN force:
Who found next day tno laughing matter)
The Fuaatiadywas his daughter
AMERICAN BRIGANDAGE-wEsEERN
RpBfEEs sixty YEARS AaPs
"A correspondent of the Natchez
Courier gives an interesting account
of some Of the highway robbers and
murderers who were celebrated. half a
century OF more ago in what was then
the far northwest.
In those times, says the writer to
the Courier, the Westernmep, brought
their produce down the riverliiii fiat
boats, and when they sold out their
cargoes. thay would return in large
companies together by land. once
noticed that three men made their ap-
opeafance here, zone of whom was re-
markabie for his very ferociouso ap-
pearance. He had a scar. of deep
,SaBfg eutanfoss hiabrow TheyiWere
dressed like backwoods farmers, and
mingled freely with the boatmen.
They ",chafIered" good deal about
the price of great many articles, but
nothing seemed to satisfy them. Hav-
ing made themselves acquainted with
all the boatmen, and caroused with
them q great deal they at last disap-
epeared.e g 81 19i'.''l'a'ai go =
sAbau9tEo months after these ruff
ans had disappeared, the whole coun-
iitfYlWas startled by the news that a
large company Of Kentuckians had
"tbeen robbed by a band of robbers up
-ionsthe Nashville trace. Shortly after
sthreeo gentlemen farmer anda his
two sons-started for Kentucky, and
,sWhenlttess had gotipretty we'll into
the wilderness they, too, were met
q ahdsroBbed Of every thing they had.
This excited the community to the
highest pitch. of indignation. They
bbeseught Governor Claiborne to bring
othe power. of the government to bear
and arrest the robbers, He according
III offered a large reward for them,
dead or alive q sss e q =. ,z,. s'.5
-
Great was the merriment made by
= saMason-r That was the bandits name
and his men when they read the Gov
enernor's9 proclamation. They laughed
,sands ridiculed it: How long he could
have sdefied the authorities no one
1.tKhows, # there had not been treachery
ii the band. r The old adage, that
there is honor among thieves, did NOT
hold good in this case. One night
they were sitting atfsolnlnd their blazing
,..eanplfres. They had just made 9
ssuecessfuI raid upon the settlements,
saaad :ssaad Mason was distributing the booty.
Little Harp crept up Behind him and
buried q totnahawk in his head. Ma
son fell dead. The conspirators then
chopped off his head, and brought il
td.Washington, the seat,ofi government
and claimed the reward, When il
.kasiioised- -ABoat that the grea. robbel
eMasSh, vas Killed, andsthat his head
awasiin Washington for i'd entiflcatioh
all the people in the1settlement fal
and near, ifocked totsee it. Many
who had been victims recognized 1t al
oncBp and syore to it. The men who
had.done the deed were hailed as pub
lie benefactors. ,s.ai, ..eaaals -'oz
- ia. Now, although the Governor had
promised a large reward, yet unfor'
atunately when he called for the money
III was .Ifoundh that, the treasury wa.
empty OF course the captors o
Mason were delayed in getting theil
pay. This led to the detection of thu
aconspirators,. for it so happened tina
the old gentleman and his two sons
who had been robbed, were among
the ngmbergwhoc came to look at tn,
robbers head. The moment they lait
their, eYesn paqL Little Harp they ex
changed g1adnIces. The father Slipped
out and in a little whileappeared will
an officer. Raising his voice ant
pointing his finger at Little Harp, h
said,1 charge you, sir,1 as being on
of Mason's band of robbers Littl
d arp was seized, and his accomplic
also.' This was almost as startling tt
the crowd as was the sight of Mason
head. 5ae.id 90 .afs ~ i5iK Z 4
e aaAt that time there was little tow
'inJeferson county, nearthe Chabley'
fork of Coles creek, named Greenyill
in honor of General Nathaniel Green
This little town was then the count,
.asest thithef Little Harp was regular
aly tried and convicted. He was hum
and the band of Mason being deprived
OF its leader and its most skillfu
Heuteiant, dispersed and was neve
afterWard heard of. 81. 4 = e .Isos
20 Thenstory of Little Harp has al
ready been written in little boo
called Halls Legends of the West
It seems that there were two brother
of that name, who were the most dal
ing robbers. that ever infested Ker
etucky..i They were called, by way {
distinction. Big Harp and Little Has'
on on account of the difference in thei
size. The people of Kentucky ha
,aa,A, :, ,,,.a9 Z, ,ro s,,arot tod at fheip otitrao