Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-08
A wouId.be Robbery Thwar.ed.

The evil spirit that prompts dark deeds
entered the sable breast of a colored man
lamed Joe Morton Sunday evening, caus-
! ing him to risk bis own life and threaten
! the life Of a gentleman residing on South
Summer street. The gentlemen referred to
! gave us the name of the wOuld-be robber
| but requested that his own name should not
be connected with the transaction.
| At the dark hour of midnight, when the
streets were all deserted, and the stars had
no artificial rivals to outshine, the gentle
man, who sleeps in the second story Of the
house that the robber had decided upon as
the object of his researches, was disturbed
by suffocatiDg sensation, and sr5using
himself, found large sponge laying ca his
breast close under his nos-rils. Throw
ing it upon the floor he arose,
and Sresthed more easily, out
still be was somewhat droWsy for the sponge
that he had cast aside was saturated with
chioroform. His first wonder was where
the aforesaid article had come from, but
he was soon relieved of his meditalions,
for he saw man suddenly dart from under
the bed to the window, through which he
hurriedly descended to the ground by
means of a ladder. This spectacle thorough
IL aroused the gentleman from his stupor,
and jumping from the bed he went 10 his
pantaloons pocket, took from it pistol
and hurTying to the window fred a. the
man who had just reached the foot of the
ladder and shot him. Rapidly putting on
q portion of his clothes, he went down the
ladder to where the wounded man lag, and
Selling him demanded his name and pur-
pose. The burglar replied, "Don't shoot
me again, and I'll tell you all about it,"
He then said his name was Joe Morton,
that he was very mnch in need of money,
aud that he gained entrance through the
back window of the house expecting 10 ind
some in the gentleman's pocket, bat if he
could only get away without being arrested
he would be willing to do almost any act of
kindness TO the gentleman, who still stood
over him, pistol in hand.
The next question put to the Niger (for |
such be deserves to be called) was, "WheTe |
are you Wounded?" Which he answered |
by saying that he was shot in the leg. The |
questioner seeing a rent in his pantaloons, |
stopped down and found that it was caused |
by the ball from the pistol. While he stopped |
examining the character of the wound, |
which ne says was but slight scratch, the |
burglar gave sudden spring, wrenched his |
pistol from his hand, and stepping back /
pace told him that if he made any alarm ne |
would shoot. Accordingly he was Ic)m-
PEELED TO obey the mandates of the desper-
ado, who jumped over the fence and dis
Bewildered the gentleman stood media.
ting for moment, then thinking he would |
60 and inform the police he assembled the
ladder and found his sister standing in his
window in tremor of terror, she having
come from her room to see what was the
matter. lie informed her of his intention
Of going to notify the police, but as she EN-
treating him not to leave her, be concluded
not to 60, until morning.
After be assembled he gave the ladder a
push which sent it to the ground, but think
ing the desperate might return, he could
not rest until he had gone down into tie
yard and destroyed the aforesaid article
with an axe.
The next morning he arose, cOnsOled
with the fact that be had lost nothing but
his pistol, the old ladder and bis peace of
mind for that night. He has probably ere
his time, fulfilled his intention of the pre-
7ious night and notified the auth critics of
he affair, aud the name and appearance of
he niggardly robber.