The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-04-05

On the 2lst Of March, two men, nam>
ed James williams and John Smith,
called at the residence of Mr.. John
Barner, near Tuscumbia, Ala, and Of
fered to engage to work on the farm dur
| ing the spring and summer. Mr.. Bsrner
did not need tfeir assistance, but as 1t
was growing late, he asked them to
stay all night, which they did, and were
given an elegant room. During the
night they broke into another room
and stole therefrom fine gold watch,
chain, locket, and gold ring, all the
property of Mr.. Barner's daughter, and
the wife of Dr. Sam. w. Frierson, of this
place. The rogues departed and moth.
ing was seen or heard of them until
they reached this town. Williams, or
Williamson, took the watch chain into
J. H. James Jewelry Store, and offered
to sell it to him. little dreaming that its
real owner lived just across the street.
Mr.. James proposed to give him price
for it, which Williams thought was not
enough, and started off. asking, as he
did so, the way to the Nashville Turn
pike. This excited the suspicious of
Mr.. James, and all of a sudden it flashed
upon him that he had on q certain occa-
sion mended that chain for Mrs. DR..
Sam, w. Frierson. and as soon as posi-
bio went over and told the Doctor about
it. DIR. Frierson, accompanied by Police
man John Latta, went in pursuit of the
thieves, ard overlook them on the Colum-
bia Pike, near Joe Irvine's grocery. DR..
F. asked where that chain was, and
Williams produced it Immediately. He
was thea asked where the ring was, and
he proceeded to take off his finger. on
which it was very firmly fxed. The
- H., r.
which the Doctor had given 20 his affi-
anced. Williams declared he had sold
the watch, but on the way hack tn town
he ran his hand into one of his pockets,
and brought it forth. and also q lncket,
when asked for it, The men were taken
before Esq. Holman. Williams plead
guilty, and Smith not guilty. Both
were committed to jail. Officer Latta
took blank book from Williams, in
which he had kept q diary. The diary
speaks of staying at John Barner's on
the Dist. The address of w. A. Hen
bricks, Vaughn's Station, Miss; DR.. r.
r. Hart, Pickens' Station, Miss; Jos.
Hunter, Macon, Miss; VIM. Binzie,
Coriutb, Miss, and many others, is
given. They seem to have taken q tour
over the South for the purpose of
swindling unsuspecting farmers. Their
lie .
to farmer, and after engaging to work
for him during the remainder of the
year, borrow twenty dollars in advance,
ostensibly to meet urgent necessity,
and then laaye very suddenly, and
never return. Below We give an ip-
stance of this kind in the language and
writing of Williams; "At William
Herndon's, Cold Water, Miss remain
ed one week with the old man, and left
one bright sunny day, with twenty
dollars, which he very kindly advanced
to US, and which we received with
becoming dignity. Thanks to William
for bis liberality and generosity. Good
bye, William" cat Alexander Burt's
about the 18th of this month---February
remained at this gentleman's -esi-
dence two days. Made a contract to
work the year round for 1925 apiece.
Took a walk one evening latter receiv-
ing $2Oin cash from him. and forgot
to come back. So much for confidence
misplaced. farewell Alexander" He
addresses some love>sick poetry to Miss
Millie r. Laforge, 262 West Jefferson
st., Louisville, Ky. After officer Latta
had arrested williams and Smith, he
was approached by James B. Scott, we
are told, who told hIm to look out for
two suspicious persons, who had stayed
in schoolhouse in the HopeYell neigh
borhood, and stole several things there
from. A book with the name of one of
the scholars rubbed out, hut with the
name of /. -. FriersOn, b0CkEelles, was
found on the person OF Smith.
1t is probable that the prisoners
will be taken to Tuscumbia for trial,