Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-05
JOSEPH.
How ne FELL into the Hands of the
fstt tA PhfIisfines.

tst PhfIisfines. "a
The best of us are liable to err, hence We
are not surprised, to know that Joseph IL.
Blackburn of whom so much has been said
in the paper Of late, passed last night IN
jail, Notwithstanding the fact of his having
boosted thai he world navnr be captured
alive. He probably meant All is said Ia
this connection, but the result shows that
he erred in making said boast, for he has
been captured, and is still alive, or at
least be was, when at $50 last night, Depu-
ty United States Marshal Ed. Wheat
chucled him into a cell occupied by Wade,
recently brought here from st. Louis, Law
yer Newton, of this city, and several lesser
lights.
HOW THE THING WAS DONE.
Our readers are familiar with the facts
concerning Blackburn's arrest and trial in
the Federal Court on the charge of forging
bonds which secured him the office of
United States Marshal for this district, a
few years ago; of his conviction and of his
jumping his bond during the tendency of
an application for new trial, which was
made by his attorney. Since his
disappearance, some two weeks since, he
has been concealed near his home. at Liber-
ty, DeKalb county, and trusted to the fact
that all the stage routes in that section,
and also the postoffices, were closely watch
ed, for a warning of the approach of the Of
ficerS of the law. ri.
Meanwhile the United States Marshal
and his deputies were laying a skillfuIly
concocted plan for his capture, which was
carried into effect last Wednesday morn:
ing. Blackburn being surprised by the en-
try of three men into his house at the I'M
seasonable hour of two A. NJ. with
drawn PISTOLS and a request to
surrender Joseph looked at the '.iokers''
and then at the men holding them, and
concluded that, as life is rather sweet, it
would be to his interest to yield to the ar
guuments used, and trust to future develop
ments for an opportunity to ''slide OUT
He was taken to Lebanon in a wagon
under strong guard, and remained in that
place Wednesday night. From Lebanon
he was brought to Nashville by wagon, in
consequence of the accident on the Tennes-
see and Pacific road Wednesday night,
reaching this city about dark last night
under charge of
CAPT. JOHN T. ARMSTRONG,
who was one OF the party making the ar
rest.
Reaching Nashville, Capt. Armstrong
turned his prisoner over to Capt. Wheat
Deputy Marshal, who allowed him to re-
main at the Maxwell until late hour in
the evening, a brother of Blackburn, and
who is the Sheriff of DeKalb county, max
ing an earnest effort to secure his release
on bond until this morning, in which effort
he was Joined by several citizens of Nash.
ill h,,L What hoe inf itx
to accept bond, Blackburn being convict
ed felon, there was no course for the Mar
shal, to pursue in the premises but to senc
! him to Jail.
About half-paSt eight, Capt. Wheat Sc
cured hack, and with the guards, escorted
Blackburn out of the Maxwell. Reaching
the hack, the prisoner objected to entering
| it, saying he preferred to walk, but was
finally induced to get into the vehicle, and
was driven rapidly away, the Marshal ant
the guards occupying the hack with theil
prisoner.
PROMISED DISCLOSURES.
Blackburn says that other parties whit
have some connection with his case mus
suffer now, for he is not going Il
keep his mouth sealed any longer, and h,
| intimates that when he does elbow" Ger
tain prominent citizens in this vicinity vii
not stand as high in public estimation as
they do now. He says he paid a man t.
help him out of his scrape, and that afte
getting all his money, this man urged hin
to eight out" which injunction he at one
carried into effect.
In addition to the charge upon which IT
was committed two weeks ago, there is al
execution against Blackburn on account o
| some
| ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
of government funds which he had unde
his control during the three months he wa
| United States Marshal, and which he ha
not properly accounted for, although Capt
Wheat SAYS that he has not misapprOpriatet
more than $4,000.
Blackburn is rather good looking man
about 30 years OF age, is tai and slim, will
blue eyes, aorid complexion and'light hair
He is naturally shrewd, keen man, bu
has little or no education.
The marshal and his assistants are de
serving of great credit for the manner il
which Blackburns arrest was effected, il
the face of the measures he had taken t
prevent it.