Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-05

that of Col. Blood, made in 1911, which,
for ingenuity of plot and boldness of
execution, has not been excelled by any
thing in these modern dayss.
Blood was the son of wealthy Irish
merchant, whose means enabled him to
give his son liberal education, and
whose social position secured him the
advantages of good society. Young
Blood was Liberal in sentiment, and
served in the Cromwell army, where he
ttained the rank of Colonel. On the
restoration, his estates we're confscated
for the part he had borne in the revo-
luton, and he became a penniless
wanderer.
The Duke of Ormond, Lord-Lieu-
tenant of Ireland, had been very active
in procuring the confscation of Blood's
property, and the latter resolved upon
revenge. Calling to his aid four dar-
ing and desperate men, whom he had
known in the army, he mounted them
on fleet horses, and waited the oppor-
tunity. One dark, stormy night, as the
Dukes carriage was passing along the
streets of London, the vehicle was
stopped, his Grace dragged from it,
tors, and hurried away toward Tyburn
their avowed intention being to hang
him on the gallows there. Fortunately,
on the way, he succeeded In loosening
the cords. jumped from the horse, and
escaped in the pitchy darkness.
A reward of $4,000 was offered for
the arrest of the daring kidnappers, but
none were ever apprehended, and it was
many years before Blood's agency in
the business was known, or even sus-
pected.
His next exploit was an attempt to
steal the crown. He needed money,
and he hated royalty and these rea-
sons were quite sufficient to prompt him
to the commission OF the offense. The
valuables were in the jewel house, under
a glass case, and under the especial care
of Talbot Edwards, an old officer of the
Kings household. But Blood was not
easily baffled. He spent several months
devising the manner of the robbery
and perfecting the means of escape.
He found that it was essential that he
should first establish relations of init
macy with the family of the keeper. So
he assumed the garb of a clergyman,
and, in company with woman of the
town, whom he had thoroughly instruct
ed as to his designs, he visited the
Jewel House, introducing the woman as
his wife.
While examining the jewels the wom
an, in accordance with her instruc-
tons, feigned sudden illness, swooned,
and was carried by the kind-hearted
keeper to his private apartments, where
Mrs. Edwards rendered her every posi-
bic attention.
The bogus parson professed the deep
est gratitude for this kindness, and, in
few days, returned with some valua-
BILE presents for Mrs. Edwards, as
token OF Lis appreciation of her kind
ness to his wife. An intimacy thus
gradually grew up between the design
ing hypocrite and the Edwards family.
They were charmed by his general ur-
banity, apparent responsibility, and
seeming piety; and their blind conf
dence greatly lessened the difficulties of
the villains task.
Among the members of Mr.. Edwards
family was handsome daughter, some
seventeen years of age, In whom Blood
professed deep interest, and finally
proposed to her parents marriage with
a nephew of his, whom he represented
to be young, respectable and pious,
with an income of 9300 year. The
young lady's parents approved the sug-
gestion, and it was arranged that the
sutton should call on certain day
Monday, May g. On the evening be-
fore the time appointed, Blood called,
AID requested that, for reasons which
he proceeded TO give, his nephew might
be received at Z o'clock in the morning
an hour, it will be perceived, when
few people would be likely to be
abroad ; and also asked permission for
his nephew to bring two friends with
him to see the regalia- assigning as q
reason that the friends were compelled
to leave London at an early hour.
The supplemented Mr.. Edwards was
only too glad to oblige his esteemed
friend, and gladly consented to the ar
rangement. At an early hour in the
morning the family were up, and pre-
pared to receive their guests and future
son. in-law.
Promptly the pretended parson and
his friends made their appearance
every one of them being conspirator,
and each of them carrying concealed
under his cloak a short sword, dirk,
and a pair of pistols.
Greeting Mr. Edwards warmly, Blood
apologized, and begged one more favor ::
that his friends might be shown the
regalia at once, as they were pressed
for time and anxious to depart. Ac-
cordingly, the party was conducted to
the jewel-room-Mr Edwards carefully
closing the door after him, as was his
custom. The "nephew had been left
at the entrance, to warn the conspira-
tors inside of approaching danger.
The door had no sooner closed than
the three villains threw of their dis
guise, and, drawing their weapons,
rushed upon the old man and threat
ened him with instant death if he gave
the slightest alarm. But the gallant
keeper was not easily intimidated, and
shouted Justify for assistance where
upon he was knocked down, cruelty
beaten, and left for dead.
Having thus disposed of the faithful