Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-04-07
$2 in Advance

lls name as Ralph L. Collins came
here and engaged rooms at the
Washington House for himself. wife
and invalid brother-in-law. Rollins
represented that he had been A Gen.
eral in the Southern army, that he
resided in New Orleans, and that HIS
visit here was solely on account of
the health of his brother-in-iaw, who
was in the last stages of consump-
tion. He and his wife we're well
educated and apparently very re-
fined in their manners and customs.
They succeeded in gaining the conf
dence of the first families Of the
town, among others that of George
4. Mesersmith, cashier of the Ma
tional Bank, with whom they had
become very intimate, scarcely a day
passing without one or the other
calling. d
On Friday evening about 8 o'clock,
Mr. L. B. Kindline, who resides with
M. Mesersmith, answered the door
bell and found Rollin, in company
with another man, who was intro
duced as "his friend, Mr.. johnson"
Rollins inquired if Mr.. Mesersmith
was at home, and after being in
formed that he was not, remarked
th they would probably. call again
during the evening. About 9 O'Clock
Mr.. Kindline again answered the
bell and found the same parties
in waiting. Knowing the intimacy
that existed between them he at once
escorted them to Mr.. Mesersmith's
private Office in the rear of the bank
ing room. Rollins introduced his
friend johnson, and remarked that
they had called to- purchase Mr..
Mesersmith's farm. After q few
moments conversation on this, sub
ject, they asked permission to depos-
it an envelope containing $4,000
for safe keeping during the night.
This was granted and the vault
opened to put it away. |
After discussing some question in
regard to issuing a draft, the signal
was given by Rollins, and both men
siezed Mr.. Mesersmith and endesY-
ored to gag him, hourishing q dag
ger and revolver in his face 70 IN
timidate him. In this as in al their
efforts they were unsuccessful, for
Mesersmith not only succeeded in re-
moving the gag every time Il was
put on, but actually threw johnson
on the floor and finally opened the
door leading into the dining FOom
and cried /" Murderp This alarmed
the would-be robbers, who at once
fed taking with them package
containing $50, 900. q
They ran to the front hall door,
where they were met by Mr.. Kind
line, who declined opening il 81
though Rollins held q revolver It
his breast threatening 20 shoot if be
did not, They then ran, out the
back way, but were there confronted
by William Scott, a young eelored
man who happened to be in the
kitchen. Rollins and johnson
jumped from the balcony down
eight or nine steps. In doing this
Rollins fell and was at once seized
BY Scott, who held him unfiI assis-
tance arrived. The $50, 600, togeth-
er with two revelYars and q large
knife, were taken from him, and he
was at once placed in Jail. johnson
succeeded in escaping for the time,
reaching London about one O'Clock.
| On Saturday morning he took the
train for Martinsb4rg, Pa, but was
recognized at Mercersburg by ex-
Sherff Gresnewalt, who had gone
there in search of him. He was
brought here at noon, and in default
Of $4,000 was committed to await
/ his trial. johnson arrived here
March 8, and registered at the Ma
tional Hotel as being from Pitts
burgh.. He is an. intelligent 6ne-
looking man, about thirty years Of
age, and does not look ike the des-
.peraee man be certainly must be.
y Three different lots Of burglars
tools, gowns masks, &c, have been
found in lots adjoining the bank
property, showing oOnclaslvely that
there were other. parties outside who
were interested in the job The
impression is that the plan was to
gag the whole household, five in
number, as that many gags have
been found.