Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-09-02
MoUNDsvuLLE, Aug. 16.

.-., MoUNDsvILLE, Ang. l6.
As there have been several versions
Of the Huntington bank robbery pub
lished In different newspapers, | send !
YOU the following account OF the affair
as furnished by ThoS Webb, one of
the parties concerned, who is now sew
ing an eight years sentence TOR the
same. - A. '' .'t I
Some of the assertions made by We0b |
may appear rather egotistical, or boast
full, but am satisfied from what | have
seen of him, and by his late hazardous !
attempt to escape from the prison that
a brayer man than he never lived.
VERBS STORY.
"The party, consisting of myself and
three Others, was organized at Jackson
vile, Illinois. l do not mean to say
that any of the parties resided there,
but that was the place appointed to
meet at or the 20th day of August,
1875. When the party was organized
it was our intention to 20 through an
express OH the B. & O. Railroad bnt
after examining the stopping places
and the surrounding country along that
portion of the road, the party again
met at Parkersburg, w. Va, and gave
up the idea of robbing the express, aud
decided to rob some bank that was best
suited for our business. We then sepa-
rated, the two men yet at large going
to Charleston, and the other man aud
myself to Wheeling, to examine the sit
ua;on at each place, We arrived in
Wheeling after night, and put up at the
holel right opposite the suspension
bridge. The next morning we made
an examination of the banks and then
returned to Parkersburg, where we
were to meet our partners and compare
notes. We concluded that Charleston
was our best field Of operations. We
then bought horses at Parkersburg,
to ride across the country to Charleston
| bought fine iron grey mare from
Mr.. Ward, a livery stable man. My
partner bought horse from grocer, |
do not recoilect his name. The others
bought horses from cOuntrymen. We
| then crossed the country to Charleston.
We next examined the country, and
owing to the Kanawha River being in
our way, we left there and started down
the river without having any plan in
view. The first day after leaving
Charleston, while eating dinner at a
farm house, one of the men happened
to pick up Huntington paper and see
inc there was bank there, this deci-
ded us to 60 to that place and see what
/ the chances were there.
TIE HUNTINGTON BANK SETTLED UPON.
We arrived at Huntington Saturday,
Sept. 9th We sent the men yet at
large to look out a suitable crossing on
the Big Sandy, while my partner
and myself put up with Crump, farm
er living near Huntington, staying with
him until Monday morning, when the
| other two men on the hill, back OF
town, where we had separated on Sat
urday. This was at half past twelve,
/ and it was agreed that we would strike
/ the bank at one o'clock. 1t was agreed
that one of the men who are still at
large and myself should go in and do
| the inside work. | insisted on staying
out as my mare was very high spirited,
and | knew that if we got into fight
it would be difficult matter fOr me to
get on her, under the excitement Of fir
inc. The other parties wouldn't hear
to this as they considered me the cool
est man in the crowd. So | told them
that / was willing to go in. will here
state that have seen an account OF the
affair which charges me with wanting
to put the cashier in the safe, after rob
bino the bank. This is a mistake.
The other parties agreed, before leaving
the woods, that il should be done, but
| said but little about, but had made
up my mind that it should not be done.
| told the two men that were TO stay
out, that we would ride in five minutes
ahead, and if thought it necessary for
them TO come in, | would tip my hat to
them, when they were to dlSmount,
hitch their horses aud come in but If
not they were to ride on up the street
and remain on horseback. SO when
they came in proper distance, we walk
ed into the bank, leaving them to at
tend to outside matters. There was no
one in the bank at the time but the
cashier.
HOW TIE WORK WAS DONE.
walked up to the counter, and he
was standing with his side TO me and
didn't appear to notice me at all. just
thought to myself, | will slip right over
on you; and placing one hand on the
counter | jumped over, my partner fol
lowing me. Mr. Oney, the cashier, APP
peared at first to very much frightened
| told him not to be scared, that we
didn't intend to hurt him. We then
told him what our object was. lie
said the cashier had the keys, and had
gone to his dinner. / told him that
wouldn't do, as l knew him to be the
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