The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-29
DARING sooUNDRELs.
TOO Men Rob Farmer Of $50 IN Broad Day Light
They are RecOgnized az Canton ScOundrsh

TOO Men Rob Fdi7nG Of $50 in Broad Day Light
lheyqre Recognized as Canton ScOundrels,
One Of the most daring and at the same time
vlllainous schemes TO rob hard working farmer
Of his earnings was perpetrated at the Sumner
House, Monday, At that time two men entered
that hotel and one OF them registered as Charles
Spring, Toledo Suspeoting nothing wrong Mr.
J. w. Hutton, the proprietor Of the hotel assigned
them to a room which they Immediately Oocu
pied with their property. As soon as they were
settled, one Of them went out and meeting farm
er named Chapman In front Of Chrsty's leather
store Immediately entered into conversation with
him, asking him where he hailed from, &c, The
farmer answered the questions Willingly not sus-
pecting that he was entering the tolls OF sharper.
AZ length the rascal asked Mr., Chapman II he
would distribute some bills on the street for him,
offering to payhim cloth. Mt Chapman consent
ed and they went to the Sumner House TO see the
cloth, entering the room where the villains part.
ner had been left.
Upon the table in the room there was revolv-
ing Wheel with holes around the circumference
in which were placed small pieces of cloth. The
farmer was asked to draw from IT, being told that
II was pleasant game which they sometimes
played He at first demurred finally suspecting
that all was not right, but at length through the
persuasions Of the swindler drew piece, and as
might be expected blank One Of the men i'm.
modlately locked the door and Mr.. Chapman was
told that the drawing had cost him $50 which he
must pay. 0verawed by the threats which we're
freely made, he was compelled TO consent TO pay
the $50. NOthavng the money with him, he went
10 Mr. ], G, Caskey's eating house TO borrow II,
having borrowed from Mr.. Caskey before. He
was closely followed by the two robbers, and was
handed the money by Mr. Caskey in their pres
ence Upon receiving the money from Mr. Cas-.
key the farmer Immediately paid II to the two
men into whose power he had unwittingly fallen
OF course these persons did not wait for any cere
mony, but without moments pause, left with
the money in their possession.
When too late to catch the villains who had
departed in buggy in charge Of a third member
of the gang, Mr., Chapman told his story to Mr..
Caskey. Mr., Hutton was also informed of the
condition Of thugs.
Nothing more was seen of the men until Friday,
little before II o'clock when Mr. Hutton observ-
| ed them. Dropping some articles that were In his
hand, he ran to Caskeys eating house to inform
him of the fact. The police were at once informed
and the Marshal and several of the police tCgeth-
er with Mr. Caskey commenced a search for them,
They were, however unsuccessful, the three get.
ting out of the city before they could be arrested.
1t is the opinion of the police that they have
gone to Canton and a telegram was sent to that
place calling tor the arrest of the gang
There seems to be little If any doubt that one Of
| the gang was the notorious Jake Lepper, and that
| they are only three members of gang of nearly
| a dozen, who are plying their trade in different
parts Of the country and have their rendezvous IN
| Canton. The performance was one of the bOldest
that has ever aken'place in this or any other city
and that the scamps obtained the money and left
without being apprehended is a wonder to all who
| hear the story, .,
LATER.-The path of the fight of the daringras
calls who robbed Mr.. Chapman of $50, has become
known. On leaving this portion of the city the
three rode at fearful rate TO the 9th ward, which
they entered with their buggy top more mud than
Oil cloth, They were seen by policeman Hartbut
he not being acquainted with the facts, allowed
them to go on. Making safe exit from the city
they made their way to the White Grocery, three
miles from this city and from there they proceed
ed to MaSslon Here they were joined by other
from 0rrville, the gang consisting of five. The
WDOle lOTC6 OF NllldlS tnen pCOCeeueu 10 " OOhIel
where one of them bogus jeweler swindled t
the extent Of 500, and the balance Of them to the
extent of s4O Here two of them were arrested
but the jeweler managed to escape. The exam
inauon was had on Saturday, when compromis
was effected and the rascals released.
In the meantime Marshal Kopin had heard O.
their arrest, and started with Messrs ]. W. Hutton
and ]. G, Caskey to Wooster Sunday about noon
He heard that the examination would not take
place until this morning or he would have started
sooner. On arriving at Wooster, of course he
found that his birds had flown.
The bogus jeweler spoken of was at the Mayors
Office one morning last week to get license tC
peddle on street corner, When told what
amount he would have TO pay he told "piuful'
tale of Akron being such wicked city, and cited
Canton as place where he could get license al
reasonable rates. He seemed to know more abOu
our ordinances than the Mayor and the whole po
lice force combined, but finally went away saying
that man would starve if he had to sell from
door to door. He said that he always sold in cos
tune, and "neVer more than twenty minutes at 9
time" 1t has now been discovered why he doe|
not sell more than twenty minutes at time, his
subsequent actions showing the reason.