The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-02
RANDE, THE assassin.
A Sketch OF Rande, Alias Charles G.
Scott.

scott.
The Fairfield Qowa) Ledger gives the fol-
lowing sketch of Rande, alias Charles G.
Scott, the notorious Gibson and St. Elmo
assassin:
In the summer of 1850 Melchi Scott, father
of the accused, came to this city from Glass
vile, Washington county, Pennsylvania,
bringing with him family Of eight or ten
children, six of whom were boys and has
since made Fairfield his home. He is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and during his seventeen years resi-
dence in Fairfield no one can say aught
against him. While he feels keenly the
disgrace wrought by the evil conduct of his
son, il can safely be said that the parents are
free from blame and should be made to feel
that the sympathies of the community are
with them in this the hour of their trouble.
They have heretofore borne their troubles
In sorrow and silence acting as only parents
could toward an erring child, and now, in
their advanced age, it is difficult TO tell the
result of this last fearful blow.
Charley is now about 30 years of age,
having come to this city after his father
did, in 1860, when he was about % years of
age. lie is of medium hight, rather square
in build, of very dark complexion-nis eyes
a sparkling black. He remained here some
time, but afterwards went to Minnesota.
During his stay there he was married in
Howard county. Remaining in Minnesota
for some years, he finally returned to Fair
field. lie did not stay long, however, and
just here there is a blank in his life OF
which our reporter could learn nothing.
He was next heard of at Abba, this state,
where he robbed store some time early in
1872. A bill was found against him by the
grand jury, and he was admitted TO bail in
the sum of 81 ,000-his father being his
bondsman. While out on bail a trunk was
stolen from the depot at Ottumwa and was
nd -, hfs r,oScacSinD CO ha uyac acrois,
rested and lodged in Jail in that city. %
the 9th of April of that year
he succeeded in making his escape from the
Ottumwa Jail by saving the steel bars of
the cell. Thence he started to Fairfield, in
tending to remain here until the affair had
quieted down. Saturday night he had be-
come quite tired and fatigued from his Jour
ney, and appropriated a mule belonging to a
farmer living some eight miles west of the
city. During the night he lost the road and
let the mule take its own course, and landed
about daylight at the house of the mules
owner. The farmer and his son cap
tured him and turned him over to
Sheriff Beck, of this county. The next
morning, during the absence of his guard
for few minutes, he almost succeeded in
making his escape, having made rope OF
his blanket and reached the roof of the
building The sh riff used his persuader,
and induced HIM to come down from his
lofty Dercn. ana ne was turned over 10 the
sheriff of Wapello county The sheriff of
Monroe county afterwards started with him
on the train for Abba and while en- route
Charley jumped through a window of the
car while the train was in motion, and
although heavily ironed he made his escape.
From this time until the Gibson murder
his whereabouts are unknown, and it is
quite likely that during this period he was
in the Indian territory, as is charged. His
reputation as a skilIful burglar and adroit
thief has always been notorious, as has also
been his daredevil actions and careless man
ner 1t was not thought in this city that he
had added murder to his other crimes until
these recent developments, which leave no
doubt as to his identity.
He was noted for his shrewdness and
sagacity, and his frequent escapes from Jail
could be accounted for by stating that in
early life he learned the trade of gunsmith,
and was quite an expert mechanic. Owing
to the peculiar formation of his limbs 1T was
impossible to keep irons on him when he
objected TO them. He is skillful penman,
writinga beautiful hand and MS skill with the
pen may develop other crimes which he
has committed. At different times he has
studied law aud medicine, at one time in
tending to practise the former, and we hear
il stated that he taught penmanship, and
occasionally preached. He speaks, reads
and writes German, talks in Swedish quite
fluently, and has a pretty good idea OF
French. Latin and Greek, is q splendid
mathematician, aud possesses wonderful
memory.