Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-06-11
BOLD DAYLIGHT ROBBERY.
Esq. whites House Robbed of Money
and Valuable Pape-s.

Some OF the Thieves Arrested. and the
VaIuabies Partially Recovered.
A bold and daring robbery was per-
petrated at the residence OF Recorder
Geo. NJ. White last Sunday, the facts
of which are about as follows, as we
were able to gather them: The family
were all at church, leaving colored
servant girl alone at the house. About
half past IL o'clock, a. m, a colored
man, known by the name of Calvin
Felver and the wife of Simon Smith,
also colored, came to the house. Eel
yer had his jaws tied up, appearing to
be suffering very much with tooth
ache, and made the excuse that Col.
Moses White had told him to come
there and get some horse radish for
his relief. At his request the girl
went with him to the garden TO hunt
the radish. While this was going on,
the colored woman went into the
house. She had formerly been en-
ployed in the family, and was some
what familiar about the house.
She made directly for the
drawer, where Esq. White kept
his money and valuables,
and rifled it of its contents. She pro-
cured an entrance by using a key
which was in book case in the same
room. No one of the family knew
this key would fit the money drawer,
but it did, and opened it, but became
fast therein and would not come out
again.
1t is not known exactly how much
money was contained there, but the
best impression is that there was
something like $500 or $400 in cur
rency, something near 500 in gold, in
pieces which has been presented the
Esquire and his lady on different
birthday occasions, and laid away.
There was also some $500 or $500 in
city scrip, and quantity of notes and
other valuable papers to the amount
perhaps of 81 900 or so. All was gone,
but nothing else molested as far as
known.
The theft was not discovered till
sometime after the family returned
from church. The above fact of these
colored folks having been there being
ascertained, Col. White procured the
assistance of the police and set out to
find the parties. Smiths house was
found. He lives across First Creek,
in East Knoxville, near Clinch
street. Smiths wife was found and
taken into custody and thorough
search made, but nothing could be
found and no admission could be got
ten from her.
Afterwards, however, a note was re-
ceived from MolIie Homer, who lives
in plain view of Smiths house, to the
effect that some suspicious maneuvers
had been seen around rock pillar
under Smiths house. Acting upon
this Information further search reveal
ed an old fruit can concealed in this
rock pillar, from which was recovered
SLY in currency and So of the gold
Smiths wife finally owned up to the
transaction.
From information received from
colored man, Mr.. Jos. T. McTeer,
after a tedious search, found hid in an
old pile of wood, or logs, in a field out
ia Shieldstown, the roll of city scrip,
which was undisturbed, and some of
the notes and papers.
Felver could not be found, and it is
supposed he has lit out with the rest
of the money and papers. He is a
large, heavy set, black fellow, with
Burnside whiskers, who kept wood
yard on Crozier street. He will likely
be caught up with, but it is doubtful if
any of the funds in his hands will be
recovered.
Simon Smith, husband of the
woman, was also arrested, and the two
were locked up till this morning,
when they will have a hearing.
Smith was not known to be with the
parties at the time of the robbery, but
can be proved to be an accessory to
the fact