The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-12-25
a Supposed HIghwayman Captured.

The USiox Of December 37:h. 1879. gave the
following particulars Of an atiemr; 10 rob toll
gate:
"Boh An.npf 10 Rob q 7od-Gaie.-Ahout
o'clock on Tuesday nigh; last bold but unsuc.
cessful attempt was made 10 rob the toll gate
the Copper factory. on the Hartford road which is
kept by Mr.. Jacob Sherman. who l. quite NJ oil
man. Three young men drove down the road In
n one-horsc wagon and stopped to- pay their toll.
which Mr.. Marion Shcarnan. 4 son, went 10 the
door to receive. just nj that instant two Of the
men sprang upon Mr.. Sherman and n desperate
struggle ensued. Old Mr. Shearinan came 10 the
relief Of his son and he was also attacked. both
being badly beaten and cut about the head.
Young Shcarman finally freed himself and dash
ing into the house procured single barrclod gun.
which he discharged ut one of the men, who was
seen 10 fall. The others left the old gentleman
and made for their wagon. taking with them the
man who was supposed To have been wounded.
and drove rapidly down the road. without sccur-
ing anything None Of the men recognized
| as they had handkeTehiefs tied over their faces.
| The night very dark aud this fact no
| doubt prompted the attack. just ni this time
there Is great deal Of travel ON the road ut NIL
hours Of the day and night. but no one happened
20 be passing just at that time. Both Mr.. Shear
man and his son are quite badly hurt, having
| ugly gashcs cut in their heads with n heavy in
| strument. During the melee one ithc would be.
robbers fired pistol shot. but withou; effect
| The circumstances narrated above had almost
| been forgotten when the arrest in baltimore last
week Of Matthew J. Burns. charged with compli
city in the recent robbcries in the belt has revived
the affair and caused new inicres, to be taken In
| II. After the occurrence the Baltimore police
were notified aud instructed 90 keep close watch
n crowd Of about ten in the ives, end Of the city
| of whom Burns was one. Burns had disappeared
and the crowd Ind aot been seen since the day
previous to the assault. The doctor could not be
found who had attended fc supposed wounded
| man, but IL WAS asccrtaincd that Burns laid
up at home. visited BY one OF the crowd referred
| 20. and not by physician. In the latter part Of
January Marshal Gray saw Burns on the street.
and though satisfied that he was one Of the men
had no evidence, but had him watched ever since
Several days ago Burns was arrested. Having
him in charge the marshal made examination
Of his body, and his back Tor space ten inches
In diameter found in rel spots the marks Of
abou, 100 shots. some scars being ~ big around
rs dime. Mr. Sherman says when be fred. the
shot, II there were any in the gun, must either
| have struck the man. who was very close. or the
| fence, toward which he was running. but no marks
were found on the fences
| Burns has been lodged in Jail here. Marshal
Gray says there Is no doubt the men went out in
the wagon for the purpose Of robbery aud perhaps
murder. and that Burns and his crowd had been
In the habit Of going into the country at night for
the purpose. tits supposed, of robbery. The other
two men who were concerned in the Shcarman
affair are known TO the police, so 1t is said. and
can be secured nj any time.