Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-01-29

The next instance that the evidences
developed was 0f chafarferev-nnore
shameless and heartIess. When Thomas
Robiason died, be left 500 deposited
with 6rm of private bankers Ia Lynch
burg. He gave this money 20 his SIS
ter. She secured = certiGeate of de-
pOsif. drew interest on the sum and ex-
pended 5000 Of the principal, leaving
HE00 - Ssffrzf e. ~ is'Ezzs
the prosecutions Of Mitchell began she
transferred this certificate to The charge
Of person named Smith. that she might
not be able to get IL TO satisfy, the rapa-
city Of her brothers slayer, Mitchell
appears TO have possessed such pow
erful influence over the poor woman
mat she first gate him q written order
for the money, and when the bank de-
cllned 10 recognize II he compelled her
10 abstract the certificate from the pa
pers OF Mr. Smith and thus was ena-
bled 10 draw and appropriate the mon
ey, all that remained Of the property
Of the man he bad shot to death.
Pursuing bis prosecutions, Il is stated
that Mitchell next obtained from The
young woman q gold watch which bad
been given herby her mother on her
,dealhbed. II transpIred in the exami-
nation that he used to frequent the
heights and hills near the poor woman's
home and keep q constant watch with .
spyelass on ali Of her motions, knowing
az aIl times where she was and what
she was about, and what company she
kept. driving her almost crazy with The
dread of him, which destroyed both her
health and her spirits and filed even
her dreams, as she testified. with ina
ges OF fear and horror. II seems bard
TO understand how such q series OF
wrongs could be Perpetrated with i'm
punity in Christian land, but such j.
the woman's statement, borne out, too,
by several respectable citizens OF Camp
bell, who appeared before the grand
jury. But The tragedy was Fastening
10 rs contamination. Old Mrs. Robin
son IS said to have died of a broken
heart in consequence Of these sorrows.
Not long after, her husband died also,
and then Miss Robinson was left alone
in the world to confront her relentless
.,.sr,,,, .-i7 81 sFd .tef ei 81
When the old man died, bis dangh-
ter, as sole heir. inherited the Planta-
tion on which the family resided. Not
content with his spolls, Mitchell appears
TO have determined to possess himself
Of this property also. With this in view
he induced one j. G.. Walton, Justice
OF the peace, to visit the young woman
and take her deed on the plantation, in
which William E. Glass, who bad wit
messed The former pretended confession
of Miss Robinson, was made trustee and
representative of Mitchell in the trans
Ter. II was stated BY Miss Robinson
that Walton brought her threatening
letter from Mitchell, with The contents
of which he professed himself acquaint-
ed, and that il was on the lduress and
intimidation exercised by this precious
document that she acted IN signing
away her right 10 ihe property left her
by her deceased lather. After this in
sirument was executed Mitchell APP
pears TO have ceased for while from
The active pursuit OF the unfortunate
woman; but when, not long AFTER, she
made sale Of tbe plantation the con-
federates then put forward their deed,
which until then Walton had not re-
corded, and claimed The property astheir
own. s,,.. 4
Miss Robinson, badgsred al last be-
yond endurance, then employed coun-
sci, and in the course Of her dIsclos-
ures The whole story came out. A gen
eFal warrant for extortion was issued
and the parties arrested. Intense ex-
citement prevailed amongthe good peo-
Die or the county. and especially those
Of the vicinage where these revelations
transpired, and Il is said that the threat
OF invoking Judge Lynch's" summary
assistance was freely and fayorabIy can
vassed. Better counseIs prevailed,
however, and the case weDttothe Grand
Jury OF the County Court. On Tues
day this body, after full examination Of
Witnesses, found true bill against ].
T.. Mitchell, VIM Il. Glass and J. C..
w alton for exiofting by threats deed
Of trust from Miss l.. M. Robinson: q
true bin VS.. ]. e. Mitchell and Wm, e.
Glass tor extorting a bond Of $500
from the same lady; 4 trne bill VS. Jes-
80 E. Mitchell for extorling BY threats
$500 from the same lady, and a true bill
vs.. ]. Z Mitchell for extorting BY threats
gold watch from the same.
MitcheIIwas still in jail on the mag
Istraie's original commitment; Walton
and Glass were out on bail. All APP
peared and were arraigned. pleading
or course, "nct guilty. Walton was
bsiled in The penalty Of $3.50 and Glass
committed to Jail in default OF $500 bail.
Mitchell was remsnded TO Jail. and, on
motion Of the prisoners counsel, the
case was continued all the next term Of
court.
Some Of the most prominent iawyers
Of tins section. among them Mr. Thcm-
as Whitehead, formerly member oi
Congress from this district, who assIsts
the prosecution, are employed on both
sides of ibis exciting and interesting
case, which arouses great alteration as
something altogether novelsn these parts
sAs ssys ; Pair sssAoss.
e. -...-m-. Te 80. avar wan