Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-05-26
ROBBERS, CAVE.
Discovered by Band OF Tenneseeans
\ Letter Purporting TO be From
Frank james Opens mp the secret.
Dispatch te the Cincinnati En- onir.,

DASpdlc1 l6 IInelnl3ti In Qu1rer.
NASHVILLE, TENN, May25- Colonel
James A. Alexander, the Gallatin bank
er and capitalist, rented his farm near
that place five years ago to fpe-look-
ing farmer who gave his name as FL.
Howard. The rents have always been
paid promptly, and Mr.. Alexander con-
sidered him a good tenant, Howard was
away from home a great deal, and the
management of the place was left to an
old negro and his wife. A month ago
all three disappeared, and nothing more
was heard from them until Colonel
Alexander received the following letter,
postmarked Sedalia, Mo-, on saturday:
''SEDALIA, Mo-, April %, 1882.
COLONEL JAS. ALEXANDER, Gallatin-
Dear Sir: have vacated your premises
forever. L thank you for the many
courtesies extended to your mysterious
tenant known as Howard. Visit the
cave on your farm and you will find
something to interest you. l shall
aveDge the death of my brother or die
in the attempt. 81 am, sir, yours with
respect, Frank James alias F. J..
Howard"
The Colonel was astonished to find
that he had been on terms Of intim acy
with SO noted an outlaw and train robber,
the more so from the fact that
Howard appeared to be man of busi-
ness. Half dozen of his most intim-
ate frinds and employees were called to-
gether, and it was decided to make a
night visit to the cave, and they left the
town that evening for the farm. Torch
es were procured and the party set out,
armed with revolvers and knives, the
mysterious nature of the letter and
their visit making them little fearful
that all might not prove as pleasant as
they expected. On entering the cave,
place that does not seem to have
been known to any one in the vicinity
except the proprietor, and which had
place for c)ntraband goods, a strange
sight met their eyes. Lying on the floor
close to each other were the skeletons
of four horses from which the flesh had
fallen away, and around them were
saddles, blankets, brushes and mattress.
Near by was collection of pots and
kettles that had been left with the SCOT
and grease on them, just as they had
been taken from the fire. The ceiling
and walls were dry, and there were ev-
idence on all sides that it had been q
hiding place for men and horses. A
measure, such as Is used by farmers to
deal out food to their cattle, sat on a
ledge ofrock not far from the skeletons.
and was found to contain collection
Of jewelry and articles of value that
looked as if they had been captured by
the robbers in raid on some large Jew
elry store.
There were twelve open and hunting
case watches, sixteen plain gold rings,
twenty nine gold watches, nine solitaire
studs, two diamond necklaces and four
diamond rings amoung the plumber,
which is estimated to be worth $4,000
These were taken back to Gallatin and
placed i'll the vault of the Summer De-
post Bank to await claimants A pho
tograph Of a young woman, bearing the
imprint of Bardstown photographer,
was picked up on the floor by one of
the party.
Five or six of the watches are old
ones that have been used, and bear the
monographs of their owners. one Of
them has the words, From Hugheg to
Toney" engraved on the inner case
The discovery which was reported
by messenger, seems to have caused a
great deal of excitment in the place,
and party containing Judge Vertries,
Colonel Tyree Bell, General Gutherie,
Captain Witherspoon and other we'll
known gentlemen, have visited the spot.
The story, which there is no reason
to doubt, except Frank James does not
write such letters, has not been con
firmed, but is generly believed.