The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-18
CRIMINAL NEWS
An Alleged Plot to Rob the Missouri
Treasury.

81 Louis, September 1S-A story
comes from Jefferson City that early last
saturday morning a man about so years
OF age Who represented himself as an ex-
! convict, called at State Treasurer Chap
pells residence, and, after exacting a
promise of secrecy and protection, told
that gentleman that he and four other
men had perfected plan to rob the State
! treasury, and that at noon on Tuesday
| Ito morrow they intended to enter the
Treasury department, capture and gag
whoever might be present, and rob the
vaults OF the money and bonds. He had
| concluded, however, that job was too
risky, and determined to give the ganJ
away. Mr. Chappell questioned the man
closely, and found him well informed re-
garding the interior arrangements of the
Treasurer's Office, and the number of
persons who were likely to be present at
the hour set for the robbery. After max
| In an appointment for another interview
with man at O'Clock in the evening, Mr..
Chappell went to his office and informed
his chief clerk of what had happened,
| and then laid the matter before Deputy
Warden Pradbury, of the Peaitentiary,
who quickly recognized the man as a noto
Flous crook known as Deputy Charley" !"
who had served several terms in the
Missouri and other penintentiaries. The
man failed to keep.the appointment with
the Treasurer and the questions among
the officials now IS whether he was hoax
ing Mr.. Chappell or whether there was
plan to rob the Treasury. The affair is
involved in great mystery
GALVESTON, Sept. 18.-A Long View
special says a reign of terror prevails in
every portion of the country The ex-
cltement is due to raid on the whites
supposed to be contemplated BY the ne.
groes. The white farmers have their
wives and children in gin houses, and
are holding guard over them. In some
communities little sleep has been
had since Friday night, and haggard
faces with looks of fear are seen eye1y
where, betokening the extremities pro-
duced by the blood curdling reports
brought in by each new arrival Hun.
dreds OF the country men in Long View
today are purchasing arms and ammuni-
ltlon. Firearms are so scarce that in
many eases a number of farmers would
grab for the last gun obtainaole. 1t is
reported that the negroes have received
fifty Winchesters by express at the next
station above here The whole trouble
has arisen from the threats and speeches
of few negroes. The people are at such
pitch of excitement that should single
white person be molested terrible ira
gedy will follow.
CHICAGO, Sept 1S-F NJ. Kerr, who
as clerk for Preston, Kean & Co, bank
ers, absconded with $50, 900 worth of the
banks securities and was afterwards
captured in Lima, Peru. and recently
taken on board an American man-of war
and brought to this country, came before
Judge McAllister of Supreme Court today
under hGbeas corpus proceedings for his
release on the ground that he was kid
mapped from Peru and therefore not
legally in the custody of the Sheriff of
Cook County, The day was spent in
arguments, the Court at their conclusion
reserving his decision, as several of the
points involved are new.