The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-10
A rAMOUS PELON.
webb, the Huntington Hank Robbcr, In

Thermometer SG'.
FAMOUS PELON.
webb, the Huntington Hank RObbcr, In
the city.
J. II. Webb, the famous Huntington bank
robber, whose pardon by the Governor after
seven ysan' conGnsnensin the PsniieniihIy,
vas chronIcled yesterday morning, was re-
leased yesterday upon the receipt Of the par.
don At the prison, and came up TO the city.
He called upon the Governor In company
with Dr.. X 3, Harvey, and expressed hls
gratitude for the act Of executive clemency
which restored to hun hi, freedom. He also
dropped In at the legislative halls, where
numerOus members were introduced TO him,
and he w4sHimostA s much OF lion a. though
be had been tie PresidenI Of the United
States.
Webb Is tall, slim man, with 4 long red
beard, u very thin face, and wonderfully
clear byG which never wAnders FROM the face
Of person to whom he Is talking
He SAYS the raw air Of the present season,
after his prUtTActed confinement, IL HHgrayAt.
ing his pulmonary Irouble. lie eyAded all
attempts to ascertain any facts conc rned
with bis past history, and when asked u he
had ever told who were his hccomplices In
the robbery Of the bank At Huntington, be
said he never had aud lever would. He Dc
clHrrd, however, that neither the Jamtt
brothers nor the Younger bratherF, or any one
OF them, was 10 the party. Webb himself has
never been rpCOBnEsd, but u member
II the party which committed the burglary,
aud who was Eiliel In an attempt TO
capture him, wAs recognized IS Kentuckian
Ehg wAs known 10 have been implicated 10
ssy>TAl Of the rObbeTTirs and depredaiiOnS Of
the Jamts gApg. II Is suTmised that Webb Is
also IL Though iTzs never SdiCi
anything concerning his family or former
home. lie was stranger " everybody
about Huntington, aud though bis case nj
the time Ct his hearing Ut Huntington
became famous, aud his DESCRIPTION was
sent all over the country, no clue EhA
ever 70 his identity was ever obtained.
HELMS expressed no intention rs 10 his
future, AMI altogether his is probably tie
most myslrriOusleAsc case which ever oCcu.
riei the attention Of the authorities OF thu
State.
While ut the State House yesterday, Webb
sat down IN d chair In the House corridor,
and that famous artist Jpf DAvlS, commenced
to sltiue his shO.S While thus engaged
Neil.EnOEn Democratic Senator approached,
held our his hand aud sid:
"Your name is Webb"
"Yes, Iir."
"You are the man the Governor paFdOued
yesterday, | believe" }
II am"
"wel, hope you will hereafter always
vote the democratic ticket"
Webb took the Senator In with his keen
glance, Nnd then looking down nj the kneel'
lug eihIOp growled.
II eueys ! always hAye!"
Amid hearty bus: oflsUghter. the sena.
tor Withdrew.
Webb says that the raid into IVES. Yirgi.
MIA WIS planned ard mapped out BY him and
three comrades, In one Of the inland lONHs
81 Illinois. Wheeling was the point selected
for their operations Immediately after ma
turing their plans tie four men started for
| Wheeling. and upon their arrival, stopped at
| hotel "neAr the end OF the Suspension
bridge" (lOubtlcSs the Grant Hou1eL Their
/ DIAL move VAS TO make IN examination Vi
the different banks, aud endeayOr BY watch.
ing depOsitors, to determine which OF the IN
situations would likely prove the most proIit.
abs TO Operate on" On the second day Of
their STAY In the city, consultation was
held, aud the conclusion was arrived at that
wheeling was not good place for their
business, not that they had the least doubt
about their ability 10 capture the bank they
might select, but for fear OF their inability
10 make their escape, after the booty had
Dsen secured.
The Ihickly settled country, and many
towns and Villages lying In tue vicinity Of
.his city, aud at every point Of tho compass,
connected with Wheeling by Telegraph ~
they were, left them no toOphOle Though
which 10 pass. They then concluded to try
pArkeSbnfg, but the ZANE reasons that in'
ducrd them to AbandOn up rAtiOns here we're
met with there TO u considerable extent II
vas thea decided 10 move on further south,
and purchasing hURes al ParSsnbuTg the
party struck for Huntington, where, alter 4
careful survey Of the situation, they COZ
euded 10 Try their hand. Before entering
lOVn a consultation ws bad, and tue final
preliminHrieS arranged each mans duties
assigned him, &c, A difference In plans
suggested at this conference CAME near bring.
iDg about an abandoning OF the undti-
iaEing n mRi JriIy OF the men being In favor
Of shooting tue cashier, and any other per-
sons WIN might be found IN the bank. A.
son a. they entered the building. Webb
slreuIOuSly opposed this plan, declaring
that no blood should be shed unless In SelI
defense. The Others adhered TO their plaR,
aging It was the only safe plan; that II they
we're afterwards captured the men In the
Oallk NOulu NltHIlN NHtI
brought UP for trial, Webb refused 10 yield
however, and said that he Eonld Ablndon
the whole project unless they faithfully
promised that no orc should be injured eI
cept II became necessary 10 resort 10 extreme
measures, 10 SecuIe their own exit from the
bark To this the otben were finally com.
PEELED to yield.
Aner mis- conviction, the differs became
possessed Of the idea that IN attempt would
be made by Webbls coniTEles and friends TO
rescue him while en- TguiS 10 MOundSville,
aud extraordinary precautions were adopted
TO Illustrate Auch an attempt, should IL be
made A portion Of the crew Of the boat
gu which be was brought were armed,
and the utmost vigilance exercised At every
landing, but no such atiempt WAS nSue, OF
very likely contemplated.
Some tims during tho summer after his ar.
rival at the prison, which was In January,
1879, Webb made bold, and desperate al.
Tempt 10 escape. 1t was In the evening, and
tue rain was pouring down In perfect tor.
rents, when Webb rushed out Of the shop,
where he worked, and selEiDg long board,
nan with Il W the wall. ntAF the southeast
corner Of the cell building, where lot OF
cal for use IN tho blacksmith shop had been
thrown, and placing the board on end against
the wall, climbed up, with the agility Of 4
squirrel. This guard In No. . tower fired
several shots from repeating ride at the
daring prisoner as he aScended the board, one
Of tbs bslls passing through his hat and an.
other cutting through bis ShlskeH, grTzing
his chin. To thrsa Webb paid no more At.
iention than though they hsd been gAdi
from = boy's pop gun. Arriving near the
Ion Of the board, aud when reaching TO get
hold Of the coping the board turned 10 one
.IJo eantInP Wahh In iOse his hold and Slib