The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
SrIL PREscoTr. BANDIT.
A F.ir yirr,-,s orri we .. routh B'ss
wIth Her Reefs o..

VITA Hsr Hoets D.
Trs- tAs 81. Bsvs.~ eicseDr-seru,.
PARKERsBuRa. W. Va. Oct. 1o.-The recent
exploits Of two female highway robeers IN
another part OF this state recalls the rather TO
mantle story Of the life and death OF Neh Pres
colt. old virginia's fret highwaywomsn Neh
was born and lived and died within sixty miles
Of this town. and. though her span Of existence
only extended over some twenty years. she made
things lively in the mountains while she did
live. Yet her daring on the road had ahtune
climax In the unique manner Of her capture ana
melancholy death.
Nell Prescott lived and died "befo' de wah."
She was the pretty daughter OF old Job Pres
colt. who lived at the foot Of old Bald Top Noun
tain. As a schoolgirl abe was bright. intelii-
gent and studious, and It is generally believed
that ii was the extreme poverty OF her parents
that drove her to the highway. .
Early in the spring Of SO a cattle buyer named
Jennings reported TO sheriff Mulcahey that
while crossing Bald Top. and when near the
county line. he caught up with a prepossessing.
boyish-lookinR fellow on the trail. who said he
had walked from I.inwood and was going 10
Deering. a little settlement nine miles this way
from the mountains. Jennings offered the way
farer q seat behind him on the horse, which
ofer was thankfully accepted. Thus mounted
the pair rode merrily on their way. chatting
pleasantly as they proceeded. Jennings thought
his companion was a very entertaining fellow,
and was all unconscious Of danger until. while
passing through a narrow denle. he felt the
muzzle OF a pistol pressed against his head, and
a voice exclaimed from behind:
give me your money or else I'll shoot
Jennings was dumfounded BY the sudden and
unexpected turn OF Affairs, but, as he heard the
pistol click. knew there was nothing else TO do
but to comply with the command, and he at
| once drew out q roll OF bills, amounting to $500.
which was Immediately snatched from his hand
by his boyish Companion. who leapcd lightly
from the horse to the ground. and then said:
stranger. you're broke now, and as l took
the pistol from your belt to do the Job. III give
you $40 30 as to get another"
Then the robber disappeared. and Jennings
went disconsolately on his way to Huntley.
where he found the sheriff. Mulcahey at once
despatched a posse Of officers in pursuit OF the
highwayman, and although they secured the
mountains for three days. could obtain no trace
Of him. Three weeks afterward a peddler was
held up and robbed Of S63 near the same spot
where Jennings had been d~espoiled OF bis money
on the Linwood trail. This deed was done by =
rubberies were frequent on the mountains.
The inhabitantso Of the sparsely settled country
band Of hirhwsynen. for in no two cases did the
descriptions OF the rObber tally. The fact. though.
that the crimes were always committed by one
authorities to doubt the existence OF a band OF
robbers and to believe. that all the job" were
the work OF but one individual At once they set
about efecting his capture. Many attempts were
made in that direction. but all TO no effect. At
last, however, it was deemed necessary to
have deputy .herifs constantly patrolling the
mountains. and $500 reward was offered for the
capture. and conviction Of any highway robber;
This offer set many private citizens on still
hunts, aud at last Gabe Unison and Al Wheaton
devoted all ,heis time to the pursuit Of the un-
Il V.NNn hitch NNA HNA I'm nnFnln0
panied by Gabe's bloodhound Jennie, they were
on their way UP Rsttlesnake Mountain. when
t SefSre @ had e been aser held Pa ap b Rsa a 6ssrS Gep h fs RSyt
man on the Bentley road and robbed OF $50.
The peddler accom- panied Gabe and his com
panion back to the place where the robbery oc-
CURED. and the dog was placed on the highway
to keep her constantly within range Of her
owners rife. Thus the trio OF men. led by the
dog, followed the trail around the mountain
side. through the woods and across chasms and
brooks, Jennie baying loudiy, the while. After
q two hours journey, and when nearing
her leash and GAZE knew she Was hot on
the trail. and AZ last he caught, a glimpse
ahead. Instantly Gsoe Unison raised his
rifle and fired. but apparently without effect
for the chase was continued; bit s9on ended at
man had sought concealmsnt. ,Iabe and Al
knew they had freed their COON and that hi.
capture was inevitable. 50 the hound Wa not
allowed TO enter the aperture. Gabe kicked the
log repea;edly. then shouted Come out o
] tlAT an . TtDutT = IN w CT IL tlnOtLtE 9tI
with smoke, for we uns has yer sho'." ,
There was no response to this stern m
Not a sound could be heard from within the log
Evidently the rubber was disinclined Ia surren'
der. so Gabe and \ ] held n consultation of wal
in whispers, which ended in the latter going "a
summon assistance while Jimison remained u
guard the self-impri-oned captive. -,
IL was shortly after ] o'clock when NJ returned
accompanied by three woOdsmen and Deputy
sheriff strong. Strong opposed trying to smoEs
out the robber By a fire at the base OF the fallen
tree. and directed another method OF getting
hold uf the FDDDsaF. which " as 10 tpllf the Ion
open. 30. with axes and wedges the log wa
split, disclosing within a motinnless human
form. The aperture was materially wldened
while the deputy sheriff and Gabe s.ood on III,
alert with drawn revolvers, and at last the ON
Ger reached down and grasped the form by III,
shoulder. saying at the same time:
81 arrest you in the name OF the Common
wealth OF Virginia for highway robbery" ,
There was no response. With a vigorous 1erk
he turned the form over. and then Jumped bach
aghast. The bearded face that confronted hi
WAS that Of the dead. GAbe's bullet had done III
work. The rObber had been shot through tho
back. In raising the body from the log tn,
whiskers worn were discovered 10 be false, and
when the officer removed them, Gabe Jimisof
exclaimed: Holy smoke, it's Nell Prescott
Boys. I'm iabbergasted."
Some OF his companions also recognized ths
pretty face, and, despite the fact that the form
was clad in male attire. declared II to be that o.
old job Prescotts daughter. IL MAS merCitullJ
decided not TO inform the Prescott family OF th'
death OF Nellie, and 80. after viewing the body
side near Oak Grove. After the burial ther'
were no more robberies in that part OF Virginia
A melancholy sequel to the death OF Nell Pres,
colt was the suicide by shooting at her grave OF
the young s~chOolmaster VI Huntley. He had
been the girls lover.