The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-30
A Fair Girl Bandit.

Nell Prescott, old Virginia's first
highway woman, was born and lived
and died within 60 miles of Parkers-
burg, and though her span Of existence
only extended over some 20 years she
made things lively in the mountains
while she did live.
Nell Prescott lived and died "befo'
de wah." She was the pretty daugh-
ter of old Job Prescott, who lived at
the foot of old Bald Top, mountain.
As a schoolgirl she was bright, intel
ligent and studious, and tits generally
believed that it was the extreme pow
erty Of her parents that drove her to
the highway.
EARLY in the spring Of. 1853 cattle
buyer named Jennings reported to
Sheriff Mulcahey that while crossing
Bald Top and when near the county
line he caught up with prepossess-
ing, boyish looking fellow on the trail,
who said he had walked from Linwood
and was going to Deering, little set
Element nine miles this way from the
mountains. Jennings offered the way
farer a seat behind him on the horse,
which offer was thankfully accepted.
Thus mounted the pair rode merrily
on their way. chatting pleasantly as
they proceeded. Jennings thought
his companion was very entertaining
fellow and was all unconscious of dan
ger until, while passing through a
narrow defle, he felt the muzzle OF a
pistol pressed against his head, and a
voice exclaimed from behind:
"Give me your money, or else LII
shoot.
Jennings was lumfounded by the
sudden and unexpected turn of affairs,
but as he heard the pistol click knew
there was nothing to do but to comply
with the command, and he at once
drew out a roll of bills amounting to
$500, which was Immediately snatched
from his hand by his boyish compan-
ion, who leaped lightly from the horse
to the ground and then said:
"Stranger, your broke now, and as
I took the pistol from your belt to do
the job I'll give you $40 SOFAS to get
another. - :,
Then the robber disappeared, and
Jennings went disconsolately on his
way to Huntley, where he found the
sheriff. Mulcahey at once dispatched
a posse of officers in pursuit of the
highwayman, and although they scour-
ed the mountains for three days could
obtain no trace of him. Three weeks
afterward pedler was held up and
robbed Of s63 near the same spot where
Jennings had been despoiled Of his
money on the Linwood trail. This
deed was done by small bewhiskered
desperate. From thence robberies
were frequent on the mountains.
The inhabitants of the sparsely set
tied country believed that they were
at the mercy Of an organized band Of
highwaymen, for in no two cases did
the description Of the two men tally.
The fact, though, that the crimes
were committed by one person and in
a certain locality at last led the au-
thorities to doubt the existence Of a
band of robbers and to believe that
all the "jobs" we're the work of but
one individual. At once they set
about effecting his capture. Many
attempts were made in that direction;
but all to no effect. Atlast, however,
it was deemed necessary to have deputy
sheriffs constantly patrolling the
mountains, and $500 reward was offer
ed for the capture and conviction Of
any highway robber. This offer set
many private citizens on still hunts,
and at last, Gabe Jimison and All
Wheaton devoted all their time to the
pursuit of the unknown highwayman.
One mourning, accompanied by Gabe's
bloodhound, Jennie, they we're on their
way to Rattlesnake mountain, when
they met Hebrew pack pedler, who
an hour before had been held up by a
bearded highwayman on the Bentley
road and robbed Of $50.
The pedler accompanied Gabe and
his companion back to the place where
the robbery occurred, and the dog was
placed on the highwayman's trail.
The hound was held in lash, so as to
constantly keep her within range of
her owners rifle. Thus the trio of
men, led by the dog, followed the trail
around the mountain side, through
the woods and across the chasms and
brooks, Jennie baying loudly the while
After two hours journey and when
nearing Huntley, Jennie began tuging
furiously at her lash, and Gabe knew
she was hot on the trail, and at last
he caught glimpse Of human form
fitting through the trees ahead.
Instantly Gabe Jimison raised his
rifle and fired; but apparently with
out effect, for the chase was continued,
but soon ended at fallen tree, into
which the highwayman had sought
concealmcnt. Gabc and AL knew they