Milford chronicle., 1896-04-24
PEMNsYLvANIA,s oIoK TURPIN.
sOmething About the Exploits Of = MAI
Famous as a RObber Years Ago,

something About the Exploits Of ? Man
Famous a. a Robber Years Ago,
The recent find of gold coin on Goat
hill, just below Lambertville, n. J., is
supposed by old residents to be plumber Sc
cured by Joseph Hare, the famous high
wayman. This revives curious local
story that goes back to 1889 and will be
remembered by many old citizens. A
merchant doing business on Chestnut
street below Eighth had to visit New York
and he was requested by friend to take
charge of a large sum of money in coin
ana notes. The amount was said to be
$4,000. This merchant was an English
man and his credit and integrity were I'M
impeached, but after he took the New
York stage, which crossed the Delaware
above Lambertville, nothing was heard Of
him for a year, when he wrote to his
friend from England, stating that he had
been robbed Of the money on the road to
New York and was ashamed to return to
Philadelphia.
1t was true the stage had been stopped
by a highwayman, but it was not believed
that any such sum had been taken. Henry
Light, a very dangerous ruffian, an asso-
he proved to the satisfaction of Willis Bla-
ney, then high constable, that he was in
tie city mt the time of the alleged robbery
and declared that no such sum was taken
% ha Ifouid hass known something OF IT,
Tho merchants affairs were found to be
so arranged that his wife, a shrewd bust
ness woman, owned everything Of value,
Three years after the defaulter returned
here ana with his family moved 60 farm
in Lancaster county, where he died,
Twenty years ago the writer was AocOsted
by wretched looking tramp seeking re-
lief, and under questioning he turned out
to be the only son of this man and the
last of the family, all of whom had come
to poverty.
Joseph Hare generally operated south of
Pennsylvania, but for the latter part Of /
his career he spent much Of his time in this
neighbQrhOod Of this city, In 1888 man
named Stevenson kept a grocery store on
South street, above Tenth, then In the
country. He was returning home on foot
from a visit to Darby when he was stopped
by two men where Mayland's creek crossed !
the road. One was a tall, powerful man, !
the other an Irishman, who was about to
strike the victim with q club, when the
big man interfered and protected him.
This was Hare. The plumber amounted
to a small silver watch and few dollars. :
Stevenson remarked that the watch had
belonged to his father, and he would re-
deem it if given chance. Hare answered;
fWell, IN give You p chance, Keep ths
watch, and if Isend an order for So you
will act square.
Stevenson said he would not speak Of the
affair at all, gave his address and walked
home. Three weeks afterwRFd a girl came
to the store with a paper on which was
written an order for SO, but no signature,
without a word, paid the
money and years afterward gave the rob-
ber's order to DR.. W. J. Duffy, who had a
cast of Hare's head taken after his exeou-
ton.
Haro's last notable exploit in this state
was the robbery Of George S. Scott above
Lancaster. Scott was drover, very
powerful and fearless man and quite
lighter He had been drinking in Lam
laster, and about o'clock in the after
noon mounted his horse to ride to Harris.
burg, He had 81, 900 in notes in his coat,
He was mile on his way, passing through
4 bunch of NAPLES, when, with bound,
a big man sprang on him. His horse
reared, and in a moment he was on the
ground, but he regained his feet, and the
5wo men fought. Although weighing $50
pounds Hare was as nimbe as a cat and
amous wrestler. Scott was thrown on
lis head on the turnpike, and before he
jould recover Hare had tha money and
was gone John Hare was cutting wheat
lear by. He heard the noise, and, with
lis hands, gave chase, but the robber es-
.aped and next day his hiding place was
ound in field Of rye close by.
Four months after this Scott met Hare
n Baltimore jail, heavily ironed and un.
Ter sentence Of death for stopping the
United States mail just outside the city.
lie laughed about their encounter and said
hat he had lost the money in two nights
f card playing, but gave Scott an order
or a sorrel horse, saddle and bride stabbed
n the town Scott died in 1865 and was ,.
ond Of telling Of his adventure with the
Dick rurpin Of Observation-Disclosures
hia Times.