The Butler weekly times., 1897-12-30
SHORTY IS A SINNER
The Leader OF the Nevada
Postoffice Burglary a
Noted Crook.

Defy hhu tie houHuYliie oStolHCe OuTS larry
Nevada Post
When Charles Robinson alias
Shorty alias BIackey, was captured
at Ft.Scott the other day, it was not
known to many that be is one of tie
most noted end desperate criminals
in the country.
Postoffice Inspector Mercer, who
has been on his trail for years, told
a Ft. Scott Monitor reporter the fol
lowing:
About two years ago Bobinson
was caught in the ecs of robbing
dwelling house in Girard, Kansas,
together with confederate, but es
capped after being ahot twice in the
back by the city marshal there.
His accomplice was captured and
sent "over the road" The two had
a Fl ne set of burglars tools and
were preparing for "b,g job" 1t
is said that he Immediately went to
Ft. Scott and stayed at the Taylor
woman's house until he recovered
from the injuries which almost prov
ed fatal.
After he recovered sufficiently to
begin active operation, Captain
Chester, of the Memphis railroad
secret service, sent bullet through
the calve of his leg while robbing a
car of merchandise down the road,
but he again succeeded in escaping
by dropping in the tall weeds, 1t be.
ing at night. In pursuing the rob
Der Chester unknowingly came with
in six feet of where he was secreted
in the weeds with cooked revolver
in his hand preparatory to take
human life before surrendering.
He was unheard of until about q
year ago when he and an accomplice
robbed the postofice at Moundville,
Mo-, securing small amount OF
money and stamps, and the inspect.
or will prosecute him on this charge
also. It was here that Robinson
said his "pard' was killed by the
explosion actuated by blowing open
the safe. This part of the story il
discredited but the federal authorities
haYe never had trace of the accom-
plice since, and as there had beer
no dead man found, it is their belief
that Robinson put him ''ous Of The
way" rather than divide the pluuder
On the same night OF the robbery
Robinson stole a horse, rode to the
outskirts of Ft Scott, walked to tn.
Taylor woman's home, gave her SIC
aud left town Immediately. It wa.
through his correspondence to the
woman that his capture was effected
Next he turned up at Nevada wher
the poetofiice was robbed He was
nearly captured there few weeks
ago owing to his infstuation for &
woman he was IN the house ant
when the officers surrounded it b.
bursted open the back door and fee
to a corn. field where he was in hid
ing for five days. The woman, i
was afterwards learned, carried hi
meals to him every day for tha.
period.
Last summer he wss connected
r with the attempted bank robbery =
Hume, Mo, and it was he vino stole
the horse and buggy and came ts
this city, where he stayed only I
few days. He was also one of the
gang who attempted to loot tht
, bank at Richards.
Robinson has tweatT-one years
. sentence hanging over his head il
some state, but just where, Inspector
Mercer has not been able to ascertain
! If the alleged postofice robber j
/ not convicted on this charge be WI
- -
be turned over to Ihe Itate.
d So shrswd Is Robinaon thai 1.
! cover up his Identification he ha'
J used some kind Of acid Or causti
!. around tho gun shot wounds and o.
his body to make il appear that the
: scars are the results Of burns.
Mr. Mercer says he is undoubtsdl,