Evening journal., 1901-10-07
RENDEZVOUS Oh
Robbers RAIDED
Pastor, Citizens and Police
Surprise James Gang
SMYRNA Has A SENSATION
Sons Of Prominent Families Pledged
to Steal and Keep The Gangs
Secrets InYiOlate
SMYRNA HAS A SENSATION
enec,al 10 the Evening Journal.

SMYRNA. oct. lied by the Rev
Vaughan 5. Collins. a squad Of police
and number Of citizens of Smyrna
on Saturday night raided the mystic
chambers of the J. J. G. (the Jesse
James Gang and recovered porch
rockers. picture cranes, caps and other
articles that had been appropriated by
the iuveline gang Of desperadoes and
robbers.
For months the residents of Smyrna
have been missing their porch chairs,
and suspicion fell upon the j. J. q.
Club. an organization comprised OF the
sons of the most prominent families OF
SMYRNA. The ages of the members
range from 10 to Is years. The boys
we're thoroughly organized and had
comfortable quarters in Market street
| but a few yards from Asbury
In. E. Church, Of which the
Rev. Vaughan 5. Collins is the pastor
They had names TO correspond, with
/ those of the gang of cut-throats COM
manded by the James boys, and it re-
quired a password TO gain entrance TO
The rendezvous.
Among those who assisted in the
raid were Mr. Collins, who had lost a
rocking chair; George BattsbOrd, who
was minus a lamp; Benjamin Krusen'
undertaken. who was in search OF a
picture frame, and Thomas Wilson,
who was looking for porch chair that
had been taken without his consent
After the posse had formed for the
raid it filed cautiously to the quarters
of the robbers The raiding party di-
vided and the detachment led by the
! pastor approached from the rear and
2 rapped on the back door
"Who comes thers?" demanded ths
inside watchman
Preacher Collins" was the answer.
"ls that you, Skeet?" asked the
? dOCrkeeper, evidently thinking it was
"Skeet" Collins. one OF the faithful.
1T is Preacher Collins" said the sol
emn voice. LIST me in"
Its Preacher Collins, boys" said
Frank James.
There was instant and indescribablg
confusion. Chairs were knocked over
billiard cues fell with great Gathering
and there was a mad rush for the from
door by the inmates of the building
!. But they were met ab the front en-
| W H1t,cD -N0s
The members of the James gang lait
I, ldown their arms and became captiYel
1 to the indignant citizens and brav'
C blue coats, who were in search of pur
p loined property.
q Both raiding parties gained entranc
to the building and found the MISSING
: chairs. lamp, picture frame and tel
y caps which are said to have been takel
J, from the clothing store Of E. G.. Walls
and a lot Of paint that was taken from
e Dunn's drug store.
: The gang is said to have stolen SOM
q whiskey from the same store.
The Rev. Vaughan S. Collins, as soo'
as he saw his rocker. called upon on
= Of the members of the subdued des
: peradoes to carry the chair back Th
=" boy shsepishly obeyed and upon his ar
-, rival at the parsonage, the owner o
the chair said Now, young man. yo
have painted that chair black, and d
not want it. You can take it bac
y again"
. The raid of the rendezvous cause
n one Of the biggest sensations that tn
MI town has been trsated 20 for lon
"A time. The members each were pledge
# 10 steal something and everyone {
a them was in good standing
,- Mr.. Collins gave the Smyrna parent
A. some plain and wholesome advice
,e his sermon last night, his text bein
" 'The Prodigar Son"
i There is said to be n cave beneat
ee the building in which the boys store
le their stolen articles.