Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-02-18
Capture and Escape of NJ. L..
Robins.

AN INCIDENT OF STAGE COACH DAYS
More than half century ago. there
was nothing to disturb the peace
and stiffness of the country, where the
occurrence we are about TO narrate,
took place, save the ruInbling OF the
old stage coach, as she sped on her way
along the turnpike from Pittsburg 10
Erie, or the footing of the driver norm
to call mp the postmaster in the night,
to change the mail. or to awaken some
sleeping individual along the route.
who, wishing to take journey, had
previously arranged with the driver for
his passage.
But this quiet was disturbed in the
spring of the year, 1o49, when a letter
was received by the postmaster, FRANK
Wadsworth, at North Liberty, from
some of the leading men Of PittsburS,
containing the information that they
had received q notice that II SiO,OUO
was not sent to NJ L Robins, Of North
Liberty, Mercer County, Pa. against
such a date, Pittsburg would be VISITED
| by more disastrous fire than that OF
| 1876. The letter further stated tnat
the money demanded would be sent,
and the postmaster was requested to
rest any person who came to secure the
| booty.
The postmaster was shoemaker.
and worked at his trade in rear room
of the building, and it so happened the
constable at that time was William
Foster, the gunsmith, and had his shop
in an adjoining building, and the neces-
sary paper being placed in his hands,
everything went on as usual for two or
three weeks Meanwhile, the precious
package having been received, the com
ing of the claimant was anXlously
awaited. On the 24th day of May IN
walked stranger and inquired if there
was anything there for NJ. L. Robins;
the postmaster said, "yes, wait a min
ute and, stepping back, gave the con
stable the signal, and he, accompanied
by a stage driver named Israel Bash,
came in at the front door and made the
arrest. They then proceeded to take
him to the nearest justice, who, by the
way. lived one mile north of the village
on the Butler and Mercer turnpike,
near the cypress or ''tamarac" swamp,
Having arrived there, and the commit
ment being in readiness. the consta BILE
and his assistants were preparing to re-
move their prisoner to the county jail.
The Justice left the Office for the pur-
pose of procuring rope to make the
prisoner more secure, when he, seeing
his chance, or taking advantage of the
| thinness of the guard, made break for
| freedom. The justice and the constable
| being men of two hundred pounds
weight or more, with others of the
posse, Immediately gave chase, but he,
| being more fleet of foot. and reasons of
| his own for preferring to be alone, quick
| ly distanced his pursuers, and mid the
dense growth of the forest, was soon
| lost TO view Finding it useless to fol-
| low him further, they returned much
chagrined, to the office of the justice,
where they were confronted by new
dilemma. The day was fast drawing to
| a close, the package containing the $40
| 900 was there in the Office. and the
prisoner at large, and might be expect
ed to return with gang of accomplices
any time during the night, to secure
| and carry away the prize. The reader
| will remember there were no telephone
or telegraph lines at this time, and no
| way of communicating with the proper
| officers at the county seat except by
| mail or sending a messenger. They
| concluded the only safe course was to
| RudId Tic ~
| cordingly a strong force was made up
of the men of the neighborhood. who
spent sleepless night, and when the
stage came along a message was sent to
the sheriff at Mercer, and Deputy Thos.
| Pearson came ont and took charge OF
| the package, which was taken to Mer-
Ger and there opened in the presence OF
proper authorities. and 10! instead OF
| $40, 600 IN crisp bank notes, 1t was
| found to contain nothing but brown
paper. On the following night, Israel
Bash, the stage driver, who had assisted
IL the capture, had a shot fired at him
bg some unknown person, as he drove
| through the darkness Of the woods,
| which boTdered the road.
| Who NJ L. Robins was, has never
been disclosed. 1t was thought by some
| that he was one Of gang of counter
feiters. who Infested the country about
| that time, and were supposed to have
their headquarters somewhere IN the
ucighborhooci of the ''Old Stone House,
| in Butler county This, however, is
merely conjecture, and doubtless he has
| long ere this gone to answer for his
/ deeds and misdeeds before a higher
| tribunal than that from which he es-
capped, when he ran away from his hon
est guardians on that memorable day
| ONE WHO WAS THERE,