The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-07-01
ROBBED MAIDEN LADY AT PITHOLE
Miss Eliza Copeland is Victim OfThieves
Who Rob Her Of $3.50, and
Other Valuables.

f. r. Barnes, aged 81 years, and John
Warren, aged IS years, were arrested in
the Keystone Hotel, Franklin, this morn
ing about $3.50 o'clock, just as they were
arising from bed. They are now in jail
and have been charged with robbery by
District Attorney Goodwin.
Wednesday afternoon, at Pithole, the
two men arrived at the Copeland home
stead about $3.50 o'clock. They entered
the yard and requested Miss Eliza Cope
land, aged 81 years, to give them drink,
She complied with their request, and the
men seated themselves in a chair and en-
entered into conversation with her.
Barnes asked many questions concern
ing the early days of Pithole and seemed
familiar with many of the famous oil
wells and the operating firms. He In
quired If Miss Copeland was acquainted
with the Nortons, who formerly conduct
ed a hotel, and when she replied in the
affirmative they talked for some time
about the family. Miss Copeland went
into the kitchen to continue the work she
had stopped when the men arrived, and
they followed her, Barnes keeping up his
talk of the old town.
Miss Copeland, during a lull in the
conversation, turned to look at the men
and found Barnes standing close by, COW
ering her with a revolver. She was told
to keep quiet and no harm would come to
hor If she told them where she kept her
money. She refused to answer them and
tried to brush the revolver aside.
The men then seized her by the should
ers and proceeded to tie her hands with a
piece of clothesline one of them produced
from his pocket. Taking a long towel
from the wall Barnes placed it about the
woman's head and started to drag her up
stairs. The boy followed and when Miss
Copeland would hang back he would
shove her along.
When the trio arrived up stairs Miss
Copeland was thrown on bed and the
men started to search for money. Be-
meath pile of tracing paper on the man.
tel they found $3.50 in bills. This seemed
to satisfy them and the search was discon-
tinued. Taking the remainder of the
clothesline they bound Miss Copeland's
feet, and, moving her arms above her
head, tied the end of the rope to the head
of the bed and left her.
She was found by Mr.. and Mrs. Guy
McCalmont, at o'clock, when they re-
turned 10 the house. Mrs. McCalmout is
niece af Miss Copeland and the couple
made their home with her.
Barnes and Warren, on reaching the
chester rifle, revolver, a supply of am
munition and couple ofknives. 1t was
about 4:30 o'clock when they left the
house and they evidently walked to
Rouseville, going via Plumer. At
Housewife they boarded trolley car and
came to Oil City.
When the robbery became known they
we're tracked from Housewife to Dun
comb street, where they left the car and
walked to the Oil Exchange corner. Here
they boarded a Monarch Park car and
stopped at the park for some time. Later
they proceeded towards Franklin, leav-
ing the car at Cochran station.
The Franklin police started on their
trail, assisted by Detective Dempsey,
when it was known they had left Mon
arch Park. Dempsey and Chief Shafier
walked along the p. h. h. tracks, search
ing box cars, but later returned to town.
They lesrned that two persons, answer
had gone into the Keystone Hotel at a
very late hour. Arousing the proprietor
they found they had been given a straight
tip, and in few minutes were asking ad-
mittance to the room. Barnes and War
rem surrendered without any trouple.
Beneath pillow on the bed was found
S97 and two revolvers. In one of the
mems clothes was found S45. The rifle
was also found.
This morning Miss Copeland went to
Frank lin and identified the men, also the
stolen property.
The Warren lad states he met Barnes a
short time ago in Warren, that he did not
know he was going to commit robbery
when the stop was made at the Copeland
homestead. He says Barnes isa criminal
and has served time In the penitentiary
on the charge of counterfeitiDg. The Po-
lice say Barnes looks the part.
Barnes and Warren would no doubt
have been apprehended by the Oil City
police had word been received at an ear
lier hour Of the robbery. 1t was not un-
til the men had passed through here that
a message arrived stating the robbery
had occurred and asking that the men be
arrested. No description was given of
either man and 1t was not until inquiry
was made that any clew was secured of
what Barnes or Warren looked like. 1t
was then learned the men had arrived
here from Housewife and departed on
Franklin car going via the park. This
information eventually led to their cap
ture when it was communicated to the
Franklin police.
This afternoon Barnes and Warren
we're taken before Alderman McVey for
hearing. They were charged with as.
sault and robbery and were held for
court. Both gave Pittsburg as their place
of residence. City Blizzard, 18th.
Miss Copeland is we'll known in Tio-
Eesta and throughout this section, where
she was once successful school teacher,