Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-05-20
GETS FIVE OF THEM.
officer Hal MOSby Rounds Up Big Bunch
Of Desperate Yssgmen.

SaheO playeu Sucn an important part IN
the arrest of Kentucky Joe's gang of
postoffice robbers at North Tazewell
last December, has Just succeeded in
rounding up about the smoothest and
most desperate aggregation of yeggmen
that it has ever fallen to mans lot to
tackle. These men, who were wanted
by the Government for the robbery of
the Blacksburg and Salem, Va, post
offices as well as for robberies commit
ted In Pennsylvania, were traced to the
city of Baltimore, Md, by Officer Mos
by, where, with the assistance of two
Baltimore policemen, they were placed
under arrest. The men are: Michael
Hale, alias Baltimore Hap, alias John
Rice, alias Harry Laurence, charged
with robbing the postoffices in Salem
and Blacksburg, Va, in 1908. William
Welsh, alias Belfontaine Slim, for same
ofense; Frank Williams, alias Ohio
Hump, Eddy Harvey, alias Nova Scotia,
and Louis Jannert.
Ihe FIRST three men arrested were well
supplied with nitro glycerine, cotton,
flash lights, a jimmy and other yegR
tools. Regarding the arrest of the other
two men the Baltimore American says:
"On information given by Postoffice
Inspector Hal B. Mosby, daring Uni
ted States officer, who has figured in
several sensational captures here, local
headquarters men last night arrested on
East Baltimore street two alleged yegg-
men, Michael Hale and William Welsh,
both of Pennsylvania, who, 1t is claimed
are wanted by the government officials
for blowing open a postoffice safe in
Pennsylvania town several days ago.
Shortly after the arrest of the two men.
who are held at headquarters under q
heavy guard, the postoffice inspector
and several members of the local detec-
tive force hurried to point outside
Baltimore to lie in wait for several 9th
er members of the alleged gang of
yeggs, who, it is believed, had planned
to blow up nearby postoffice.
when the two men were arrested
last night Captain Pumphrey made pub
lie their names and admitted that the
government wanted them for safe blow
ing, but he refused to state at what
point in Pennsylvania the alleged crime
was committed. The local official, how
ever, did admit that information had
been received that other members of
the yegg band contemplated pulling off
a safe cracking in this State during the
night, and that au effort was being
made to capture the burglars red-hand-
ed.
Inspector MOsby arrived at police
headquarters late yesterday afternoon
and had conference with Captain Pun
phrey, after which two of the latter S
men were placed at the government of
ficial's disposal. Inspector Mosby had
trailed his quarry to this city earlier in
the day and, leaving comrade to watch
them while he obtained help, he com
municated with the local police.
'Postoffice Inspector Mosby, who is a
nephew of the famous Colonel John
S. Mosby, of Mosby's Raiders, was con-
cerned in sensational arrest in this city
on September Goth last when, after
tracking two alleged green goods"
men to their headquarters on Mulberry
street, he made their acquaintance as
an intended victim of their scheme.
Mosby visited the two men here, secu-
ring the evidence he was after, sudden
ly disclosing his identity and, drawing a
revolver, ordered the men to throw I'D
their hands. They complied, but as
Mosby glanced toward the door to see if
there were any more in the gang, one
of them threw up a window and leaped
to the ground.
"a shot from Mosby's revolver failed
to hit him, however, and he escaped. AS
Mosby fired the other man, George
Steele, who was afterward convicted
and sentenced, threw himself on his
captor and then ensued desperate bat
tie between the men. The wiry inspec-
tor succeeded in conquering his heavier
antagonist and when the police officers
arrived he had Steele covered with his
pistol. Mosby was accorded unstinted
praise for his bravery by the govern
ment officials and his capture was ad-
mitted to be one of the most cleverly
planned that had taken place for long
time"