Year: 1860

THE ROMANCE OF CRIME-Judge WdSoa's
Body SerUant Selling HimSeif-In the Express
of Friday we published under the caption,
"Romance and Crime" an account of the ar
rest OF a celebrated forger, named James Bu-
chanan Cross, accompanied by young, beau
tiful, elegant and accomplished female, and
servant man so nearly white that the closest
scrutiny failed to detect African blood in his
veins The negro, whose name is Robert
Burnell, alias Smith, says Pittsburg paper,
was regarded as a white man at the hotel and
it was only after his arrest that the proprietor
discovered that the individul on whom he had
been lavishng attentions for the past two
weeks was neither more nor less than slave.
His master treated him at all times as his
equal. They visited restaurants in company,
playing billiards together, and associated at a
times on terms Of equality.


1t now appears that the colored man so fiat
teringly alluded to is no other person than
"Bob Burnell," SO well known in Lynchburg
as the former popular bartender at the Cabell
and Norvel houses. He was purchased from
his owner, VIM. NJ Burwell, Esq, of Bedford
county by Cress, who sojourned in this city
for short time, during the summer of 1857.
He represented himself as New Orleans
broker; said he was affected with fits, and
was anxious to purchase trustworthy and
intelligent servant who would be with him at
all times. Making the acquaintance of Bob at
the Noryell House, mutual liking very soon
sprung up, and beftr he left he purchased the
negro, paying 81 eco for him. y draft, which
was duly honored by some house north, was
given for the amount. Soon after leaving
here Bob. says the party went to Paris,
where, after remaining some time, he lost his
owner, says lie searched for him several days,
but without success. He then went to the
Enboccv Of DnriS noa6a n statement
of the facts in the case to Judge Mason, our
Minister, and finally prevailed on the Judge to
employ him as servant in his family.


He remained with Judge Mason until the
death of that gentleman; was with him when
he died, closed his eyes, and shrouded him,
and returned with his remains to this country.
A day or two after his arrival in New York
city he accidentally met with his master, the
two being mutually pleased with the meeting.
Not long afterwards Cross sent him to Paris
on business he remained there few weeks
and then returned to this country. He was in
Italy some time, and in the vicinity of Sol
ferino when the celebrated battle was fought


On Thursday last Bob very Unexpectedly
made his appearance in this city. The object
of his visit at this time is to raise ST 400, for
which he is to be mortgaged. He brings a
power of attorney from his owner, authorizing
him to make this arrangement The written
instrument also directs that fifty dollars of the
money shall be handed to Bob, and the remain
der sent to Cross, at Philadelphia When it
was intimated to Bob that most persons would
be afraid to invest money in a man as white
as himself, he at once remarked that he "con-
sidered himself a gentleman, and would re-
main the faithful slave of any one who would
pay the desired sum of money"


He processes to have the most unbounded
confidence in the honor of his master, as well
as his ability to extricate himselffrom his pres
ent difficulties. He says there exists no proof
to substantiate the charges on which he was
arrested, and that his innocence will be clear
ly established. We are inclined to think that
Bob is singular in his belief Bob further
says that ever since he left Lynchburg he has
passed for white man, and has never associa-
ted with persons of his own race. Bob is a
decided character in his way and we hope he
may succeed in his way and we hope he may
succeed in securing a good master.-Peters-
burg (Va.) Express, FEB. l.