100 Years Ago Today: The Spanish Swindle

100 years ago and relevant today.  Seriously, how long has this been going around? ... 

Manassas Journal
January 18, 1924

SWINDLER TESTS MANASSAS MAN

Man "Imprisoned" in Spain Offers Reward for Aid in Recovery of Hidden Fortune

The "familiar Spanish swindle" has appeared in Manassas again.

Rev. J. M. Bell, in a polite letter from Madrid, Spain, is importuned to aid the writer -- to recover a sum of $360,000 hidden by him in America, for which act of goodness Mr. Bell is offered "the third part; namely, $120,000."

The letter, in careful script on a single sheet of paper ruled both ways in blocks, is evidently a very good piece of printing giving the impression of a hand-written letter.

"I cannot receive your answer in prison," the writer informs Mr. Bell, "but you must send a cablegram to a person of my confidence, who will deliver it to me."

"Awaiting your answer, to intrust you all my secret," he signs himself only "R. de S., " while prominently displaying at the bottom of the letter these instructions:

"First of all answer by cable, not by letter as follows: Andres Cruiz, Lista Telegrafos. Orduna Gizcaya. Samples received. 91. Bell."

Although relieved even of the small responsibility of wording the cablegram Mr. Bell up to the time of going to press had not sent it. When interviewed by The Journal he showed no distress over the plight of his Madrid correspondent and no signs of curiosity concerning the get-rich-quick "secret" which doubtless has swindled many simple-minded folk of all their savings.

Crime & Punishment: Wanted Freedom During Holidays

Washington Herald (DC)
23 December 1912

WANTED FREEDOM DURING HOLIDAYS

William Eggleston, Who Escaped from Occoquan, Makes Pleas for Few Days More

"Say, I just wanted to be out on Christmas for a little celebration," said William Eggleston alias William Walton, twenty-four years old, alleged professional bicycle thief, as he left police headquarters last night to finish a term of a year and a half at Occoquan workhouse, whence he escaped on Wednesday.

"I think you fellows might have waited until after Christmas to pinch me," said Eggleston, who began his sentence at the workhouse on Thanksgiving Day. Eggleston was "picked up" on suspicion by the police of Alexandria while, it is alleged, he was trying to sell a bicycle, which the police believe was stolen.

Detectives from Washington identified "William Walton," as the  man called himself, as Eggleston, wanted as an escaped prisoner from Occoquan. Eggleston declared he would have returned to the workhouse voluntarily if he had been allowed to remain at liberty until after Christmas. "A bird in hand is worth two in a bush," said Guard Hall, of Occoquan, as he started for the workhouse with the prisoner. 

Eggleston is unmarried and lived in Arlington,. Va.

Crime & Punishment: Joseph Burgess (1825)

Alexandria Gazette
15 June 1824

SHOCKING MURDER

A man by the name of Gollyhorn was murdered in Dumfries, Va. on Tuesday last, by a person named Burgess. The circumstances as far as can be collected were as follows --

The parties were engaged in pitching quoits, when a quarrel ensued, during which, Gollyhorn kicked Burgess in the face; after which Burgess procured a butcher's knife and returned to the place he had left Gollyhorn, & found him asleep on the step of a house, & upon his waking plunged the knife into his body. The deceased walked about twenty steps and dropped dead. Pursuit was immediately made after Burgess, who was apprehended and conducted to Brent's Ville, to await his trial in November.

New Brunswick Fredonia (New Brunswick, NJ)
27 July 1825

EXECUTION OF BURGESS

Joseph Burgess, who was sentenced to be hanged, by the Superior Court of Law for Prince William county, Va. held in October last for the murder of Chares Gollyhorn, was executed near Brentsville on Friday the 8th inst. The Rev. J. Johnson, of Fairfax, visited him in his apartment in the morning and spent some time with him in religious conversation and prayer. Burgess appeared to be perfectly indifferent to the whole subject of conversation, and unaffected by the scenes through which he was about to pass. At the gallows he discovered the same insensibility and hardness of heart. While Mr. Johnson was discoursing to him in the most solemn and impressive manner, he was carelessly occupied in marking the dust on his coffin with the end of the rope which was tied about his neck.

--Richmond Fam. Visitor

Crime and Punishment: Arrests of Love, Stonnell (1863)

Alexandria Gazette

24 January 1863

Mr. Henry Love, and his two sons of Dumfries, Prince William county, Va., have been arrested and sent to the Old Capitol, in Washington, charged with aiding and abetting the Confederates in their late advance on Dumfries.

Rob. S. Stonnell, of Occoquan, has been arrested and required to give bail, for "useing seditious language and abusing President Lincoln."

Crime & Punishment: Lashes for Girl Thief (1899)

Washington Post (DC)
17 April 1899

Lashes for Girl Thief
Special to the Post

Manassas, Va., April 16 -- In the Mayor's office here yesterday afternoon there was a scene enacted which revived recollections of the whipping post law of this State, long since repealed, when Mary Ball, colored, by consent of her father, Tom Ball, received ten lashes on the bare back, well laid on by Sergt. B. N. Merchant, as the penalty for the larceny of  lot of wearing apparel. The Legislature, at its last session, passed an act authorizing the administration of stripes as a penalty for misdemeanors in the case of minors, with consent of the parent or guardian.

Crime & Punishment: Murder of William H. Trone (1855)

Charleston Courier (Charleston, SC)
28 November 1855

The Mobile Register of Firday [sic], says:

"Mr. Wm. H. Trone, one of the best known and most esteemed citizens of Mobile, was killed last night in front of the Battle House, by a man named Banks, who we understand lives in Lowndes county, Mississippi.  The unhappy man, who has thus involved himself in the crime of murder, and taken without reason or provocation tho life of a most worthy and respectable gentleman, was, it seems, well nigh crazy from the effects of liquor. It appears that the parties were acquainted, and meeting casually at the door of the Battle House bar room, Trone spoke to Banks, when the latter, with insane fury, fired a pistol into his bosom.  Mr. Trone lived but a few minutes, and Banks was promptly arrested and conveyed to the guard house.

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
28 November 1855

... Wm. H. Trone, who was killed lately in Mobile by Thomas G. Banks, formerly resided in Prince William county, Va.

Alexandria Gazette

1 December 1855

Murder of Mr. Trone at Mobile

The telegraph has already announced that Mr. Wm. H. Trone, a highly respectable citizen of Mobile, formerly of Virginia, was shot in the bar-room of the Battle House, on the evening of 2ed ult. by one Thomas G. Banks, of Columbus, Miss. The Evening News of Friday says:

It appears that Mr. Trone, when in the bar-room of the Battle House, was accosted by Mr. Banks, with whom he had some slight acquaintance, and invited by him to "take a drink." Mr. Trone courteously declined, whereupon Banks instantly discharged at him the contents a single barrel pistol which he held in his hand. Two balls entered the throat of his victim, cutting the carotid artery and causing death in about ten minutes.

Mr. Trone walked rapidly across the room, and fell to rise no more. A road of blood distinctly marked his track upon the floor of the room,and when we saw him he was gasping for breath, and deluged in gore. It was a "story sight" to look upon.

Banks was immediately secured and placed in confinement. He had, we are informed, been in a state of intoxication during the afternoon, and seemed to be quarrelsome, brandishing a pair of pistols in his hands.  No difficulty -- no disagreement had, as far as we can learn, taken place between the deceased and Banks -- intoxication, drink, and the habit of carrying concealed weapons, are at the bottom of this shocking murder. 

Mr. Trone was a frank, chivalrous, well-meaning and generous gentleman and his death under the circumstances, is to be deeply deplored.

Daily Dispatch
2 April 1857

CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER -- Thomas G. Banks, who shot and killed Wm. H. Trone, of Va., at the Battle House in Mobile, was found guilty of manslaughter, on the 20th ult., and fined $500. The case had been removed from Mobile to St. Stephens, Ala.

[William H. Trone is buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.  On his headstone he was born October 22, 1812 in Prince William County.  -- cgl]

Law & Order: WARRANT DISMISSED (Forest Hill Church)

Free Lance (Fredericksburg, VA)
29 August 1911

WARRANT DISMISSED

Mr. Linden Atchison was tried at Joblins [sic], Prince William county, Saturday, before Squire Keys, charged with disturbing religious worship at Forest Hill church in that county.

The case was heard in a private room in the residence of Mr. Crow, none being allowed to be present save the witnesses and attorneys.

Squire Keys after hearing the testimony of some 15 witnesses, most of whom said that a Mr. Anderson was the cause of the disburbance, dismissed the case and discharged Atchison.

Commonwealth's Attorney Davis and R. A. Hutchinson, of Manassas, represented Anderson, who swore out the warrant, and Frederick W. Coleman represented Atchison.

Crime & Punishment: Thomas Daniell (1792)

Virginia Gazette and Agricultural Repository
14 June 1792

THOMAS DANIELL, personally appeared before me  Alexander Lithgow, Esq., Justice of the Peace for the County of Prince William, maketh oath on the holy Evangalist of Almighty God, that an escape from either the Prisons at Alexandria or Dumfries other than a termination of his life during the whole of his confinement, never was directly nor indirectly with him in contemplation, and that such an alternative never has or ever shall enter his mind or breast, that no consideration on Earth shall cause him to prove unfaithful as a Prisoner, either to his friends or adversaries. Given under my hand this 19th day of May, 1792.

ALEXANDER LITHGOW

After seven months experience of my fidelity as a prisoner, for more than ten times the amount, in value of the new writs, immediately, on a DISMISION, of the former ones, it was most unmercifully circulated, that I intended to break Jail, to frustrate so cruel a report, occassioned the above affidavit.

Agents in London have caused arrests to take place in New York, Lord Mansfield's opinion and practice was invariably not to demand any kind of bail on processes, or affidavits issuing from any foreign courts of judicature, for reasons of exemplary, justice and policy.

Crime & Punishment: Brentsville Jail Break: John Wordier

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Va)

4 December 1855

BROKE JAIL -- John Wordier, who had been committed to the jail of Prince William County, Va., by the warrant of a Justice of the peace, on a charge of horse stealing, broke jail on Saturday, the 1st instant, at Brentsville.  His flight was not discovered till after dark. The jailor took the night train of cars on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, at Bristoe station, and went up the line to Colvin's where he got off and remained, until the train returned to that place, where he resumed his pursuit by taking the cars to Alexandria, thinking it probable that his late prisoner might come on the train at some intervening station.  When the cars reached Union Mills, they were stopped to take on a supply of wood, and the fugitive came into the cars where the jailor was, and on seeing that he was recognized, tried to escape by leaving the cars in haste, but the jailor pursued and arrested him on the platform, took him into the cars and brought him to this city, intending to return with him on the morning train to Prince William, and place him again in jail.  After arriving in Alexandria, the jailor took his prisoner to S. Catt's tavern, at West End, where he intended to stay until the cars were ready to leave in the morning, and about 5 1/2 o'clock, A.M., the captive again escaped, and could not be found.  The jailor gave notice to the police that the thief was at large in the vicinity of this city.

The Daily Express (Petersburg, Va)

6 December 1855

John Wordier, a horse thief made his escape from the jail of Prince William county on the 1st inst. He was subsequently arrested in the cars by the jailor and taken to Alexandria, but managed to get away again and is now at large.

[John Wordier was eventually caught.  In March 1856 he was again sentenced to jail for "grand larceny and lunacy."  Interesting that the jailor is never named in either newspaper report (which was very likely a relief to him!) ~cgl]

Crime & Punishment: Chose the Stripes (1874)

Alexandria Gazette
28 November 1874

CHOSE THE STRIPES -- Casper Redmond, a young colored man, was arrested on Thursday and taken before Justice D. W. Whiting on a charge of having "made way" with the contents ($11.50) of a pocket-book he found belonging to James A. Goodwin, whose father he was in the employment of at the time. He acknowledged he found the pocket-book, and that he knew whose it was, but said it only contained $1.50, which he spent.  He was sentenced to sixty days in jail or twenty stripes. He said he would rather be whipped than stay in jail one day. The Sheriff gave him the stripes.

-- Manassas Gazette

Newspaper Tidbit: Crime & Punishment (1739)

Virginia Gazette
2 November 1739

This Day the following 9 Malefactors, who were try'd and convicted this General Court, receiv'd Sentence of Death, viz.

   Constantine Matthews, and Sarah Matts, from Caroline County, for Felony.

   William Barbasore, from York County, for Felony.

   David White and Charles Quin, from Essex County, for the Murder of a Negro.

   Joseph Lightburn, from Prince William County, for Felony.

   Nathaniel Morgan, from Prince George County, for Felony.

   John Cavidge, from Essex County, for the Murder of a Negro.

   Elizabeth Maze, from Lancaster County, for the Murder of a Bastard Child.

And the 4 following were burnt in the Hand, viz.

   Elizabeth Danielson, alias, Smith, from Williamsburg, for Felony.

   John Holmes, from Charles City County, for Felony.

   Elizabeth Herbert, from Prince William County, for Felony.

   Samuel MacHenly, from King George County, for Forgery.

Newspaper Tidbits: Crime and Punishment

Alexandria Gazette (Virginia)
10 October 1810

Prince William County, to wit.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON, one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace of the said County, to all Sheriffs, Mayors, Baliffs, Constables and Headboroughs, within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

WHEREAS complaint is made to me this day, upon the oath of Samuel Davis, that James Cornwell, laborer, who was lately committed to the jail of the said county of Prince William, by warrant from Henry Washington, a Justice of the Peace for the said county, on suspicion of felony, did on the night of the twenty-sixth instant forcibly escape from the said jail, and is now going at large: These are therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth, to require you and every of you, in your respective counties, cities, towns and precincts, to make diligent search, by way of hue and cry for the said James Cornwell, and having found, to seize and retake, and safely convey, or cause him to be safely conveyed, to the jail of the said county of Prince William, there to be kept until he shall be thence discharged by due course of law.

Given under my hand and seal this twenty eight day of September, 1810.

A. Henderson (Seal)
Dumfries, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. d2w

~ ~ ~

Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)
9 February 1905

WHITE BOYS WHIPPED

Twenty-five Lashes Laid on by the Sheriff for Stealing.

Manassas, Va. Feb. 8 -- In the Circuit Court of Prince William county Judge C. E. Nicol presiding, Harrison Brammel and G. Robert Hales, two white boys, aged twelve and thirteen years, respectively, were to-day ordered to be given twenty-five lashes for committing larceny.  The parents of the boys who reside near Occoquan, were willing that they should be whipped, the boys having entered a plea of guilty to the indictments agains them.

The boys were carried from the courthouse to the county jail, where Sheriff F. C. Rovabaugh executed the order of the court.

Shopping Saturday: Robbery of Davis & Lynn

Richmond Whig
January 25, 1870

Friday night, the 14th inst., the store of Messrs. Davis & Lynn, in Prince William county, was entered by thieves and robbed of about five hundred dollars' worth of goods, consisting of dry goods, boots and shoes, notions, groceries, cigars, &c., and about $75 in bank notes and coin.  They effected an entrance by undermining the foundation of the building.  Geo. Henderson (white) and William Nelson (black) have been arrested and have confessed that they were the rogues.  Henderson had just married a respectable young woman.

Alexandria Gazette
February 11, 1870

The two men, Henderson and Nelson who are confined on charge of having entered and robbed the store of Davis & Lynn in this county, made a desperate attempt a few nights ago to break jail by prizing the bars out of the jail window, working through the side which was decayed, and pulling out the bricks with their hands.  The noise was heard, however, by W. N. Tansill the jailor, and the progress of it arrested.

Mr. Tansill then ironed them, and Henderson with his naked hands snapped one of the chains entirely in two pieces.

They have since been ironed more securely.  Henderson was married on Tuesday -- made arrangements on that day to rob the store -- robbed it on Friday night, and was arrested in a day or two afterwards in the presence of his wife, and a large portion of the goods were found opened on the bed near him.  His wife who is of respectable parentage and possesses some beauty is, greatly horrified at the conduct of her husband, I learn.

Thriller Thursday: Moxley Poisoning

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
January 4, 1859

CRIME AND TRAGEDY. -- We are grieved to learn that the family of Dr. Moxley, near Greenwich, in Prince William county, Va., were poisoned on Friday last, by the cook, by mingling arsenic with the soup.  Mrs. Moxley, the aged mother of Dr. M., soon died, and several other members of the family are reported to be very ill.  Some of the servants also partook of the poisoned food, and are among the sufferers.  The atrocious being by whom the deed was committed will of course meet the penalty of her awful crime. -- Alex. Sentinel.

Evening Star
January 7, 1859

The family of Dr. Moxley, in Prince William, Va., are recovering from the late attempt to poison them -- none dying except the aged mother of Dr. M.  The criminal is now in jail.