Macon County Crime News Stories Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) Saturday, July 21, 1855 Local Affairs Burglary and Robbery On the night of the 17th inst., some man entered the grocery store of Mr. Powers , of this city, by means of the (?)reing process. The burglar or burglars , bored a small hole through one of the shutters, just above the bolt, pushed the bolt back, and opening the window, entered the ware room, just back of the (?)n building, passing to the middle room which separates the main building from the ware room. He bored out a hole large enough to admit his hand, the key remaining in the lock, it was an easy matter to turn it. From the manner in which the work was executed, the burglar must have understood his business, fortunately, for (?) Powers, there was only a small amount of money in the store, he having taken the precaution to remove it every night to a place of safety, so that the scoundrel made rather a small lift. Our citizens should be on the look out, as with the railroads, we receive an accession of villains, whose only business is burglary and robbery. Keep a strict watch and we may be able to send some of them to one of our State institutions. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) February 14 1856 Mr. Baizie H. Gordon, Assistant engineer on the North Missouri Railroad, was murdered near Warrenton, Missouri, last week. His body was found shot through and through, near the head of a ravine, about twenty rods from the road, buried in snow. He was out collecting subscriptions for the construction of the road, and no doubt he was murdered for the purpose of securing the money, which he was supposed to have in his possession. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois)  November 27 1856 Burglary On Saturday night last, Mark Simpson's residence was entered and over $200 stolen. An entrance was attempted in Ehrman & Green's. We also learn that Rev. D. P. Bunn's residence was also entered. Mr. Hiram Cobble's residence was also entered and two watches and a small amount in cash was taken. Our citizens are on the lookout for the rogues. In addition to the above we learn that several other places were reconnoitered by the scamps. These operations prove that they are very adroit rogues or else well acquainted with the Houses which they visited. This is just what we expected, for the last year quite a number of rowdies have been yelping around our streets until a late hour of the night, men without any visible means of support. Who would very naturally be ripe for some such work. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) April 30 1857 Burglary Again On Saturday night last, the store room of G. A. Smith's carriage shop, was entered and about $200 worth of carriage Trimmings stolen therefrom. No clue has yet been had to the robbers. This house breaking, following so close upon the heels of the robbery of Mayor Barnes, advises us that our city is infested with some villains, who need looking after. We have noticed from time to time the coming of professional gamblers into our city, and strange to say while they are in our midst these robberies occur, (…. Can't read remainder….) Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) April 30 1857 The two men arrested for the robbery of Dr. Barness' store, had their trial on Friday last, which resulted in the acquittal of one of them, and the binding over of the other to appear at the Circuit Court, in the sum of $300. In default of bail, he was sent to jail. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Arrest of Railroad Employees For Theft Illinois State Chronicle (Decatur, Illinois) September 17 1857 Arrest of Railroad Employees Great Haul of Stolen Goods A Gang of Thieve Broken Up We learn from the Springfield (Ills.) Journal, that considerable excitement was created yesterday morning, throughout that city, by the arrest by officers Hopkins, dunning and May of a number of men in the employment of the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad Company, charged with stealing loads and merchandise from the cars and warehouses of that road. The names of the persons thus far committed to jail are Robert Stall and wife, Joseph Miller and (?) Daniel Hatfield, Jas. Kearns, William Ashton and Amos Shaw. It is probable that others will yet be arrested. An examination of the premises of the suspected parties, developed a large amount of stolen goods marked for various persons at different point along the road. The (?) is clear. -Contributed by Nancy Piper The Morning Review (Decatur, Illinois) > 1881 > November > 7 Friday evening between 7 and 8 o'clock, the residence of B. H. Cassell was entered and robbed of a sum of money and some very valuable jewelry belonging to his daughter. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Decatur Daily Republican (Decatur, Illinois) April 3 1882 A Sensational Episode Two Daring Robbers Call Out Henry Cassell and Relieve Him of $14 in Cash A hair raising and thrilling incident transpired at the farm house of Mr. Henry Cassell, two miles northeast of Decatur, on Saturday evening at about eight o'clock, which seems like a chapter from one of those diem novels that poison the minds of the yourth of the land. Mr. and Mrs. Cassell and the hired hand were seated in the big room chatting together, when the sound of a knowck was heard at the front door. Wondering who the caller could be, Mr. Cassell went alone to the door, opened it, and there in the moonlight stood two strange and fierce-looking men, both wearing overalls and skull caps. The taller man's face was partly covered with beard and the fleshy man wore full beard, but whether or not the whiskers were false, Mr. Cassell is unable to state. The tall man first asked if he could get work for himself and companion. Mr. C. said he had none at present; then the man asked if he could get lodging for the night, and while Mr. Cassell was telling the couple that he could not keep them, and that they had better go into town, the tall man grasped Mr. C. by the collar, and pointing a pistol at his head, said he had come for that $200 that he (Cassell) had got while in the city. Mrs. Cassell hearing the demand, rushed to the door screaming with fright, but her cries were soon quieted by the second dare devil, who got into the hall and pointing a cocked pistol at the woman's head, warned her to keep quiet or he would blow her brains out. The two robbers then compelled Mr. and Mrs. Cassell to enter the room in which the dumb-founded hired hand was standing, and while the tall robber made Mr. Cassel hand out all the money he had in his pocket book ($14), under threat of instant death, the other robber kept his pistol pointed at the laborer and the thoroughly frightened woman. After the cash had been secured, they passed out of the room and house backward, with pistols leveled at the heads of the trio, and as they passed out of the front door, the tall man notified the inmates that if either of them left the house within one hour, the body of that person would be pierced with bullets. The family were in a dilemma, and were at loss to decide what to do; and therefore they did nothing but remain in doors until their nerves became steady, when all the doors and windows were securely fastened and they retired. In the meantime the robbers scampered off with the booty. The officers have obtained no trace of the robbers. Decatur Daily Republican (Decatur, Illinois) April 4 1882 The officers have obtained no clew as to the identity of the cheeky robbers who relieved Henry Cassell of $14. The bold couple have probably gone hence many miles. -Contributed by Nancy Piper Decatur - Samuel Houston of Mattoon, convicted of attempting to murder his wife and daughter was sentenced to from one to 14 years in the penitentiary. Houston, while they were in bed, shot them both and then beat them over the head with the butt of his revolver. Both recovered. [Friday, December 12, 1913, Ste. Marie Tribune, Jasper County, IL - Submitted by K. Torp] Decatur - Asks Camera Before Doctor. Carl Person, editor of the Illinois Central Strike Bulletin, who shot and killed Tony Musser, a Clinton strikebreaker, refused to have the blood washed off his face or his injuries given attention until a picture had been made of him. He wishes the picture used as evidence to show the bruises and wounds inflicted upon him by Musser just before the shooting. Evidence of 6 witnesses at the coroner's inquest brought out the fact that Musser had met death at the hands of Person and the latter is now being held on a charge of murder. [Ste. Marie Tribune, Jasper County, IL, Friday, January 9, 1914 - Submitted by K. Torp] The Decatur Review , September 9, 1915 Got Cassell Machine Thieves almost succeeded in stealing the automobile of C. H. Cassell, 1000 West Main street, at an early hour Thursday morning, but they made a little too much noise and awakened the people in the house. The attempt was made about 12:30 Thursday morning, when Miss Ray Smallwood, who rooms at the Cassell residence, was awakened by noises in the yard. Seeing several people at the garage on the rear of the lot, she awakened the others and the lights were turned on, at which the thieves ran. Four In Party Miss Smallwood saw about four in the party. They had pushed the machine out into the yard, turned it around and were taking it out into the alley and had it almost out when scared away. The machine is a Ford touring car. -Contributed by Nancy Piper HOME ©2008 Genealogy Trails