STEUBEN COUNTY,
              New York

                                     
                                   BLACK SHEEP

 

Robert Douglass

MURDER. - A man named Troupsburgh, in Steuben county, (N.Y.) was stabbed last week by a fellow named Douglass, while attempting to arrest him on a charge of counterfeiting and theft. Troupsburgh died in about 20 minutes, and Douglass has made his escape, although instantly pursued by the people, who had turned out en masse in several towns to apprehend him.

Portland Gazette (Portland, Maine) Sep. 14, 1824.

A Murderer Apprehended. - A few days ago we published an account of the murder of Samuel Ives, of Troupsburgh, Steuben co. by Robert Douglass, who made his escape into the woods. We now learn that after having been out a number of days, hunger drove him to enter the barn of Mr. James Hallet to solicit food, when he was seized and conducted to jail, where he is now in safe keeping. Six or eight persons have been arrested on suspicion of being confederates of Douglass in counterfeiting, stealing, &c., and some fifteen more, are implicated. Among the number arrested are Abraham Hathaway and James Wallace, alias Tallar, both supposed to be old offenders. Their place of rendezvous was at the house of Thomas Mayberry, the father in-law of D. where large parcels of goods, watches, &c. were found. - Alb. Gaz.

Ballston Spa Gazette (Ballston Spa, NY) September 14, 1824.

The following article, from the Susquehannah Republican, furnishes intelligence of the discomfiture and partial detection of a gang of thieves and counterfeiters -
Murder and Counterfeiting. - A man by the name of Douglass, was apprehended in Steuben county, N.Y. a few days since for the murder of a traveller, from Baltimore, whose name we have not learned. We are informed the murder was committed in an affray or dispute which occurred in consequence of Douglass having imposed upon the stranger with counterfeit bank notes. After the horrid deed was committed, Douglass fled to the woods, and the inhabitants, of the whole country, more than two thousand persons, including two or three regiments of the militia, are said to have volunteered in search of the murderer, and after several days fatigue, being nearly starved, he was induced to surrender without resistance. - During the search a cave in one of the hills was found, which was appropriated to the purpose of manufacturing counterfeit bills, and a kind of store house for stolen goods, where the most extensive scheme for counterfeiting was discovered that we have before heard of. Numerous letters were found in possession of the villains, from which it appeared that there was a complete organized corps of counterfeiters extending over a great part of the U. States and Canada, having a regular correspondence with each other from their several stations. We understand the letters are in possession of the Sheriff of Steuben county, who will have them in safe keeping, and which will furnish a clue to some of the villains who have long been engaged in this desperate traffic. The names of the correspondents will not be exposed until measures can be taken to apprehend them, but we understand some of them were dated at Baltimore, in Canada, and even at the village of Meansville. This section of the country, has long been pestered more than any other, with counterfeit bank notes, and we hope that the discoveries made in this affair will have a salutary effect in checking this desperate swindling. We understand that seven of the counterfeiters were committed to the Bath jail, and that eleven others were aprehended and were to undergo an examination on Wednesday last.

Boston Commercial Gaette (Boston, Massachusetts) September 23, 1824.

ROBBERS AND MURDERERS.

We are indebted to the politeness of a friend, for being able to publish the following information, received from a gentleman of respectability residing at Big Flat, in the State of New-York. The letter from which we take our extract is dated Sept. 1.
Last week, as one of the Tuscarora tribe of indians, by the name of Robert Douglass, who had been in Bath jail, for passing counterfeit money, and had been bailed out, was passing a Mr. Ives, to whom he had passed the money, a fight ensued between them, when Douglass drew a dirk and stabbed Ives three times, so that he died in about ten minutes. Douglass fled to the woods, and immediate pursuit was made by the Sheriff and his posse. During the pursuit, a cave was discovered, which contained two boxes, a bed, and chairs; a trunk was also afterwards found, which contained silks, seven watches, and 352 dollars counterfeit money. The sheriff, after this, proceeded to search the house of a man by the name of Maybury, where he found 51 watches hid under a floor; a bloody shirt was found upstairs, concealed among some dried pumpkins; two cravats were also found concealed in and under bed, one of which was cut in two or three places, but in such a manner that when the cravat was folded up, it made but one cut. A silver watch was also found, marked with the same letters as the shirt and cravats. The day after this, the search being continued, $1000 of good money were found concealed behind Maybury's chimney, and subsequently another chest was discovered, containing valuable silks and other goods to the amount, as is supposed, of six hundred dollars.

The Farmer's Cabinet (Amherst, New Hampshire) September 25, 1824.

Trial for murder. - At Bath, Steuben county, on the 12th of January, Robert Douglass was tried for the murder of Samuel H. Ives. The trial occupied the entire day, when the jury retired, and between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning of the 13th, came into court with a verdict. guilty of murder. The next day the prisoner was brought up to receive sentence, when his counsel moved an arrest of judgment, on the ground of irregularity in the (?) of the jury while out. It was shown, that when absent, two of the jury separated from the others, and went and obtained provisions and whiskey, and had held conversation relating to the trial with persons not of the jury. The court respited the sentence, and the prisoner was remanded to jail.

New York Spectator (New York, NY) February 4, 1825.

New trial for murder. - During the present term of the Supreme Court, in this city, a new trial has been granted to -------- Douglass, lately convicted of murder, in Steuben county. It appears that during the former trial the jury had leave of the court to retire, under the charge of a constable; that two of them separated from the rest, had conversation with other persons, who went into a grocery and got something to drink, and for this irregular act a new trial has been granted.
Alb. Dai. Adv.

Portland Advertiser (Portland, Maine) March 19, 1825.

At a Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Bath, Steuben county, last week, Judge Rochester presiding, Robert Douglass was tried a second time for the murder of Samuel H. Ivies, and convicted. He was sentenced to be hanged on the last Friday in April.
Douglass, it will be recollected, was tried and convicted at the last term in Steuben co. A motion was made for a new trial, on the ground that some of the jury who tried the cause, during a recess of a few moments, which was granted by the court, had held conversations with some of the citizens on the subject of the trial; and also, that one or two of them had drank a iritous 1 quote. The sentence of the court was postponed, and the application referred to the Supreme Court at Albany, where a new trial was ordered, which took place as above mentioned.

The Rochester Telegraph (Rochester, NY) March 29, 1825.

Robert Douglass, charged with the murder of Samuel H. Ives, received his second trial at the late Circuit Court in Bath, Steuben county - was again found guilty, and sentenced to be hung on the last Friday in this month.
Peter Halton, was convicted of arson and sentenced to state-prison for 14 years, for burning the house of Mr. Benham, of Painted Post. The jury decided, that the house was uninhabited, because the family were gone to meeting, at the time the act was committed! This nice distinction saved the prisoner's neck from the halter.
"Birds of a feather." At the same court, Thomas Maberry was sentenced to the state-prison for receiving stolen goods - His wife is now in the state-prison for the same offence.

Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, NY) March 30, 1825.

At the last term of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, held at Bath, Stuben county, Robert Douglass was tried a second time for the murder of Samuel H. Ives. He was found guilty, and sentenced to be executed on the last Friday in this month. It will be recollected, that this case was before the Supreme Court some weeks since, when it was in evidence that the jury who were on the first trial had separated, and some of them went to a tavern. The Court ordered a new trial.

New York Spectator (New York, NY) April 8, 1825.

Robert Douglas was executed at Bath, Steuben County, N.Y. on the 1st inst. for the murder of one Ives. He was weak, and very much affected. He died uttering these broken accents, "O God, must I die! O God, must it be so!" He made no confession, and left the public totally ignorant of the place of his nativity, and who are his relatives. He persisted that he died innocent - that his killing Ives was not intentional, and what he did was done in his own defence. He was 24 years of age.

New Hampshire Sentinel (Keene, New Hampshire) May 20, 1825.

EXECUTION. - Robt. Douglass was executed at Bath, Steuben county, on the 1st inst. agreeable to the sentence passed upon him for the murder of Samuel H. Ives. he was led from his cell between 11 and 12 o'clock, and escorted by several military companies to the place of execution. When he arrived, it is said he was too feeble to ascend the scaffold without assistance, and soon after sunk down almost helpless. During the religious exercise he was much affected and often called on God for mercy. About half an hour before the execution it was mentioned to him by one of the ministers that if he had any thing to say to the world before his exit, then was the time. He replyed that he had nothing to say only that he died innocent of the crime for which he suffered; that his killing Ives was not intentional, and what he did was done in his own defence. He took an affectionate leave of his attendants, and at 2 o'clock was launched into eternity. It is said no man ever met his fate with greater reluctance. He made no confession at any time after he received
the sentence of death, and left the public totally ignorant of the place of his nativity
and who are his relatives. He was about 24 years of age.

Portland Advertiser (Portland, Maine) May 24, 1825.

Executed, at Bath, N.Y. Robert Douglass, aged 24, for the murder of Samuel H. Ives. He met death with great reluctance, swooned before he was swung off, and would give no account of himself or family. - Boston pap.

Connecticut Herald (New Haven, Connecticut) May 31, 1825.