Iowa
Old Press
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
August 16, 1877
GREAT FORGER ESCAPES
John W. S. Robinson, the forger, alluded to in last week’s Sentinel,
as having been captured in Tennessee, has again escaped. He was
placed in custody of E. H. Wood, one of the men he had swindled,
to be returned to this state for trial, but, according to Wood’s
statement, he escaped by jumping from the train somewhere in
Kentucky, while that vigilant individual slept the sleep of the
just. The DeWitt Observer of last Friday, gives the
following synopsis of his operations:
On Tuesday evening last our town was somewhat excited over a
dispatch which appeared in that day’s papers to the effect
that John W. S. Robinson, the great forger, who eloped from these
parts just seven years before, had been captured in Tennessee and
was in custody of Enoch H. Wood, Esq. of DeWitt, to be brought
hither.
For some months previous to his detection, Robinson had been
carrying on his rascally work with a high hand-forging deeds,
mortgages, satisfactions, etc., borrowing on the same, large sums
of money. His previous good character, suave manner and known
enterprise enabled him to get ahead of some of our most cautious
business men. Among the losing parties best known hereabouts we
will name-
E. H. Wood $8,000
Dr. Dennison $3,000
A. R. Bissell $3,500
T. F. Butterfield $1,500
Wm. R. English $2,200
Price & Dinehart $400
Judson Clark $300
Lyman Alger $3,000
Charles Hill $1,000
Lyons Nat. Bank $3,000
Robert Williams $4,000
J. C. Young $2,000
Stone & Smith $3,500
C. M. Nye $1,400
J. Cotton Estate $1,900
Salem Cotton $200
W. F. Coan $4,900
W. J. Young $285
W. D. Eldred $2,000
J. C. Reed $1,000
J. G. Fuller $1,000
Abr. Hendrickson $4,000
Other parties were victimized in various sums, and the total was
not, probably less than $75,000.
Since Robinson’s demise in the latter part of July, 1870, no
clue to his whereabouts has been gained until recently, when Mr.
Wood of DeWitt, who lost $8,000 by him, obtained a requisition
from the Governor of Iowa on the Governor of Tennessee, and took
the gentlemen. Robinson was living at Tracy City, Tennessee and
went under the alias of Col. George Robertson, of Pennsylvania.
He was superintendent of the coke ovens at the Dade coal mines,
at a salary of $300 a month, had attained a considerable
influence, and his arrest caused quite a flutter in the vicinity.
When Robinson left this county he deserted his wife and she
subsequently obtained a divorce and left for other parts. It is
surmised that Robinson had accomplices in his extensive
forgeries. If we had the facts they may come to light.
Later-Since the above was put in type, Mr. Wood has returned, but
without Mr. Robinson. While on the cars, somewhere in Kentucky,
Wood went to sleep and Robinson made use of the opportunity-of
course. Any man would. That’s all. Robinson is at large
again and is sharp enough to remain so.
[transcribed by K.W., August 2009]