Whiteside County IL Archives News.....Great Forger Escapes August 16, 1877
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com August 14, 2009, 10:05 am

Jackson Sentinel August 16, 1877
Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, 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.


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