Jay County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XV 1896
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Book Title: Reminiscences Of Adams, Jay And Randolph Counties

CHAPTER XV.

    Since the organization of this county many events of special interests
connected with its history, from lapse of time and the death or removal of those
who were intimately connected with them, are now seldom brought to mind. Among
those is the robbery of the county treasury, which occured on the 4th day of
February, 1862.

    At that time the county was without a court house or building for the
accommodation of the county officers. The office of the county treasurer was in
the building known as "Miller's building," a frame structure standing on the
corner of Main and Meridian streets, which was burned down a few years ago.
There being no bank in Portland or in Jay County at that time, a safe was kept
in the office, in which the public funds were deposited. The door to the office
was secured by an ordinary lock fastened by a key, and the safe doors were
secured in the same manner, it being before the day of combination locks. Joseph
P. Winters was county treasurer at the time above referred to, and on the
evening of said day closed his safe and office as usual, taking the keys in his
pocket to his residence, a distance of some two squares, and on retiring for the
night left the keys in his pocket. On the following morning the keys were
missing. Going to the office he found the door locked. Without much difficulty
or delay he effected an entrance, when he found that the safe had been opened
and all the money it contained missing (except a package containing $500, which
had evidently been overlooked).

The amount taken was something over $7,000. This discovery of course, produced
great excitement. The robbery had evedently been commited by some person who
knew who was the custodian of the keys and where he lived. But there was no one
on whom suspicion rested. It was pretty soon learned that two horses had been
taken from the stable of Robert Stranathan, who lived on the fram south of town,
on which John R. Perdieu now resides and that they had been ridden in the
direction of Union City. A person sent to that place reported that the horses
were found running at large in the suburbs of that town on the morning after the
robbery had been committed. This raised the presumption that the robbers had
taken an early train leaving Union City on the railroad running to Dayton. No
further clue however, was obtained as to the perpetrators of the crime for some
time. The officers at Portland soon had information thst a rather bad character
by the name of James Hull, who had been staying about Whinchester, had left that
place under rather suspicious circumstances on the evening before the robbery
was committed. On this hint he was taken into custody. He, however, had no
difficulty in showing by trustworthy persons that he was in the city of Richmond
on the night of the robery. He, however, stated that he had some knowledge of
the affair and could find out who the perpetrators were if funds were furnished
him to enable him to ferrit them out. Trusting to his representations Hull was
sent to Dayton. After a stay of two or three weeks he reported that he had
ascertained who the parties were, and the part that each one performed in
connection with the affair. On the information furnished by him, a prosecution
was commenced against John Barker, Samuel Johns and William Blackburn, residents
of Dayton, Ohio, and William Beardon, a resident of Union City, Ind. A
requisition from the governor of Indiana on the governor of Ohio was procured
for Barker, Johns and Blackburn, and they were arrested and brought to Portland.
Breandon was also arrested. They were brought before the proper authorities and
the amounts of their bonds fixed for their appearance at the next term of court
of the Jay Circuit Court. Failing to give the required bonds they were confined
in the Randolph County jail, there being no safe jail in Jay County. At the
April term of the Jay Circuit Court they were all indicted for burglary and
grand larceny. Barker, John and Breandon took a change of venue from the county.
The cases were sent to Delaware County; Blackburn having broken out of the
Randolph County jail, was at large when the indictments were found.

At the April term, 1862, of the Delaware Circuit Court, the cases came up for
trial. Barker was first tried. Prior to the time fixed for the trial, Breandon,
who had for many years been a resident of Portland, indicated to some of his old
friends that he would testify for the state in case he would not be put on
trial. As the state had no positive evidence against him, and the understanding
was that he got none of the money, and further the evidence that Hull could
furnish would be of such a character that it would not be admissable on the
trial, it was thought best to accept his proposition. His statement was that
Barker made an arrangement with him (Brandon) that he was to go to Portland a
day or two prior to the 4th of February under the pretense of buying hogs; that
Barker and Blackburn would meet him at the bridge over the Salamonia at
Portland, about 9 o'clock in the evening; that he was to conduct Barker into
town and point out to him the treasurer's office and his residence. Bearndon was
then to go to the hotel and retire so that no suspicion should attach to him. He
stated that the plan was carried out as arranged. On the trial of Barker,
Brandon testified substantially to the facts above stated, that he met Barker
and Blackburn at the bridge, that he pointed out to Barker the office and
residence of the treasurer, and further, that Barker informed him that they left
Dayton on the morning of that day, went to Winchester, Indiana, by railroad, and
walked from that town to Portland. The conductor of the train that left Union
City for Dayton on the morning after the robbery testified that Barker was a
passenger on that train. There were other circumstances proved tending to
corroborate the testimony of Brandon. Barker's defense was an abibi. He had
witnesses from Dayton who testified positively that he was at Dayton on the
evening of the night when the robbery was committed. He, however, was convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison for two years. Johns was then
put on trial. He was connected with the affair only as an assessary before the
fact. He counselled with and aided Barker and Blackburn in laying the plans for
the robbery, and was to share in the spoils. Hull's information relative to the
matter was procured chiefly from Johns, and he was the principle witness against
him. He was also convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison for
three years. The case against him was taken to the supreme court and was
reversed, for the reason that he being only an asscessory before the fact, and
was not within the state of Indiana, the courts of the state had no jurisdiction
in the case—Sec. 19 Ind., Reports page 421.

    Blackburn was afterwards arrested and brought to Portland. In the meantime a
jail had been built at Portland, in which he was confined, but escaped
therefrom. In 1863 he was re-arrested and was tried in Randolph County, was
convicted and imprisoned in the state prison for five years.

    The county recovered none of the money, but the citizens, and especially the
public officers who were instrumental in the detection and prosecution of the
perpetrators of the crime, had the satisfaction of knowing that they were duly
punished for the offense.
                           J. M. HAYNES.
Portland, May 28, 1896.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Reminiscences of Adams, Jay and Randolph Counties

Compiled by Martha C. M. Lynch

Ft. Wayne, IN: Lipes, Nelson & Singmaster

Circa 1896


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