Cumberland-Moore County NcArchives News.....John Welsh robbed by Ezekiel Colter October 18, 1790
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"North Carolina Chronicle Or Fayetteville Gazette" October 18, 1790
Robbery!
The following account was handed us by Mr John Welsh, jun. who was robbed in
Moore county, on Tuesday last, which we insert as a caution to the public.
On Tuesday last I sat out from this town for Salisbury, to acquaint the family
of Col. Stokes with his dangerous illness. The same evening, in Moore county
about forty miles from this place, I met a man who inquired how far it was to
town; after which I rode about six miles, when I put up for the night. 
I sat off early next morning, and after riding about a mile, I met the same man,
who, as he passed me, inquired for stray horses. Having some suspicion of the
man, I rode very fast for about ten miles when, about three miles above M'Deed's
creek I met the same man walking; it rained very hard, and I did not know him to
be the man I was endeavouring to avoid till he seized the horse by the bridle
and ordered me to dismount. I at first hesitated, when the robber produced a
pistol and cocked it, and repeated his commands, accompanied with threats. I
then dismounted and the fellow began to lengthen the stirrups, which I desires
him not to do, as they suited me very well. He answered that he was going to
ride himself, and I must walk. He then demanded my money, and I gave him about
forty shillings, which was all I had. On examining my saddle bags he found a
bottle of spirits, of which he drank, and insisted on my drinking with him;
after which he ordered me to pull off my spurs, and then my boots and knee
buckles, which he put on himself, and gave me his shoes by way of exchange,
observing as I was going to walk, they would suit me better than boots; then
mounting the horse, and giving me some biscuit which he found in my saddle bags,
telling me to eat them, and that some waggons were not far off, that were goin
to Fayetteville, and after bidding me good by and God bless me, and wishing me
better luck in future, put spurs to the horse, and rode down the road towards
Fayetteville. I walked on till I met the waggons, when I informed the waggoners
of the robbery, who immediately mounted some of their waggon horses, armed
themselves with some guns they had with them, and pursued the track to M'Deed's
creek, where it turned out of the road. They then concluded to turn back, as
there was no probability of overtaking him with their waggon horses, which they
had drove all night, to avoid, as they supposed, the same fellow, who they had
seen several times the preceding day, doging them, in order to steal their
horses at night. The horse belonged to colonel Stokes - is a bay, about fifteen
hands high, shod all round, his neck and both breasts badly galled with a
harness, having drawn in a phaeton a long journey. I knew the fellow who robbed
me, very well by sight, but did not then know his name, which I have since been
informed, upon describing him, to be one Ezekiel Colter, a most notorious
villain, who has for some time past been harboured in Moore county. Colter is
near six feet high, slender made, of a dark complexion, appears to be between
twenty-five and thirty years of age, and has a large scar on his left cheek, had
on a yellow coloured straight bodied coat, with a white one over it, and
homespun linen overalls, the colour of the flax.

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