eemed to be excited by the fact. Sometimes the person robbed shared in
the spoils, and sometimes they were innocent; and it has sometimes
happened that the innocent man was suspected. The honest citizens of
Lawrenceburgh have, for forty years, known what a curse it is to have
bad neighbours.
During the excitement occasioned by my lectures above mentioned, a
resident of Lawrenceburgh related the following incident, which is only
one among many which might be named to show the nature of the
transactions in which these men engaged, and their facilities for
carrying them out. I will give it as nearly as I can recollect in his
own words:
"During the year 1832, a stranger came into the town of Lawrenceburgh,
and for several days was noticed in the public places watching every one
who passed, as if looking for some one. At length he came to me, and
told me that he wished my assistance in the business on which he came,
but that it would be necessary to keep the matter secret. I answered,
that if it were proper, I had no objections to secrecy. He then related
the following facts as introductory to his business.
"He resided in Ohio; some eighteen months previous a friend had been
induced to purchase a large drove of hogs for the market; he made the
purchase on credit, with a promise to pay when he returned. While he was
preparing to start, Daniel and James Brown bargained and contracted for
them, to be delivered at a certain landing on Lake Erie, at a certain
day, at which place and time they promised to meet and pay him. He
gathered his drove, and proceeded to the landing, where he arrived
several days before the time appointed. He was there met by some men,
who told him that Brown had been there, and left word for him to drive
the hogs to a landing two or three days' journey further on, where he
had made arrangements to butcher and pack them. He went as directed; he
found neither of the Browns there, but found the men who had directed
him before; they informed him that they had orders to commence killing
and packing the hogs, and that Mr. Brown would be there that day, or
the next. He consented, and the hogs were killed and packed. A merchant
at the landing advanced money to pay the man, and also furnished salt,
and barrels on credit. On the day that all was finished, the two Browns
arrived, bringing with them another large drove. They pretended to be
very much surprised to find our friend there, and much more so to find
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