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Highway Robbery Near Bedford Pa
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Red-Coat
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Interesting story. The main perp, David (Davy) ‘Robber’ Lewis began his criminal career as a counterfeiter and then turned to highway robbery. He was described as “handsome” and “over six feet in height, and altogether of full proportions, yet his hands and feet so small and delicate that the securest irons or shackles could be slipped over them.” Although captured several times, he escaped on all but the last occasion by freeing himself from his restraints.
Lewis had a reputation for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, with some referring to him as “the Robin Hood of Pennsylvania”. He referred to himself as “an equaliser” and "It’s said of him that he never committed murder, nor allowed it to be done by his companions [bandits named Connelly, Conner and Hanson]." That reputation allegedly led to locals often being willing to help him evade capture and the gang also hid out in nearby cave systems… notably the rock shelter that became known as “Lewis Cave” in Doubling Gap, near a trail leading to Flat Rock and the historic Sulfur Springs Hotel. Here it is, surrounded by curious locals:
"On one occasion [not above reported incident], after perpetrating robbery, his friend Connelly proposed to kill the victim, alleging that "dead men tell no tales." Lewis remonstrated, and Connelly persisted. Finally, when the bloody deed was about being consummated, Lewis seized his rifle, commanding Connelly to desist, or his life should instantly pay the forfeit. He did so cowering, and the man escaped with thankfulness, minus only filthy lucre."
In the 1819 robbery, McClelland was on horseback and was relieved of about 1,800 dollars mostly in Spanish silver and Portuguese Gold carried in his saddlebags. Both Connelly and Hanson urged Lewis to kill McClelland but Lewis prevented this. Instead, he forced the man to drink heavily from a pint flask of whiskey to incapacitate him and left him in a log cabin, giving him back his pocket watch and 10 dollars {other reports say more than that) to help him get home after he recovered. McClelland reportedly drank all of the whiskey!
The three robbers were arrested shortly afterwards near Lewistown and taken to jail in Bradford. Lewis soon freed himself of his handcuffs, locked the jailer in a cell, liberated all of the other prisoners and then fled across the mountains with his gang. His career finally ended in 1820 when the gang was tracked down by a posse and Lewis was recaptured, dying a fortnight later from a gunshot wound sustained while he was trying to paddle across the Susquehanna river in a canoe, in a bid to flee the posse. Only one of the gang survived to escape.
Before his death, Lewis stated that he had buried a large sum of money “somewhere near Jack's mountain.” There were also rumours of large sums of money having been buried near Lewis Cave, but none of the caches have reliably been reported as “found”. There was a press report of a large boulder on the road near Mill Creek (alleged to be a marker stone for loot concealed by Lewis) being moved by two men and a heavy bundle wrapped in newspaper being carried away in the direction of Mt. Union, but that was in June 1866, over 40 years after Lewis’ death.
[Ref: ‘A Collection of David Lewis, The Robber Articles’ from https://www.theperryhistorians.org/ ]
Lewis had a reputation for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, with some referring to him as “the Robin Hood of Pennsylvania”. He referred to himself as “an equaliser” and "It’s said of him that he never committed murder, nor allowed it to be done by his companions [bandits named Connelly, Conner and Hanson]." That reputation allegedly led to locals often being willing to help him evade capture and the gang also hid out in nearby cave systems… notably the rock shelter that became known as “Lewis Cave” in Doubling Gap, near a trail leading to Flat Rock and the historic Sulfur Springs Hotel. Here it is, surrounded by curious locals:
"On one occasion [not above reported incident], after perpetrating robbery, his friend Connelly proposed to kill the victim, alleging that "dead men tell no tales." Lewis remonstrated, and Connelly persisted. Finally, when the bloody deed was about being consummated, Lewis seized his rifle, commanding Connelly to desist, or his life should instantly pay the forfeit. He did so cowering, and the man escaped with thankfulness, minus only filthy lucre."
In the 1819 robbery, McClelland was on horseback and was relieved of about 1,800 dollars mostly in Spanish silver and Portuguese Gold carried in his saddlebags. Both Connelly and Hanson urged Lewis to kill McClelland but Lewis prevented this. Instead, he forced the man to drink heavily from a pint flask of whiskey to incapacitate him and left him in a log cabin, giving him back his pocket watch and 10 dollars {other reports say more than that) to help him get home after he recovered. McClelland reportedly drank all of the whiskey!
The three robbers were arrested shortly afterwards near Lewistown and taken to jail in Bradford. Lewis soon freed himself of his handcuffs, locked the jailer in a cell, liberated all of the other prisoners and then fled across the mountains with his gang. His career finally ended in 1820 when the gang was tracked down by a posse and Lewis was recaptured, dying a fortnight later from a gunshot wound sustained while he was trying to paddle across the Susquehanna river in a canoe, in a bid to flee the posse. Only one of the gang survived to escape.
Before his death, Lewis stated that he had buried a large sum of money “somewhere near Jack's mountain.” There were also rumours of large sums of money having been buried near Lewis Cave, but none of the caches have reliably been reported as “found”. There was a press report of a large boulder on the road near Mill Creek (alleged to be a marker stone for loot concealed by Lewis) being moved by two men and a heavy bundle wrapped in newspaper being carried away in the direction of Mt. Union, but that was in June 1866, over 40 years after Lewis’ death.
[Ref: ‘A Collection of David Lewis, The Robber Articles’ from https://www.theperryhistorians.org/ ]
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I Found this at the Carlisle pa Library
(aka Bosler Memorial Library}
Many Moons ago
about 43 Pages. I Stood at the Photo copier Making my Own Oversized Copy , Getting a Bit Yellowed now
(aka Bosler Memorial Library}
Many Moons ago
about 43 Pages. I Stood at the Photo copier Making my Own Oversized Copy , Getting a Bit Yellowed now
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Unfortunatly Things Like this Make me Think Who's Lying ??
Wednesday, July 25, 1821
Gettysburg Compiler
Republican CompilerGettysburg, Pennsylvania ·Wednesday, July 25, 1821
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Harrisburg Chronicle
The Chronicle or Harrisburgh VisitorHarrisburg, Pennsylvania · Monday, May 13, 1816
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AstralDruid
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Somebody stole a HIghway ? ...the lengths some people will go to, eh ?.. how long was it ? didn't read it obviously.
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