Untitled Document

THE OLENA TRAGEDY.

According to evidence given, Monday night, December 17, 1864, was set by a band of robbers for the burglary of the houses of I. J. Brooks, John N. Bruen and John B. Fort. Information, however, had been given, by one who had gained the confidence of the robbers, to Mr. Brooks and his friends. A party of picked men, consisting of Theodore Fort, Jesse Kemp, John Kemp, F. M. Galbraith, John Crane, W. H. McChesney, Isham Pugh, and John Owens, to repel the attack and if possible to capture or kill the villains, was organized.

The night set the plan failed, and Tuesday night was then selected. by the robbers, and accordingly prepared for by Mr. Brooks and his friends, the result of which was the killing of two of them and badly wounding and capturing the third. It seems that a Mr. David, who gave the information resulting as above stated, had fallen in with the robbers and by them had been impressed into their service for a time, and, after his escape, acted the part of detective in bringing them to justice. Mr. I. J. Brooks, the party whom they had proposed to rob, and murder if necessary, gives the following evidence in regard to the tragedy :

Mr. I. J. Brooks' account of the tragedy, beginning with the first appearance of the robbers. It is given to correct some of above statements. When. the robbers came to the front door they knocked as though they were neighbors. Mr. Brooks went to the door and opened it. They asked to stay all night ; Brooks told them he was not prepared to keep them. Without further conversation, as Brooks anticipated they would do, they went into the house past him. Just as soon as they entered the leader made known their business, following the dropping of revolvers from their coat-sleeves, by demanding of Brooks to stand and deliver up his money. Seeing the light from the north room glaring on the hall floor, and fearing they might suspect something wrong, he replied immediately and indirectly to their demand by inviting them to the stove to warm, which was in south room. They, thinking him quite polite, accepted the invitation. When all had entered the room Mr. Brooks immediately answered their question, saying he was about out of money. The robbers then asked him if he had any arms, and if there were any men about the house ; both questions in one breath. Mr. Brooks replied that the boys were upstairs in bed. Then the leader of the party placed his pistol in close proximity to Mr. Brooks' head, saying : "Take that light and conduct us to the boys' room, and if you give any alarm you are a dead man." He took the candle and started as if to do their bidding, the robbers following, and just as he stepped into the hall the men in east room fired, as they had heard the signal just before Mr. Brooks had stepped into the hall, killing Darnell instantly, and not the leader, as stated by Davids ; the leader being killed by a fire from the north door.

It was some time afterward ascertained that one of the robbers was A. P. Barnum, a deserter from the army, whose home was Iberia, Morrow county, Ohio. He did not rob because he was in need of money, as he was heir to a large fortune from his father's estate ; that he had $5,000 in bonds deposited at Mount Gilead, county seat of Morrow county, Ohio. The sheriff of Morrow county, Ohio, states after Barnum escaped jail here he went back to Ohio and robbed a train of $150,000, 150 miles east of Mount Gilead.

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

Illinois Ancestors