John Cobe

Delphos Daily Herald (Delphos, Ohio February 15, 1895

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To the works. John Cobe Will do Time for an Offense Committed Last May. On the 26th day of last May, John Cobe, a reckless sailor on the Miami & Erie Canal, one of the crew of the staunch craft “Fellowship,” was up before Mayor Baxter on the charge of using obscene and licentious language in addressing Sarah Etherton, the boat cook. After hearing the testimony his Honor decided that the language used was most decidedly obscene, startlingly licentious, and very tough all around for even the canal. Cobe was fined in the sum of $10 and costs. He was a young man who made rash and broad promises. He was broke at the time, and the Mayor kindly allowed him his freedom on the promise that the money would be paid in a short time.
The days came and went, but the money was not forthcoming. The matter remained quite until in the fall, when the Marshal of Melrose arrested Cobe. Before the Delphose officers had time to go down after the recreant young deck hand, he succeeded in breaking jail and nothing more washeard of him untilyesterday when Marshal Bryan received a telegram from the Marshal of Boughton, Paulding county, which stated that Cobe was safe behind the bars, in that place. The Marshal went down and last evening landed him behind the bars here. To-morrow morning he will take that long deferred trip to the Toledo work house, where a long residence awaits him to liquidate the fine and costs.

Delphos Daily Herald (Delphos, Ohio February 16, 1895

Marshal Bryan left for Toledo this morning on Clover Leaf train No. 6, having in custody John Cobe, whom he landed behind the walls of Toledo work house to serve out a fine of $10 and costs.

The Daily Herald (Delphos, Ohio) September 11, 1897

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“The Cabe Brothers”  John and Joe Cobe, brothers and young men, both known here as canal boatmen, are under arrest and behind prison bars at Upper Sandusky.  John was arrested on a canal boat at Defiance and Joe was nipped while bailing hay at Melrose.  They are charged with stealing a set of double harness from Philip Uncapher, at Marsailles. The harness was found in their barn.

The Marion Daily Star (Marion, Ohio) November 18, 1897

John Cobe, who was found guilty at Upper Sandusky of burglarizing harness from from Phillip Uncapher of Marseilles, has received a penitentiary sentence of two years.  His brother [Joe], who was indicted with him, turned state’s evidence and went free.  In his evidence, however, he implicated Noah Bailey of Paulding county, and the chances are that Bailey will follow John Cobe.

The Daily Herald (Delphos, Ohio) November 23, 1897

John Cobe, the canal boatman, who stole harness at Marseilles, and was captured on a boat north of Delphos several months ago, has been sentenced to two years in the penitentiary from Wyandot county.

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) December 15, 1900

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Plot was discovered. John Cobe Must Now Serve His Ten Years’ Sentence. Harbor Springs, Mich., December 14.-(Special)-Judge Shepherd sentenced John Cobe to ten years in Jackson prison for robbery. The sheriff last night discovered a plot to allow Cobe to escape after receiving his sentence and he was at once locked in a private cell. One of the steel doors communicating with the women’s wardhad been arranged so that it could be removed when the prisoner was ready to escape. Other inmates of the county jail knew of the plot, but did not desire to escape, preferring to take chances on an acquittal.

Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) October 29, 1904

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Convicts Escape. Four of Them Got Out of Michigan Penitentiary. Jackson, Mich., Oct. 29.-Four convicts escaped from the penitentiary here yesterday. James Wilson, serving seven years for burglary; Edwared McPherson, ten years for assault and robbery; John Cabe, ten years for assault and robbery; and Thomas McGlynn, four years for larceny.
They climbed into the attic and worked their way though the roof to the wall. By means of a rope they had picked up they climbed from the wall tothe railroad track. The guards fired at them at long range but failed to hit any of them and they disappeared to the northward.

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) October 30, 1904

Caught at Leslie. One of prisoners who escaped from Jackson. Jackson, Mich., October 29 – (Special) – One of the four convicts who escaped from the state prison late yesterday was recaptured this afternoon at Leslie. He was Thomas McGlynn who was sent up from Detroit. The other three are supposed to be in the village, and the officers expect to get them before morning.

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) November 3, 1904

Two more recaptured. One convict from Jackson Prison still at large. Jackson, Mich., November 2.-Two more of the four convicts who escaped from the state prison last week were recaptured this afternoon and were brought back to the prison this evening. This afternoon they robbed a house in Tomplins township, this county, breaking into it about 3 p.m. They helped themsleves to a square meal, and then ransacked the house, taking two suits of clothes and $6 in money. They changed their clothes in the barn and then left. Some time later they were captured at Rivers, fifteen or twenty miles away. They proved to be Wilson and McPherson. Cabe, the fourth man, is still missing, and the officers have no clue to his whereabouts.

Owosso Times (Owosso, Michigan) November 4, 1904

Convicts Attacked Them. Eaton Rapids, Mich., Nov. 2.-Three Jackson officials who were here all one day looking out for the three remaining convicts still at large, were given a clue and they started out at once. About 2 a.m., while returning fro Leslie, Herbert W. Knapp and Barton Fanning were the victims of an attempted hold-up at Winfield. The men, who jumped from a cover of bushes bside the road, were dressed in prison clothes. They made an attempt to seize the horse by the bridle, but the driver whipped up and made good his escape, followed by bullets fired by the desparate men.