An editorial noted in the Buffalo Courier on June 2, 1866 reads as follows:
"The Canadians were not so much under apprehension of danger from the Fenians, as from the "rough" friends of the Niagara Falls police whom they feared would swarm over at night to plunder."
The fears were justified. While O'Neill was decamping 5 miles away, jackals descended on the village to ferret out and grab whatever the Fenians had missed.
A group of men, including Sheldon Fairchild and Robert Vance: alias 'Stonehouse Jack', well known thieves and 'blacklegs' from Buffalo, were observed going to the store of Kirby and Co., clothiers and general dealers. It was night time, and the door was locked. The men proceeded to break it open with a length of cordwood. Rutherford, one of the store's owners was awakened by the noise and confronted them. He was seized, thrown on his back on the counter by one of the men, had a pistol shoved in his face, his pockets rifled, and was told to "Lay still or I will blow your brains out."
Kirby, the other owner, had already experienced a close encounter with Fenian soldiers earlier in the day. They spied him trying to row furiously across the Niagara River to escape to his house on the Buffalo shore, and began firing at him. He returned, was detained and subsequently released, making his way home by other means long before the robbery took place.
Henry Bristow, who was staying in the house, was robbed of 12 shillings. Money was demanded as well of Michael Cotter, another resident. He pleaded that he had none. The robber went out of the room but soon came back and said "Why not?" and struck Cotter with a pair of cutting shears. The robber then asked, "What other house in the village would be most likely to have the most money?" "The house at the foot of Queen Street" Bristown replied. The robber demanded to know who lived there, and Bristow told him it was the American Consul. "We don't want the American consul" he said, "We are Finigans."
The pillagers discovered a case of spirits which had been consigned to Rutherford by a St. Catharines merchant. They broke it open, and literally the champagne flowed. A young man who kept a grocery store in the village as passing, and noticed the open door. He came in and asked "Rutherford what is the matter?" One of the thieves struck him across the face with a champagne bottle, drawing blood. "That's what's the matter" he said.
The grocer ran out yelling "help" and "murder". He was overtaken by one of the thieves near the hotel and struck again. He ran across the street and tried to take shelter in a house but no one would open the door. He was followed, thrown to the ground, and upon threat of being shot to death, was ordered to be quiet. The grocer complied, but was able to run away along the railway tracks when the robber when the robber went back to the store.
Two pistol shots rang out, and a voice was heard to say "Take that you son of a bitch."
The thieves carried out bales of cloth-woolen cashmeres and other fabrics, with a value of $1500 (A substantial sum for 1866!), also ready-made clothing and miscellaneous goods which they proceeded to load into a boat that had been left at the river's edge. They rowed across the river. Before they reached the opposite shore, they were spied by US customs officers who promptly stopped them and seized the load. The plunderers returned to the Canadian shore empty handed. But the hue and cry was already out. Two men, named Dillon and Ellis, were arrested about seven o'clock.
Two days later, Fairchild and 'Stonehouse Jack' thought to evade the Canadian authorities by joining the retreating Fenians. They got on the scow A.P. Waite and were captured along with the soldiers and then transferred to the USS Michigan. They were awaiting clearance to disperse into Buffalo when the law caught up with them.
Canadian Frontier Detective J.S. Armstrong, who had fought at Ridgeway a few days before, was able to identify the two miscreants. They were subsequently jailed and held over for extradition. At the trial, however, Fairchild's legal counsel argued that the evidence produced against his client did not implicate him in the actual robbery, only that he was at the dock, and as such did not bring him within requirements of the Extradition Treaty. The Commissioner took the point and Fairchild was discharged. Vance's case was referred to the Secretary of State.
Fairchild's freedom was short lived. As a sometime member of the nefarious Buffalo street gang, "Break O'Day Johnnies', he had yet to answer for the murder of a policeman in Niagara Falls the year previous. He was rearrested July 5, 1866. The same fate befell Vance. The State of Pennsylvania claimed him on a requisition, charging him with a murder and robbery that had occurred at Pithole PA in May 1866.
The last word to Colonel O'Neill, disclaiming that the plunders who followed him to Canada were Fenians.
"The other prisoners were camp followers who accompanied the expedition for plunder, and some who went out of curiosity. These robbers I hope will get a halter yet. Had I known them I would have strung them up myself."
"The Canadians were not so much under apprehension of danger from the Fenians, as from the "rough" friends of the Niagara Falls police whom they feared would swarm over at night to plunder."
The fears were justified. While O'Neill was decamping 5 miles away, jackals descended on the village to ferret out and grab whatever the Fenians had missed.
A group of men, including Sheldon Fairchild and Robert Vance: alias 'Stonehouse Jack', well known thieves and 'blacklegs' from Buffalo, were observed going to the store of Kirby and Co., clothiers and general dealers. It was night time, and the door was locked. The men proceeded to break it open with a length of cordwood. Rutherford, one of the store's owners was awakened by the noise and confronted them. He was seized, thrown on his back on the counter by one of the men, had a pistol shoved in his face, his pockets rifled, and was told to "Lay still or I will blow your brains out."
Kirby, the other owner, had already experienced a close encounter with Fenian soldiers earlier in the day. They spied him trying to row furiously across the Niagara River to escape to his house on the Buffalo shore, and began firing at him. He returned, was detained and subsequently released, making his way home by other means long before the robbery took place.
Henry Bristow, who was staying in the house, was robbed of 12 shillings. Money was demanded as well of Michael Cotter, another resident. He pleaded that he had none. The robber went out of the room but soon came back and said "Why not?" and struck Cotter with a pair of cutting shears. The robber then asked, "What other house in the village would be most likely to have the most money?" "The house at the foot of Queen Street" Bristown replied. The robber demanded to know who lived there, and Bristow told him it was the American Consul. "We don't want the American consul" he said, "We are Finigans."
The pillagers discovered a case of spirits which had been consigned to Rutherford by a St. Catharines merchant. They broke it open, and literally the champagne flowed. A young man who kept a grocery store in the village as passing, and noticed the open door. He came in and asked "Rutherford what is the matter?" One of the thieves struck him across the face with a champagne bottle, drawing blood. "That's what's the matter" he said.
The grocer ran out yelling "help" and "murder". He was overtaken by one of the thieves near the hotel and struck again. He ran across the street and tried to take shelter in a house but no one would open the door. He was followed, thrown to the ground, and upon threat of being shot to death, was ordered to be quiet. The grocer complied, but was able to run away along the railway tracks when the robber when the robber went back to the store.
Two pistol shots rang out, and a voice was heard to say "Take that you son of a bitch."
The thieves carried out bales of cloth-woolen cashmeres and other fabrics, with a value of $1500 (A substantial sum for 1866!), also ready-made clothing and miscellaneous goods which they proceeded to load into a boat that had been left at the river's edge. They rowed across the river. Before they reached the opposite shore, they were spied by US customs officers who promptly stopped them and seized the load. The plunderers returned to the Canadian shore empty handed. But the hue and cry was already out. Two men, named Dillon and Ellis, were arrested about seven o'clock.
Two days later, Fairchild and 'Stonehouse Jack' thought to evade the Canadian authorities by joining the retreating Fenians. They got on the scow A.P. Waite and were captured along with the soldiers and then transferred to the USS Michigan. They were awaiting clearance to disperse into Buffalo when the law caught up with them.
Canadian Frontier Detective J.S. Armstrong, who had fought at Ridgeway a few days before, was able to identify the two miscreants. They were subsequently jailed and held over for extradition. At the trial, however, Fairchild's legal counsel argued that the evidence produced against his client did not implicate him in the actual robbery, only that he was at the dock, and as such did not bring him within requirements of the Extradition Treaty. The Commissioner took the point and Fairchild was discharged. Vance's case was referred to the Secretary of State.
Fairchild's freedom was short lived. As a sometime member of the nefarious Buffalo street gang, "Break O'Day Johnnies', he had yet to answer for the murder of a policeman in Niagara Falls the year previous. He was rearrested July 5, 1866. The same fate befell Vance. The State of Pennsylvania claimed him on a requisition, charging him with a murder and robbery that had occurred at Pithole PA in May 1866.
The last word to Colonel O'Neill, disclaiming that the plunders who followed him to Canada were Fenians.
"The other prisoners were camp followers who accompanied the expedition for plunder, and some who went out of curiosity. These robbers I hope will get a halter yet. Had I known them I would have strung them up myself."