The Arrest, Trial, Conviction and Sentence of Dr. John F. Braddee, the Notorious Mail Robber—George Plitt makes the Information—Bill Corman turns on his Chief—Braddee gives Bail—His Bondsmen—Strayer and Purnell—The Witnesses—The Indictment—The Jury—The Verdict—The Defendant Dies in the Penitentiary.

There is no doubt that Dr. John F. Braddee was the most notorious individual that ever lived in Uniontown. The exact date of his advent to that place seems to be unascertainable, but it was more than fifty years ago. The culmination of his remarkable career occurred in 1841. Of his early life but little is accurately known. It is certain that he came to Uniontown from Virginia. Tradition has it that he was born in Kentucky. The story goes that when quite a youth he engaged himself as a stable boy, in the service of a gentleman who dealt in horses in the town of Paris, State of Kentucky. His employer was accustomed to drive horses to the eastern market for sale, and on one of these occasions young Braddee was taken along as an assistant. The horses were driven over what was called the “North Western Pike of Virginia.” At some point on this old road Braddee fell sick and was left behind. Alter his recovery he made his way to Uniontown, stopping for a while in, or about Morgantown. Notwithstanding his robust appearance, which will be remembered by his old acquaintances, it is said that when a boy he was delicate and inclined to consumption. This is the story, whether true or not is immaterial in view of his subsequent history. When he reached Uniontown, he was not known to be the owner of a single dollar, that he might call his own. Without education or professional training, he announced himself a physician, and commenced the practice of medicine. His success was remarkable. He had a commanding personal appearance, a good address, and by these means alone impressed himself upon the confidence of the common mind. He gathered around himself a large circle of friends and admirers, some of doubtful, but not a few of unquestioned reputation. His fame as a doctor extended far and wide, patients flocked to consult him from all points. Many came hundreds of miles. Fifty horses have been seen hitched around his office at one time.

He possessed and cultivated a fondness for fast horses, probably the result of his early education in the stable at Paris, Kentucky. He always kept a number of race horses in training for the turf, and often matched them against others on the race course. In this line his success was varying, sometimes he won and as often lost, but losses did not diminish his love for the race course. The accumulations received from his large practice of medicine, and his winnings on the race course did not satisfy his greed for gain, and he conceived and carried into execution an extraordinary scheme for increasing his gains. It was nothing less than a carefully organized plan to rob the United States mail. His success as a physician had enabled him to acquire property, and he had not been living in Uniontown long until he possessed himself of one of the most handsome and valuable properties in the place, viz: the property known as the “Old National House,” on Morgantown street. He bought this property from Hon. Thomas Irwin, who afterwards sat as one of his Judges in the famous trial to be hereafter mentioned. When Braddee bought this property, it contained only a single building, the three story brick on the southern side of the lot. He added the wing to the north, and here he established his headquarters, carrying on his business, professional and unprofessional, with a high hand. His office was convenient, in fact immediately adjoining Stockton’s stage yard and coach factory. Into this stage yard, coaches were driven every day. Stockton had the contract for carrying the mails. The old pike was in full blast then, and as many as thirty coaches were driven along it both ways every day. Among the coaches carrying the great and lesser mails, one William Corman was a driver, and Braddee cultivated his acquaintance and secured his confidence. He assured him that money could be made easily by rifling the mail bags, and promised Corman that if he would hand him the bags, he would “go through them” and divide profits with him. Corman consented. It was of course soon discovered that the mails were tampered with, and United States detectives were set upon the tracks of the offenders. They were not long in ascertaining the guilty parties. Corman was arrested and told the whole story. Braddee had other accomplices, viz: P. Mills Strayer, and Dr. Wm. Purnell. Strayer was a saddler, who carried on a shop in Uniontown, and died only a few years ago. Purnell was a sort of body servant of Braddee, and for many years after Braddee’s death peddled Braddee’s medicine through Fayette and adjoining counties. Braddee was arrested on information made by Wm. Corman, and his arrest caused more excitement than any event that ever transpired in Uniontown.

THE INFORMATION.

Pennsylvania, Fayette County, ss:

George Plitt, agent of the P. O. Department, being duly sworn, says that the United States mail from Wheeling, Virginia, to New York, traveling on the National Road, has been stolen, to-wit: The mails made up at Wheeling on the 13th, 19th, 23d and 29th of November, 1840, and on the 5th, 12th and 18th of December, 1840, and that he has reason to suspect and does suspect and believe that Wm. Corman, who on those days drove the mail stage containing said mail from Washington to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is guilty, with others of stealing said mails.

GEO. PLITT, Agt. P.O. Dept.
Sworn and subscribed this 6th day of January, A. D. 1841, before me.

N. EWING,
Prest. Judge 14th Judicial District, Pennsylvania.

Same day warrant issued, directed to the Sheriff of Washington county, and to all other Sheriffs and Constables within the Fourteenth Judicial District.

George Plitt, agent of the P. O. Department, being duly sworn, says that the United States Mails from Wheeling, Virginia, to New York, traveling on the National Road, has been stolen, to-wit: The mails made up at Wheeling on the 13th, 19th, 23d and 29th of November, 1840, and on the 5th, 12th, and 18th of December, 1840, and that he has reason to suspect, and does suspect and believe that John F. Braddee, William Purnell, and Peter Mills Strayer, with others, are guilty of stealing the mails.