RISHEL, C. D.. The Life And Adventures Of David Lewis The Robber And Counterfeiter. The Terror Of The Cumberland Valley. (1890- FIRST EDITION)

AUTHOR: RISHEL, C. D.

TITLE: The Life And Adventures Of David Lewis The Robber And Counterfeiter. The Terror Of The Cumberland Valley. Newville.

PUBLISHER: Cumberland County, PA: C. D. Rishel, Publisher, 1890.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 8-15/16" x 5-3/4", 84pp., printed wrappers.

CONDITION: Internally clean and bright, some minor chipping to spine, overall VERY GOOD.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Howes erroneously calls this a reprint of the Confession of David Lewis published in Carlisle, PA, in 1820 and reprinted in 1853. This work incorporates the Confession but contains much new material as well. Published, according to the editor's Preface, to counter the public's supposed approbation of crime evidenced by the popularity of the James brothers.

Scarce account of the life of an infamous Pennsylvania criminal who dodged the law for years and purportedly wrote these stories on his deathbed in jail. David Lewis, known as "Davy" or "Robber" Lewis (1790-1820), became known as the "Robin Hood of Pennsylvania" for his brand of crime. Born in Carlisle, Lewis cut his teeth as a counterfeiter and later turned to highway robbery. There are countless stories of Lewis 'robbing the rich to give to the poor,' many of which are doubtless more myth than credible history. Nevertheless, there are several contemporaneous newspapers that do portray Lewis as aiding and befriending the downtrodden, who frequently helped him run from the law. Arrested several times, Lewis broke out of jail repeatedly. This pamphlet begins with historical accounts of Cumberland, Bedford, and Centre counties in Pennsylvania, and describes the various locales where Lewis holed up, such as his famous cave hideouts; a den in Pine Grove Furnace; dwellings on Hanover Street, etc. This is followed by Lewis's own accounts of his exploits - all of which contributed to his legend. The first encounter with the law that Lewis recounts is his trial for desertion from the Army, for which he was sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to imprisonment, and his first incarceration was soon followed by his first escape, which he accomplished by sawing through an ankle chain with a 30-pound cannon ball attached to it.