Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-08

notes and drafts taken from the same.
This morning, Messrs. S. & M Allen have
information that one of the robbers has been
taken in New-York, having 500 dollars Of the
money in possession. Ph,tad. Gaz.
QUICK WoRK-The stage left this city on
Tuesday. after O'Clock, for Washington: the
mail was robbed. On "Wednesday, about 10 O.
clock. some of the Bank Notes stolen from the
mail. were offered for sale at the Office in this
city. of Messrs. Aliens. The notes having been
nut into the mail the day before, addressed to
Charleston Is. c. By the Messrs. Aliens, they
thus ascertained that the mail had been robbed.
Thew wrote to New York description of the
notes which had been stolen. On Friday their
letters reached New York, and in ten minutes
after the description of the stolen notes had
been handed TO the Offices Of the Messrs. Ne
vins'.a person came in TO exchange some of
them. and this morning we have the comforta-
bic intelligence, that he is safely lodged in pri-
son. Thus, it is hoped, will the whole particu-
lars of the robbery, and all concerned in it, be
discovered. freSS.
From the M,p York american Of Saturday afternoon.
POLICE OFF1cE.-On Thursday last, an extern
sive and extraordinary robbery was committed
in the post Office at Philadelphia. A number Of
letters were taken, containing drafts and notes
to the amount OF $4,000 and upwards. Private
information was forwarded by express to this
city, and description of the drafts left at the
different brokers' Offices. The Police, mean-
while, having received intelligence of the arri-
val Yesterday morning Of two suspicious per-
sonages from Philadelphia, were on the alert,
and about 10 o'clock, Mr.. Holman, police Of
fcer, apprehended one Of the supposed rob-
bers. and conducted him TO this office. The
prisoner was a stout athletic young man, from
ls to 90 years Of age, with an appearance and
demeanor that bespoke the desperate. He
was coveIed with mud, having been knocked
down previous to being secured. A loaded
pistol, with a complete fire apparatus, were
found on his person. Some Of the lost drafts
were also taken in his possession.
His account of himself was somewhat con-
Trajectory. He gave in his name as William
Nichols, and at first said he had been IN the ci-
tv for several days; but afterwards confessed he
had arrived this morning He stated that he
received the drafts in Philadelphia, in exchange
for soveregns that he had just come from o.
hio bu, could not mention the name of any town
in that state except Cincinnati. He declined
''signing his name; as he had said things he
did not mean to, but his statement was cor
rect" While in the Police Office he made a
desperate attempt 20 escape, but was prevented.
lie was fully committed
The discovery Of the robbery Of the mail was
FIRST made at Washington. The National Jour
nal Of yesterday says
The Postmaster in this city, on opening the
portmanteau which contained the eastern mail
on Tuesday last, discovered that the twllled
cotton bag, which contained the letters, had
been cut with knife, between two and three
feet, and on examination, all the packets destin-
ed for places south Of Washington, were found
70 be missing The leather portmanteau which
contained the cotton bag bort no marks OF vio-
lence-the lock was excellent, and the iasten-
ings were in good order. The facrs were COM
municated to the Postmaster General, who was
at once convinced that robbery Of the mail
had been committed. He Immediately despatch
ed an express for Baltimore and Philadelphia,
with instructions to save no effort or expense
10 discover and arrest the offenders On the
arrival of the express at Philadelphia, numer-
Gus expresses were put in motion, and the most
thorough Investigation was commenced. 1t
was ascertancd that S. & NJ. Allen, brokers,
had transmitted large sum in bank notes by
the mail that was robbed, and that part OF
the same notes had been sold to another broker
in Philadelphia the day after the robbery. One
of the drivers Of the mail stage was suspected
and arrested. lie is still confined in Jail.
On Thursday evening or Friday morning,
one of the robbers, who calls himself VIM. Nj
choNs, was arrested in the city Of New York; a
part of The lost money was found in his posses
sion. He, no doubt, has one OF more accomplI-
ces, and there is reason to expect, from the en-
ergips used, that they will be arrested.
The Journal pays the following deserved tri-
butte to the energetic and vigilant course adopt
ed by the Post Master General on this occasion.
We copy the paragraph with sincere pleasure:
The prompt and efficient measures adopted
by the Post Master General on this occasion,
is, we think, and we have no doubt the public
viii! concur with US in opinion, entitled to the
highest praise. Notwithstanding considera-
be time had elapsed after the robbery was COM
mitted, before it was discovered, yet, without
causing any unnecessary alarm, or putting the
robbers themselves on their guard, such steps
were taken at the moment, and the business
was so managed, that the first notice we have
of it is the apprehension Of the villains, and
the recovery Of part Of the property. The sue
cess which has attended the efforts of the Post
Master General in this instance, will increase
the confidence the public should feel in regard
to the safety of the mail, while it must tend to
convince rogues that robbing the mail is not