Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-21
From the Baltimore Patriot.
WESTERN MAIL ROBBERIES.-ARREST
OF THE ROBBERS

| 1t has been known for some time that extensive
4 robberies had been committed on the Great Wes-
tern Mail for New York and points east Of that
city; and from the evidence which tho case afford
| ed, there doubt entertained that these rob-
| berries were committed at some point between
Wheeling and Baltimore. Circumstances having
tended to fix suspicion upon the neghborhood of
Unontown Pa. in reference TO these depredations,
Messrs. Kennedy and Pitt, agents OF the Post Of
fee Department, directed their particula attention
TO that quarter. The discoveries there made we're
such MS TO induce Dr. Kennedy TO obtain warrant
from Judge Ewing of that district, for the Of
certain persons believed to be implicated in the
robberies. The warrant was obtained on Wednes-
day night. and proceeding with it to Washington on,
Pa, a stage driver named William German, EN-
poyed on the route between Washington and Union
town. by the aid Of police officer arrested at
the FIRST named place. German was asleep
bench in the bar-ioom of the stage Office hotel, and
when arrested betrayed great alarm
On being taken before magistrate, German
made disclosures which implicated with himself in
these ro5beries, certain Dr.. Braddee, clerk Of
Braddee's named Pinnel and a third person named
Strayer-all of Union,own. On Thursday after
noon DR. Kennedy left Washington, with his prs-
on in charge, for Uniontown; and in the
of that night the three persons above named were
also arrested and in default of bail, which fixed
at high figure, the four were committed to the
jail OF Fayelte county. to answer to the charge.
Suspicion rested upon German. before his last
trip from Unionown to Washir kton on Wednesday
night; but it deemed best by the agents,
make arrest at the latter place. so prevent his
supposed sccompces from taking the alarm, and
making their escape before the arm of the law
should be upon them. With these views, the agent
of the Post Office, with the warrant for Germans
arrest in his pocket, rode the drivers seat with
the latter all the way from Uniontown to Washing
e
business of the agent, Of the impending arrest,
at the end of the route
The following facts as TO the manner in which
these mail robberies have been effected are given
in the Washington Reporter of Saturday-based
on the confessions of German - On reaching the
Post Office in Uniontown, where the coaches are
usually changed, all the mails discharged ex-
cepi the Eastern Mail above referred to this was
retained in the coach per arrangement, until driven
into the yard, where the accompces of the driver,
received il, and conveyed il to the Office .f DR..
Brsddee, when, on being riAed of its contents, the
bags were thrown into privy appurtenant 20 the
premises. This was done the nights Of the 5th,
l9lh, ODD and Goth of November, and on the 5th,
10Th and 18th of December.
CoIman charges Braddee and his confederates
with having been his tempters to the commission
Of these MISUNDERSTANDING that he had resisted
their opportunities to embark in the robbery of the
mail, for period of eighteen months but piled al.
tcrnately by their threats and their promises he
last yielded, and became their co-worker in crime.
Braddse is said to be spirit of the concern.
His character seems to have been heretofore any
thing but good we learn from lhs Reporter that
he had sometime since been tried in tho Fayette
County Court, on charges of arson and forgery.
He was acquitted in both cases by The jury from
insuficiency Of evidence,) though not by public
opinion, which is wont to be less technical, in max
ing up its verdicts.
Tie subjoined letter from correspondent at
Unionto@n contains some further details concern.
ing the arrests there made. 1t will be seen
that upwards of $4,000, the money stolen from
the mails, have been recovered Besides rilled
mai bags carpet bags, &c, sundry apparatus for
cunning money, were also discovered on the prem-
SEES Of Braddee; from which it would seem that the
evil operations of the confederecy were carried on
! on va'i ius aud extended scale
| Lc' US hope that their arrest, and their convc-
,ioa. # guilty, will tend somewhat arrest the pro.
ere.s Of crime.