The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-12
The Steamboat Robbery.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE y. y. HERALD
MGpDLEIURY, VT, May 4, 1902.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIE y. y. HERALD.
MGppLEIuRY, VT, May 4, 1902.
Sir -
/ have just met with the following
account OF what took place on board
the steamer Empire, of Troy, on sat
urday morning last, in relation to the
robbery OF $500 from myself, which
is 50 full Of errors Of fact, to say moth
ing Of the ungenerous insinuations
which it contains, that | feel it duty
to IN self and my friends, to ask cor
rection Of those mistatcmcnts through
the same channels in which they have
been gwen to the public. The article
originated in your paper, and is as fol-
lows -
"Early on Saturday morning officers
Stephens and Bowyer were called up
on to 20 forthwith on board the steam
boat Empire Of Troy, which was then
lying ont in the stream for the purpose
Of investigating robbery Of $500,
alleged TO have been stolen from james
Mckeaud, one Of the passengers, a
resident Of Aiildlebury, Vermont. The
officers proceeded forthwith to the
steamboat, and there found the pas
sengers all in confusion in consequence
of the robbery. MIR. McKeand rep
resented to the police officers that
the package Of money had been stolen
from his berth during the night, com
ing from Albany. The money consist
ed Of five, ten, twenty, fifty, and hun
bred dollar bills of the Alildlebury,
Rutland, and Brandon banks there
was also about $1,000 OF bills on banks
in this State. The officers according
ly proceeded to make search and exam
inc the persons OF all the passengers,
and when through, on making inquiry
for Mr.. McKcand, they were informed
by one of the hands Of the boat that
Mr.. McKeand had gone ashore to hi:
hotel, leaving word that if they had a.
ny luck, to let him know. This re-
inarkble GOODNESS exhibited on the par
Of the complainant, astonished every
one. The boat was brought to thu
dock, and the officers came on shore
feeling very much as il they had bee,
imposed upon"
In relation to the robbery, l have on
ly to say, that the money was takel
from the state room occupied Oh
board the Empire, as | stated to tn,
captain and officers Stephens an,
Bowyer. TO the facts, as have sta
ted them, | am ready, on any prope
occasion, to make oath.
In relation to what took place o.
the boat after the police officers cam
on board, the facts were, that in con
sequence Of complaints and threats c
some Of the passengers, when pre-
position was made to make a genera
search, the commander of the boat COZ
cluded to let them 20 on shore. an
the officers were stationed, one on til
boat, and one on or near Il C wharf, I
watch the passengers as they passe
Of. This was all that was done to Dc
tect the robber, or to recover the MOI
ey. Not single person was searcl
ed.
In relation to the statement that
left the boat for my hotel, while IL
officers were searching the passenger
have only to say that it is wholly III
true. did not leave the boat uni
all the passengers were gone, and III
til the offers informed me that the
could do no more for me except
keep watch upon suspicious chara
tiers. / neither said to them, Or lie
word for them, that "if they had al
luck, to let me know" or any thing
the kind. When | left them | to
them where they could find me.
| trust, Mr.. Editor, that you W
deem it but an act of simple justice
publish this communication.
JAMES McKEAND.