Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-23
From the Pittsburr Post.

Particulars OF the Robbery.-One Of III,
boldest pieces of viany that has ever been perpe-
lraed took place in this city on Friday night. Il
shows on the parl OF tie scoupdres engaged in i,
hardihood, energy, and boiness, The like o.
which has scarcely parallel in the annals OF crime
in this country. The case 10 which we refer is MT
less than an assault he collector Of The port
and the robbery OF the custom house of the OF
ten thousand dollars in geld The facts the ase
are mainly these:
| About ~ O'clock on Friday evening, John Has
tngs, esq, collector OF customs at this port, left hs
residence, which is situated on the second bank, in
! Allegheny city. immediately above the aqueduct.
with the intenton OF proceeding TO the Office Of the
toll collector at The dock. Before he had reached
| the bottom Of the steps leading down from tht
| bank 10 the tow-path Of the canal, he was con
fronted by stranger, who sprang upon one Of III,
| steps. Somewhat startled, Mr.. Hastings cast 9
| look behind him. and saw that he had been fol
| lowed by another man, who standing benin,
| him on The steps The villain standing below Mr.
| II. Immediately caught him by the throat ana
| threw hin. down Mr.. II. was then struck by on.
| OF the rascas on the head with colt, slung-shoi
or some other weapon Of the kind This rendered
him inscnsibc, and all he remembers of the adray
was crushing sensation aboht the head.
The villains then proceeded TO rifle the pockets
Of Mr.. Hastings they took from his person over
three hundred dollars in money, a valuable gold
watch. and the keys OF the outer door of III.
custom house, and Of the safe in the inner room
ne TOODerS lnen lett. ME. t1dStlngs lying on TN
ground. In short time he recovered his senses
and was enabled 10 drag himself TO the top Of tn,
steps, where his cries attracted members of his
own family 10 his aid.
AS soon as Mr. Hastings had fully realized the
extent Of the Outrage committed upon him, h.
sent word TO the Waterman at the custon-house
| 10 he more than usually strict in his watch durint
! the night This message was delivered 10 I'd.
Waterman. Joseph Cuppies, about halfpast nin'
O'Clock, and ne states that after that time he kept
| strict watch, and that from the ine Of going
duty nj dark uati! daylight he had not been out o
| the building.
| On Saturday morning. between eight and nine
O'Clock, the deputy-surveyor came to the Office
There was no appearance Of a robbery having been
committed but on unlocking the vault door ,(he
was furnished with duplicate keys,) he found con
siderable quantities gold coin scattered over
the floor. Making further examination, he dis.
covered the safe had been robbed of nearly ter
thousand dollars-all in twenty dollar gold pieces
There be no doubt that the robbery wa
committed by the assal!an,s ef Mr. Hastings, for
they took from him the keys Of the outer door
aud Of the safe door; but the question Is, how.
did they commit the robbery while the watchma
was in The room into which the vault door opens |!
Ii is reasonable 10 expect that he watchmar
would have been unusually vigilani aier th'
warning he had received from Mr. Hastings
half after nine, and yet he says he heard no,hin,
during the night. The only supposition left i
that the robbers, immediately after the outrage Oh
Mr.. Hastings proceeded 10 The custom.house, un.
locked the DOORS and carried away the coin, be-
fore the messenger from Mr. Hastings arrived,
and did all this either while the Waterman
absent from his post or asleep at his post This,
Of course, will be fully investigated
There were two watchmen employed at the
| cus -house-M essrs. Hugh M'Alecr and Joseph
Cupples-one of them being on duty every night
| On Friday night Cuppes Was on the watch
| During the night the walchmen remain in III
! inner ROOM This is the room into which the SAT,
/ opens.