The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-17

$40 900 sToLEN-THE COLLECTOR FATALLY INJURED.
IFrom the Pittsburs Post, March 1877
One Of the boldes pieces Of vany that has been
perperated took place in this city Friday night
shows the part of the scoundres engaged in har
dhood energy and boldnesa the like of which has
y parallel in the annals of crime In this country Tho
case to which we refer no less than assault the
House Of the ann Of sr tons doiSr. y IN 'nY 1o %
facts of the mainly these =
About IA O'Clock on Friday evening John Hastings.
ESQ., Collector OF Customs at this port left his residence
which is situated on the second banks In Allegheny city
Immediately above the aqueduct with the intention of
proceeding to the Office of the toll collector at the
dock Before he had reached the bottom Of the stepa
leading down from the bank to the Of the cana
he was confronted BY who saang upon one q
the steps Somewhat startled, Mr. Hastings cast look
behind him and that he had been followed by anoth
man, who was standing behind him ON the steps. The
the throat and threw him down. Mr. H. then struck
by of the rascals the head with colt slung shot,
ble and all he remembers of the ARRAY . crushing
sensation about the head.
The Villains then proceeded to rife the pockets Of Mr.
Hastings they took from his three hundred
dollars in money, valuable gold watch and the keys Of
the outer door Of the Custom House. and Of the safe in
the inner room. The robbers then left Mr. Hastings
living on the ground In short time he recovered Ma
senses and enabled to drag himself to the top Of the
steps where his cries attracted members Of his own
As soon Mr. Hastings had fully realized the extent
Of the outrage committed upon him. he sent word to tho
watchman at the Custom House to be than usually
strict in his watch during the night. This was
delivered the watchman, Joseph Cupplcs about half past
nine O'Clock and he states that after that time he kept
strict watch and that from the time of going duty at
dark until daylight he had not been out Of the building
On Saturday morning, between eight and nine O'Clock,
the Deputy Surveyor to the office; there ap
pearance Of robbery having been committed, but
locking the vault door he furnished with duplicate
ys he found considerable quantities Of gold coin scat
tered the floor making further examination he dis
covered the safe had been robbed of nearly ten thousand
dollars-all in twenty dollar gold pieces.
There be no doubt that the robbery committed
by the assaants Of Mr. Hastings, for they took fro him
the keys OF the outer door and Of the safe door 1T the
question is how did they commit the robbery VIII 10 the
Waterman was in the into which the vault door
opensY II reasonable to expect that the watchmsn
would have been unusually vigant after the warning he
had received from Mr. Hastings at half after nine and
yet he says he heard nothing during the night. Tho
only suppositon left is that the robbers Immediately ~
ter the outrage Mr. Hastings proceeded TO the Gus
tom house, unlocked the DOORS and carried away the
COIN before the messenger from Mr. Hastings arrived;
and did all this either while the watchman was absen
from his post, asleep at his post This, OF course VII
be fully investigated
ho,se-Messrs. Hugh MAleer and Joseph Cupples-one
of them being duty every night. On Friday night
Curples was on the watch During the night the watch
remain in the inner room This fs the room into
Mr. Hastings we regret to learn is severely injured
Tie blow he received on the head inflicted severe
wound racturing 1t is feared his skull He states that
he s certain he attacked by two men, and he thinks
three.
The robbers after committing the robbery carried
away with them the keys taken from Mr. Hastings They
locked the vault doors and also the outer door
leaving everything in its usual state. The suspicious Of
the deputy, may state, were not aroused until ne
opened the vault door and discovered the gold scattered
on the floor. .
upon the robbery Every speaking OF the
affair had his story and his own suspicious to relate
Mr. Cupples the watchman, states that he was asleep
when The robbery committed, in the very in
which the robbers operated faithful and vgant watch
man forsooth.