The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-05-25
Desperate Midnight Fight between the

Desperate Midnight Fight between the
Robber and Mail-route Agent,
Adam Keck Of this city, and one of
the through route mail agents, between
Cincinnati and New York, arrived here;
in charge of the Great Western and South
ern mails yesterday morning from New
York, which place heleft Wednesdayeyen-i
ing last. His appearance betokened that
he had passed through some rough hand
ling, his clothes being bloody and his face
and throat much bruised and scratched.
From him we learned the particulars of
one of the most daring attempts to rob
the mail and express that we have yet
heard of in this country.
The express agent left the mail and
express car for the smoking car, when Mr..
Keck. wrapped his shawl about him and
lay down on a long box piled on the top
of others, for a snooze. 1t was rainy
night Mr.. Keck supposes he m ust have
lain there some five minutes, and was just
getting asleep when he felt something
like drops of water fall on his face. Sup
posing he had got under part of the car
where there was leak, he made move
lnent to change his location. when on
opening his eyes he saw by him stranger,
who he knew had no business there. r.t
Keck, as quick as thought, seized him,
and then the struggle for life commenced.
Mr.. Keck is compactiy built man. of
considerable muscular power, his sinews
| Il orlo of fcil hut bo
his match in the desperate with whom he
was struggling. Their contest for the
mastery had continued several minutes,
Keck yelling at the top of his voice for
help; but his voice was drowned by the
rattling of the wheels, when the robber
caught him by his neck-tie, hoping to
choke him to death. Fortunately the
tie gave way under hard wrench, when
the robber told Keck he would shoot, him
! if he did not cease. He was told to shoot.
He then pulled a revolver which was as
soon seized around the cock by Keck.--
In that way they struggled for awhile,
when fortunately one of the boxes belong
| lug to the Express fell against the robber,
which aided Keck to floor him. In that
position, Keck disarmed him, and then
beat him terribly about the face aud head,
until he begged for his life. {. ,Keek sup
posing he had disabled him, jumped up to
seize the bell-rope to have the cars stop
ped. but he had no sooner. done so than
the robber was on his feet and at the
door of the car, which he showed aside and
leaped out. ... ',.t 81. 'a. -.i.:l--,
The cars were Immediately stopped
and returned to the place where the leap
had been made. The spot is about ten
miles from Port Jarvis, and at most dan
gerous part of the road-being the Del
aware Division, near Elmira. THE side
where the leap was made is an enbank-
meIt with steep slope of about one
hundred feet deep The place where the
robber had alighted was plainly visible,
but nothing could be seen of him. No
search was made at the bottom Of the
embankment, as the conductor thought
the train would be too long delayed by
it. The train was going over that par,
of the road at the rate of about eight
miles per hour. -s.s ua.:--g-..- 4...
Last evening the Postmaster at this
place received a dispatch from the Post
master at New York, requiring the i'm
mediate return of Mr.. Keck, from whicl
it is inferred that the rascal has been cap
tured. Mr.. Keck was too badly used VI
| to leave last night, but left this morning
-Enquirer, Nay 81. # .. ....--,,..
Why the Amendment to the Massa-