Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-07-24
ROBBERY OF WELLS, FARGO & cos
EXPRESS--POLITEN OF THE
ROBBERS.

EXPREss--POLITEN OF THE
ROBBERS.
The San Francisco Herald gives the
I subjoined account of the robbery recently
committed by four highwayman, on
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Express, near
Ohio, in Butte county, California
The sum obtained was $4,000 The
robbers executed the business in the
genteelest manner possible with the ma
ture of the transaction:
The outrage was committed at about
nine clock in the evening. The night
was dark, and as the stage was emer-
ging from a wood and about to descend
into the creek, the bed of which was
dry, some person ahead Of the coach
called on the driver, in loud voice, to
stop. The driver supposed that team
or some other obstruction was in the
way, and suddenly reined in his horses.
On looking round, somewhat to his as
tonishment, he discovered two men
with double-barreled guns leveled at the
passengers on the box seat, and another
with similar weapon covering the four
or five person inside.
The captain of the gang, with cooked
revolver in his hand, stepped up to the
driver and informed him in cool and
clear voice that he must have the money
in the treasurer box, and then turning
to Mr.. Bowen, the express messenger,
said, "Charley, it will be of no use to
resist. Nobody shall be harmed, if you
don't make any fuss. And, in the
meantime pursued the highwayman,
| gentlemen will be kiud enough to hold
up their hands, 1t is not necessary
for us to say that the passengers obeyed,
the driver dropped the reins, and each
mans fingers pointed instantly to heaven.
"Now, then, Charley" said the robber,
"I must have your pistol to prevent ac-
cidents, " and he proceeded to disarm the
expressman, Notwithstanding the out
ragged mans remonstrances. As the
robber took the pistol, with naive af-
fection Of surprise and an ominous shake
of the head, he said, "Why, Charley, the
pistol is actually cooked. Don't be
foolish, Charley' Thereupon Charley
Immediately subsidized with the remark
that it was very hard that he should be
treated in such manner. 'sNot at all
Charley" answered the robber; II am
not robbing you-:you cannot help your
self-but your company advertise that
they have capital stock of S5O0,0OO,
and SIS, 900 to divide among the boys
would not be missed, Charley, you
know" By way of modifying Charley's
feelings, the highway politely assured
him upon his honor" as a gentlamen"
that he was not murcerer, and did not
desire to take dollar from any person
then present.
At this time Mr.. McDufie suggested
that there existed no absolute necessity
for the strange gentleman's friends on
the road to persist in holding their guns
in SO very direct a line with his head
as he had known men under such cir
cumstances suffer from nervous excite
ment, and although he could not doubt
their peaceful assurance or the honesty
of their intentions, if the triggers CHANGED
to be Ue,y finely set an explosion might
take place unconsciously. Thereupon
the robber bowed politely, and expressed
his desire to make the interview as
spleasant one as possible, and directing
his men to elevate their fowling pieces,
but still to keep the enemy ''well COW
cred. u After this he unhitched the
horses, fastened them securely to fence
near by, declining, in afectionate Ian
guage, the assistance of the driver, and
drew from the stage the box of treasure.
He was about to split open the box
with an ak when he remarked to sFChar-
ley that it would be pity to spoil the
furniture, and asked for the key OBJ
serving some hesitation and grumbling
on the part of the messenger, he brought
forward a bundle of cord and expressed
the opinion that it would be necessary for
him to tie "Charley," as he was talking
a great deal too much "What would
you give to know me, (his face was
masked,) Charley?" he asked 1.-TWO
and-a-half," was the sullen reply. "Ah,
your liberality will be the death of you, -
replied the highwayman, who then very
coolly opened the treasure box, filled the
pockets of his comrades with the con-
tents, placed "Charley's' pistol in the
bed of the coach, fastened the horses
again to the stage, expressed the delight
he experienced in meeting with gentle
men who were so unexceptionable in
their department, and bade a graceful
adieu. The robbers then left for the
woods. During the whole proceedings
not an oath was heard, and the captain
Of the gang did his utmost, says our in
formant, to soothe the alright of the
PASSENGERS