Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-07-26
Robbery of Wells, Fargo & Com
pany's Express--Politeness Of
the Robbers.

|
the Robbers.
i rhe San Francisco Herald gives the sub.
joined account of the robbery recently CON .
mitied by four highwaymen, on Wells, Far.
60 o. Company Express, near Chico, In
Butte county, California. The sum obtain.
ed was $4,000. The rcbber. executed the
business 10 the gentcelrsl mannrr possible
win the nature OF the Transaction:
The outrage was commit ed about pine
o'clock in the evening. The night was dark
and as The stage was emerging from a wood
ana soout to decend into q 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 10 the Wv. and
suddenly reined in his horses. On looking
round, somewhat establishment. he di .coyer-
ed Two men will, double barreIed guns lev.
eled at the pssseno ers on the box seat, and
ano'her with similar weapon covering the
four or FIVE persons inside.
The captain of the gang, with . cooked
revolver in his hand. stepped I'd To the driver
and Informed him in a cool and clear voics .
that he must have the money IN The ,reos.
ure'oox, and then turning to Mr.. B,yen the
express messenger, said "Char ey its no use
to resist. No body shall b. harmed, If you
don't make any uss. And. in the mean.
time" pursued he highwayman. "gen,iemen n
will be kind enough to hold up their hands. >
IL Is rot necessary for Us to saw that the
passengers obeyed, The driver dropoed the
reins, and each mans fingers pointed Instant.
~ 10 heaven. "Now. then, Charley" said
the rooocrS''i Inusr nave your pistol to pre-.
vent accidents" and he proceeded to dissrm
the expressmsn. Notwithstanding the out.
ragged mans remonsirances. As TIE robber
took the pistol, with a naive affection Of
surprise and an Ominous shake of the head
he said, why, Charley, the pistol is &C.
tua 'ly cooked. Don't be foolish, Charley "
rhereupon Charley Immediately subsidized
with the remark that it was very hard that
he should be treated in such manner. Not
al all Charley," answered the robbei; am
not robbing you you cannot help yourse If
but your company advertise that ,hey have
capita stock of $500 900, and $4,000 to
divide among the BOYS wonld not be missed.
Charley, you know" by way Of modifying
Charley's feelings, the highway politely as.
sured him upon his honor "as n gentleman,
that he was not u murderer, and did not de-
SIRE TO take dollar from any person then
present.
AT this time Mr.. McCufIi, suggested that
there existed no absolute necessity for the
strange gentlemaD's friends on the road In
persist in holding their guns in very direct
line with his head. as he had knoxn men
under such circumstances suffer fru,n ner.
vous excitement and although he could not
doub' their peaceful assurances or the hon.
esty of their intentions, ifths triggers chanc
ed to be very finely set an explosion might
take pace unconsiously Thereupon the
roooer bowed politely, and expressed his de.
sire to make the interview as pleasant as
p'ss!bls, and directing his men to elevate
their fowlng peices. but sti to keen the
enemy swell covered" After this he un-
hiiched the horses, fastened to a fence near
by, declining in affertlonste language, 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 "Charley'' that
it would be pity to spoil the furniture, and
asked for the key. Observing some hesita.
tion and grumOling on the part OF the mes-
senger, he brought forward bundle Of tord
and expressed the opinion that il would 4be
necessary for him to tie Charley" as be
was talking great deal too much. What,
would you give to know me, (his face was
masked )Charleyi" he asked. 'Two.and.
a-balf," was the sullen reply. "Ah, your
liberality will be the death of you," replied
the hghwayman who then very cooly open.
ed the treasure box, filled the pockets of his
comrades with the contents, placed Char
ley's" pistol in the bed of the coach, faslen-
ed the horses again 10 the stage, expressed
the delight he experienced in meeting with
gentleman who were go unexceptionable in
their. department, and bade graceful udeu.
The robbers then left for the woods. Du-
ring the whole proceedings net al oath was
heard, and the captain OF the gang done his
utmost, says our informant, to soothe the
alright of the passengers.