Litchfield enquirer., 1860-08-09
Whole No. 1S36.
OF WELLS, FARGO &
 CO.'S EXPRESS.
PoLIrENEss OF THE ROBBERS.


 The San Francisco Herald gives the sub joined account of the robbery recently com-' mitted by four highwaymen, on Wells, Far. go & Co.'s express, near Chico, Butte coun. ty, California. The sum obtained was $l5.. O0c. The robbers executed the business in the gcnteelest manner possible with the na- ture of the transaction:
 The outrage was committed at about nine o'clock in the evening. The night was dark, and as the stage was emerging from wood and about to descend into 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 a team or some other obstruction was in the way, and suddenly refined in his horses. On looking round, somewhat to his astonishment he discovered two men with double-barrelled guns leveled at the passengers on the box seat, and other with d similar weapon cover. ing the four or five persons inside.
 The captain of the gang, with cooked revolver in his hand, stepped up to the driv. CT and informed him in cool and clear voice that he must have the money in the treasure box, and then turning to Mr. Bowen, the express messenger, said, Charley, it will be Of no use to resist Nobody shall be harm. ed, if you don't make any fuss. And, in the meantime pursued the highwayman, gen. tlemen will be kind enough to hold up their hands, It is not necessary for us to say that the passengers obeyed, and the driver dropped the reins. and each mans fingers pointed instantly to heaven. 'Now, then. Charley said the robber, must have your pistol to prevent accidents, and he proceeded to disarm the congressman, not WIthstanding the outraged mans remonstran- ces. As the robbcr took the pistol, with native affectation of surprise and an omiuous shake of the head, he said, Why Charley, the pistol is actually cooked Don't be fool ish, Charley Thereupon Charley immedi- ately subsded with the remark that it was very hard that he should be treated in such a manner. Not at all, Charley answered the robbcr, I am not robbng you-yow cannot help yourself, but your company ad- vertise that they have capital stock of S5OO,O 900, and $15, ,000 to divide among the boys would not be missed Charley, you know By way of notifying Charley's feelings the highwaymau politely assured him, upon his honor 'as gentleman that he was not murderer, and did not desire to take dollar from any person then pres ent
 "At this time Mir. McDuffie suggested that there existed no absolute necessity for the strange genteman's friends to persist in holding their guns in so very direct line with hls head, as he had known men under such circumstances suffer from nervous ex- citement, and although he could not doubt their peaceful assurances or the honesty of their intentions, if the triggers chanced to be rery finely set an explosion might take place unconsciously. Thereupon the robber bowed politely, and expressed his desire to make the interview as pleasant a one as possible, and directed his men to elevate their fowling pieces, but still to keep the enemy we'll covered.' After this he unhitched the horses, fastened them securely to fence near by, declining, in affectionate 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 axe, when he remarked to Charley that it would be pity to spoil the furniture, and asked for the key. Observing some hesitation and grumbling on the part of tho messenger, he brought forward 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 2 he asked. '1wo-and-a- half,' was the sullen reply. 'Ah, your libe- rallty 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 contents, placed Char ley's pistol in the bed of the coach, fasten- ed the horses again to the stage, expressed the delight he experienced in meeting with gentlemen who were so unexceptionable in their department, and bade them a graceful adeu. The robbers then left for the woods: During the whole proceeding not an oath was heard, and the captain of the gang did his utmost, says our informant, to soothe the alright of the passengers"