New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-12-01


Our readers probably have not forgotten the
person whose name heads this article. The bold
snd extensive robberies committed by hius the
singular method which he adopted to carry out his
nefarions plans, and many Of the circumstances
attending his arrest and conviction, have been
made familiar to the public through The riewspa-
pers. Like the elephant, he never travelled with
ont his trunk-that mighty appendage to whose
Beguiled by Tie seductions Of cigars of uninpeach-
able excellence, the baggage-Inen were wont to
allow his presence in the baggage and maiI-ear,
and during their temporary absence he seized
both the opportunity and the bags. All this. and
much more, is no doubt fresh in the recollection Of
everybody. But there were some incidents con-
nected with this extraordinary case which have
capped the vigilance of newspaper reporters. Here
is of them:
Most of Tuckerman's robberies, as is wen known.
were committed on the mail-trains between New
York and Boston. At least thirteen whole mall
bags were abstraeted, and all of their contents
destroyed which were vaIueess to him. Five
thousand dollars worth of postage stamps, how
ever, were recovered and restored to Government
His mode of conducting operations wac such as to
require for his detection the constant surveillance
Of an officer, to make the journey with him, and to
observe all his movements.
On the fatal Sunday night of his arrest the most
Office agent, sometime before the starting of the
train, enseonced himself in q small closet, ocea-
sionally used as a" clothespress, 2 at the end of
the baggage-car nearest the engine. A crack in
the partition afforded such facilities for observation
as were required by gentleman for the time
closely connected with the press, since from this
loop-hole he could command view Of every part
of the car
This view, for the present. was decidedly tame
and uninteresting. There was a want OF what
painters call !" breadth 7 in the prospect, to say
nothing of length. The dim Light revealed nothing
but trunks, valises and the like, grouped more
with view to the convenience Of Z baggage
smashersn y than to artistic effect. The !" coming
man had not yet arrived to enliven the prospect
but the meditations of the solitary watcher were
cut short by the sudden addition to the scene Of
piece of still life y which did not materially
| improve the aspect of things. A heavy jar upon
the floor of the car attracted the attention of the
agent, and glance through the aperture revealed
| the cause of the same. coffin had been pushed
in just in front of the closet, and now stretched
its awful length in close proximity to the spot oe-
| cupied by the anxious watcher. He thought of
the q A rsAssat Mariner and his voyage with
crew of dead men, and faneied how that old gem
ride through the nighthours with such a COM
| panion, who could make his gloomy presence
| felt though hidden by the walls of his narrow
house. He has less room than |, p thought the
/ agent, stbut he don't need as much.r
1 Then his reflections naturally took professional
1 turn, and crowd Of thoughts apropos t4 the sab
iect before him, rushed upon his mind. He derived
some comfort from the reflection that tho defunct
was perfectly safe passenger whom it would
be unnecessary to watch, however rugnish he
might have been in his lifetime. After HES fitfuI
fever, he sleeps WE'LL unmindfu Of haggage mas
ters, porters conductors; even OF maa agents.
Nothing can touch him further,n Perhhps if he
We're alive he would be as troublesome customer
as Tuckerman himself. He's just as quiet, how
/ ever, as ii he had been a lamb of innocence. Let
us give him the benefit of the douht4sss, M de
nl9rttsts," etc, especially if you don't know any
ti5ag about them.
This course of thought was suddenly interrupted
By the arrival of Tucaerman, accompanied by q
porter, who very nnearemonousIy tainbled in his
(Tuckerman's) great trunk in close proximity to
tde omn0us looking long box. The owner of the
trunk after giving directions respecting the place
where he wished this important piece Of baggage
the mail bags,l drew out his fancy cigar case,
llshted afegaa, and politely oiiered ai1atner to
ir,s .5 ~ sale
MI; h IA
" i.i,e ~ n e. 49, - w s,' II, 9t rs hioa'is'