Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-04-04
Daring Scheme to Rob the Mail
ONTHE
PITTSBURGH, IT. WAYNE { CHICAGO Z z

Railroad from that city to Chicago, by
throwing the tram from the track Detec-
tive Pinkerton was charged with the ferret
ing out the plot. Detectives watched the
track by night, while othrs. got enterance
into the organization of the robbers. 1t
was found the association extended over a
portion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne &
Chicago Road, also at points in the Cleve-
land Columbus & Cincinnati road, the
Bellefontaine d Indiana roads, and other
roads in Ohio and Indiana.
The murders and robberies lately per-
petrated along the line were now fully ac-
counted for. The post office robberies We
have already mentioned were all no doubt
executed by these daring Williams.
The investigation of the detectives into
the organization to destroy the railroad
track for the purpose of robbing, developed
that divisions of the gang existed at Loud
onville, Lakeville, Massilon, Mansfield, Bu-
cyrus, Upper Sandusky, Crestline, Gallon,
Columbus, Cleveland, DC, and that they
were bold and reckless men, fit for any
crime.
Thus affairs were pending and the Rail-
road officers and Mr.. Pinkerton felt conf
dent of the safety of the tracks and of the
arrest and conviction of the guilty parties
at the first commission of any overt act
that would bring them fully within the
grasp of the law When, much to the
surprise of the officers of the road, they
were notified, on Saturday last, by our, at
tentive Pcstmasters, of The contents of a
letter received by him from Mansfield,
which, as will be seen by the copy of the
letter below, was intended for member
of the gang at Massillon, but, by mistake,
placed in the envelope directed to the
Postmaster, Pittsburgh:
GALLON, March 81, 1861.
Dear Bob:-I am just in receipt of
yours, and have glanced hurriedly over con-
tents-fnd everything much to my liking.
Can't imagine why Potwin acted SO
id foolish. think Banty will answer
the place much better.s You should have
burned the body-th;nk you had better do
it soon, and be certain. You must send
Barry necessary instructions. But how
will it do in regard to that letter, you
know Buck wrote to him some time since
and, I think since be left.
II won't do TO have it go to the dead
ofice-can't you send and get it out soon?
am in great haste, so you must excuse
me for touching everything lightly. We
have had special meeting to take into
consideration our Railroad scheme. We
have agreed upon plan at last one origi-
mated by Thompson. He has just return
ed from New York, and has brought US
Batteries-some rockets, disguises, &c.
We are to sink powder under the track
and ignite it by means of the batteries
Between Lakeville and Loudenvile is the
place we selected for the mail train, and
between Crestline and Upper Sanducky for
the freight train. Then we are to destroy
nearest bridges and telegraph, to prevent
any possibility of assistance reaching them,
and then we are to illuminate some of the
nearest towns, so as to cause general con-
fusion. We can then operate with perfect
safety. We have another meeting on. 3Oth,
at Head Quarters, to select suitable men
you must come up without fail and
send word to all your boys. You must
excuse me for being so brief as l have
about twenty letters to write, and want to
call in boys that are out.
am going down to Mansfield this even
ing, to mail some of my letters, and 1 will
just drop line to the Postmaster at Pitts
burgh and have him forward Potwin's let
ter, and that will be better than to send for
it. went to Mansfield last Friday and
made some inquiries about that fellow you
wrote about. saw him, and from your
description and his knowledge of you and
some of our men, think l can say posi-
lively be is the same man. He told me
that be had been in prison several years
and that be had sworn off. Said he felt
no i'll will toward you or ony one else
thought he would remain at home
this summer. think you had better
go and see him youself, and you will
will have more influence than any one else
believe him to be flint, steel pointed
Davy and Jess made a little effort herea few
nights ago, but only got few empty let
ters. Jess has gone to Newark aud Davy
is in Mansfield waiting chance.
l shall be in Cres!line until the Goth
don't leave Massillon unless you first inform
me. Thompson and Fred and Jerry will
stay at Cleveland. will see jeff and get
coney by Saturday-you can see your own
men, and 90 with them to Lakeville, but do
not inform them of our business-you can
stop with Bill Wolf-he is one of our
bridge men, but don't be seen in daylight,
and before you do anything else select some
appropriate names for your men, so we can
distinguish them. 1 had not time to use
cyphere, as it so tedious aad 1 am so busy
now. l will see Jimmy again and see if
he can be come at, and let you know.
We have enough boys on trains now,
shall not trust any mcre-plenty of girls
now everywhere. George Cline visits
Mansfield PRETTY often. Mrs. Shaw is his
darling, but don't tell him said so, or be
may hustle that Bag business out.
Yours, in fidelity,
CHARLEY GRIMES.
Inc Fost commenting upon this letter,
says:
"Owiug to the unexpected turn thus
given 10 the investigation, from the recent
of the above letter by our post master and
publicity given to the same-we doon, :,