The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-04-05

Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne and Chicago
Railroad, that an attempt was being
made to organize a body Of men to
obstruct or destroy portions of the
track Of their road, and thus throw
the trains from the track, for the pur-
pose of robbing the express and
malls. Having become satisfied
that the information was perfectly
reliable, the officers OF the company
at once determined to place the
further investigation of the truly
diabolical affair in the hands OF that
Justly celebrated detective, Allen
Pinkerton, esq. Of Chicago. The
danger was imminent: and Mr..
Pinkerton with his accustomed en-.
ergy and sliill at once went to work,
with a large corps OF detectives, "as
noiselessly as snow-nakes fall upon
the sod"
The detectives went to work, each
IN the place assigned to him, and in
the various shapes, forms and char
acters designated for them by Mr..
Pinkerton.
The result Of their efforts soon be.
came evident; whilst one division OF
the detectives, well armed, watched
the track by night, another branch
devoted their time to the discovery
OF those connected with the conspi.
rators; and in ingratisting them.
selves into their good graces, by &C.
cusing themselves of being the most
desperate criminals, some of the de-
tectives managed to find favor with
a few OF the principal members of
THIS band OF outlaws, who hesitated
not at the danger or loss of life to
those who might be in the trains, 80
that they only secured the booty.
Once the Detectives obtained an
entrance to the organization, they
managed to introduce others OF their
number, who were located a, other
points, and on the trains; and they
were enabled to secure introduc,ions
to all the principal members Of the
gang, and to have a full knowledge
.oi all the subordinate memhera.
1t was iound that the ssocis,ion
cx'onded not oulv over q portion Of
the Pittsburgh, Fort WAYNE and
Chicago Railroad, but to varions
points on the Cleveland, Columbus
and Cincinnati, and BrIlcfontaine
and Indiana Railroads. and other
important and leading routes in
Ohio and Indiana.
The mnrleys and robberies lately
.perpe'rat d along the Ines were
now fully accounted Tor. The Po t
office robberies we have already
mentiohed were all no doubt ey
gcuted by these daring villains.
The investigation OF the detectives
Into the organization to destroy the
railroad track for the purpose Of rob
hlng. developed that divisions of the
gang existed nt I.ondonviIle, Lake
vile, MassiiIon, Mansfield, Bncyrus (
Upper Sandusky, Crcsiline, Gallon,
Cleveland, Columbus, &c, and that
they were bold md reckless men, fit
ior any crime.
Tins affairs were pcndino. and
the railroad officers aud Mr.. Pinker- /
ton iHIt confident of the safety Of the
tracks and Of the arrest and con. /.
victlon OF the guilty parties at the
first commission OF any overt act
which would bring them fully within
the grasp Of the law; when, much to
the enrpr sc OF the officers of the
road, they were notified on Saturday
last by our attentive Postmaster. of
the contents of a letter received bv
him from Mansfield, which, az will
be seen by the copy of the letter
given below, was intended for a
member OF the gang at Massilion.
but. by mistake, placed in the envel-
op directed to the Postmaster a,
Pittsburgh:
gallon, March 81, 1861.
DEAR BoB:-I am jus. in receipt
OF yours, and have glanced hurredly
over contents- find erything much
to my liking.
! Can't imagin why Potwin acted
so dam foolish. think Banty will
answer the place mTch better. You
should have burned the body-think
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
sincel and, think, since he left.
1t won't do to have i. 90 to the
dead offico-ean't you send and get
it soon2
i am in great haste, so you must
excuse me for touching very lightly.
We have had a special meeting, TO
take into consideration our railroad
: scheme. We have agreed upon a
plan at last--one originated by
/ Thompson. He has just returned
from New York, and has brought us
some batteries, some rockets, dis
\ guises, &c. We are to sink powder
under the track, and ignite il by
{ means OF the batteries. Between
| Lakeville and Loudonville is the
/ place we selected for tho mail train,
4 and between Crestline aud Upper
4 Sandusky for the freight train
/ Then we are to destroy nearest
$ bridges and telegraph, to prevent any
d probability Of assistance reaching
A ing them, and then we are TO illumte
: some OF the nearest towns, 80 as to
n create general confusion. We car
q then operate with perfect safety
e We are to have another meeting on
q the Both. at Head Ouartora N oeloc