Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-06
THE CITY.


Daring Mall RobberIss-AFrest Of the CuI-
prIG.
One of the most daring and high-hsnded
career Of mail rObbing ever run in this
country has been just brought to close BY
the discovery and arrest of the culprit, the
scene of his exploits being upon the Glove
land & Erie Railroad. 1tappears that since
July last some eight or nine brass-lOck
pouches, made up at different cities east for
points west, and one bag made up in New
City for Cleveland, were discovered on their
arrival ct this city o have been cut open
and portions Of the contents Of the pouches
abstracted-all the contents Of the bag made
up for Cleveland having been taken. The
same thing was slsO discovered with the
bags going east over the route, and one bag
made up at Toledo for New York city had
abstracted from it an amount stated at $500.
These facts were duly made known 70 the
Imposition Office of the Post Office Depart
ment st Washington by the Postmaster and
the Local Nail Agent at this point, and spe-
cial agents were sent out 10 investigate the
matter, but after careful and continued
search, were unable to ascertain BY whom
or where the depredations were committed.
About two weeks since q bag msde up
at Buffalo for Pittsburgh was discovered
upon its arrival here TO have been cut and
robbed, and Mr.. Nottingham, superintend
emit Of the road, went TO work to thoroughly
investigate this last transaction. The re-
suit was a development Of circumstances
which to The minds Of parties here cOgni-
zant Of the facts placed beyond question the
connection with the crime Of Samuel Lane,
an employees Of the Unitsd States Express
Company ct Dunkirk. All these robberies
were .perpetrated on the night express
trains, and this investigation showed Shat
Lane had been in the habit since July Of
getting on the train ct Dunkirk and riding
to Westdeld, and at the latter place taking
the Eastward train and going to Dunkirk,
at all times occupying the baggage car, in
which the mails arc carried. He had no du-
ty to perform on these trains, but rode back
and forth, as he said, for pastime. Several
bagg1sa masters were accordingly request
ed to keep watch Of Lane. On Monday
night last he got onto the train going East
at Westfsld5 accompanied by friend, as
usual occupying the baggage car. After a
time he and his friend laid down, as If to
60 to sleep, the Express Messenger having
previously gone TO to sleep on his safe, the
'SsSSags Master, Mr.. F. 6. studley, being
sHli M Soon after Lane and friend had
lain down. hawever, studlsy apparently
betOOk himself 10 Sleep, OCCUPYING such a
position as to have gOoSS view of Lane,
and keeping an eye upon him. After time
sufficient had tianspired 70 satisfy Lane
that he-could proceed, he arose, and taking
bag made up at Buffalo for Toledo, cut
sufficient aperture in it 10 admit his hand,
and took from It two large packages Of ,et-
ters. BE then tore of the wrappers Of the
packages and threw them upon the floor,
the POst-bin sticking TO them, showing the
destination of the letters and thenumber in
the packages, which was 1S4. BE secured the
Aotpots 4DoAt AAh Jotuo4y lAN a PSA s-o NAAANeA
of the train at Northeast, got Of. After
he had gone, the Baggage Master exam
ined the bag, rolled 1t up, and immedi-
ately upon his arrival at this city, report
ed his discovery to Superintendent Noting
ham and the Local Mail Agent. Mr.. Not
tingham Immediately autographed to Buff
alO ordering Lanes arrest, and accordingly,
on Tuesday, the o. s. Marshal for the
Western District of New York repaired to
Dunkirk and arrested Lane and took him
to Buffalo and lodged him in jail. His
person was searched upon his arrest, but
revealed nothing in connection with the
crime with which he is charged. The case
will be investigated in the United States
District Court ct Buffalo to-day. Parties
in Buffalo who know Lane, say that he has
served one term in the Penitentiary for
mail robbing, and is an intemperate and
bad man. The case is one Of unprecedent-
ed daring, and viii 90 hard with the cul-
plit. Too much credit cannot be given su-
perintendent Nottingham for the facilities
he afforded and the efforts he made in
fsrreting this matter out.
BAELAR RR0ErPTs.-The ststsment..of the