The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-22
nREAI RAILROAD ROBBERY.

and Chicago Railroad 06ioe-ArTest Of the Per.
petrdtor-F FH Confession of the Crine-Re-
couey OF $l6,OOO-Energy Of The Detectives.
On the evening of the 10Th of September last,
the safe of the Paymaster of the Pittsburg Fort
Wayne, and Chicago Railroad, at the Company's
office, on Fifth street, was opened and robbed OF
$25, 600 in money, and checks to the amount OF
$4,000. Mr. Joseph G. Bedell, the Paymaster,
had received the money during the day, and in.
tended using 1t in paying the employees OF the
road, between this city and Chicago their
monthly salaries.
After counting the money, he put il into a tin
box, which he placed in the safe, and started to
the st. Charles Hotel for supper. Upon his re-
turn to the office an hour OF two afterwards, he
unlocked the safe, and discovered that the oox
and money were missing. The police OF the city
were Immediately apprzed of the robbery, and
energetic measures instituted to secure the
thiei; but he had covered his tracks so adroitly
that detection appeared impossible. Inc COM
pany, being determined that thorough inves
tigation should be instituted, secured the SER
vices OF Mr.. G. II. Bangs, the General Superin-
tendent OF Pinkerton's National Police Agency,
at Chicago, for that purpose: Mr.. Bangs visited
this city, when, in consultation with the officers
OF the road, he ascertained that the safe
had been opened four times previously, and
roboed OF amounts varying from $500 to $1,000.
He also learned that there we're two keys for the
sale one of which was held by Mr.. Bedell, and
the other by Mr.. Frederick, the clerk to the
Treasurer. As both these gentlemen we're above
suspicion, Mr.: Bangs accepted the hypothesis
berries had q duplicate key, and Immediately
took measures TO secure him. After considera-
bic invest cation, suspicion appeared to point
to a Young man named William Mcguire, who
was employed as messenger in the Office, and
who had suddenly become possessed of an
unusually large amount OF money for person
occupying his position. Mr.. Bangs, however,
did not consider il iudicious to arrest him at the
time, but placed detectives upon his track, who
watched his movements. Mcguire continued TO
occupy his post, and attended to his duties as
formerly, and was, we believe, promoted to
small cl rkshlp. A few weeks ago, however, he
resigned his position, and entered into an ar
rangement with Two other young men to pur-
chase billiard saloon on Filth street. The pur-
chase was concluded ana arrangements made
for the payments, when his associates by some
means learned that he was suspected OF having
committed robbery, when they declined to
proceed further with the matter. Mcguire then
started on travelling tour and visited many of
the Eastern and Western cities, closely followed
by his Shadows who watched him indefatiga-
bly,. After the robbery it was discovered that a
locksmith on Grant street, named Banks, had,
at the request of an associate of Maguire's, made
Il duplicate safe key.
The locksmith was, however, unable to give
the name OF the person who ordered the key,
but one OF his employees recognized him on the
street, when he was taken INTO custody. He
stated that Mcguire had asked him to have the
key made alleging as q reason that he had been
entrusted with key TO one of the office safes
which he had accidentally lost, and did not
wish to apprlse the officers Of the road of the
TACT He also said that he had no suspicion that
it was to be used for the purpose of robbery, and
gave the officers all the information he could
upon the subject. Mcguire, who was III Phila-
delphia at that time, was then arrested and
brought to this city. He denied strenuously
having committed the robbery but after beng
held IN custody for several days, was prevailed
upon to make clean breast OF the matter. He
acknowledged that he had taken the money,
but said he had not robbed the safe, as the
paymaster had accidentally placed the box with
its contents on proof press in the office, where
he found it. He also alleged that the box con-
tanned only S2l, ,000, seven thousand of which he
abstracted, and the balance he buried in the
cellar attached to his mothers residence corner
of Wylie and Union streets, in the Sixth Ward.
He appeared to be penitent, and consented to
accompany his captors to his mothers house
and recover the money. Accordingly, on Friday
night, about eight o'clock, he, in company with
| Mr.. Bangs, and officer Fox, of this city, went to
his mothers residence, but as the family had
not retired, they concluded to postpone their
| search until a later hour. About eleven O'Clock
| they again visited the house, and proceeded to
| the cellar, where Mcguire procured shovel,
and commenced digging The earth was firm,
| being imposed upon. They, however, waited
| patiently until Mcguire had dug to the
depth of about fifteen inches, when the shovel
touched the box. Mcguire then appeared to be
! overcome with his feelings, and sank back, when
Officer Fox took the shovel and speedily eXhumed
| the box. II was then opened, and found to con
| tain $4,000 III money; the checks were missing;
| these, however, Mcguire SAID he had destroyed
in order to avoid discovery, together with $500
| bill, which had apparently been marked. He
| also handed over to the officers valuable dia
| mond breastpin and other jewelry, worth in the
| aggregate $500. The party then left the cellar
| and yesterday morning Mcguire was taken before
| Alderman Butler, who committed him to jail, in
default of $4,000 bail, to answer the charge al
court
Mcguire is about twenty-five years of age, and
| had been in the employ of the railroad company
| for a number OF years. For some time past
| he "sported" extensively, and had gained the
| reputation of being remarkably 'tast young
| man." He was aware that he was suspected Of
having committed the robbery and that the de
| tectives were on his track. His object in leav,
| ing the city was to avoid detection, and as he
had no accomplices, he supposed he had eluded
Justice, but the officers of the law followed him
| and eventually forced him to confess his crime
| and deliver up what was left of his ill-gotteI
gains. The energy exhibited by Mr.. Bangs, and
Officers Fox, Shore, and Wilmot, of this city
who assisted HIM, is praiseworthy, and entities
them to the highest credit. The suspicion which
| has unjustly been attached to the other EN-
| ployes of the road is now removed, and the
| guilty one will undoubtedly be made to suffer
| for his heinOug crime. -PlttsblIr0 Commercial