Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-01-18
From the New Haven Journal Jan. 8.
The Adams Express Robbery.


chronicle, occurred last Saturday evening
on the EXPRESS train between New York and
Boston, which leaves the former city at .,
and arrives here at II o'clock. The facts,
so far as we have been able to learn them,
are these In this train was an iron cal
belonging to the express company, the only
one on the road, in which was placed al
1.-The express bundles, and on this occasion
three small iron safes, weighing about 1ol
pounds each, one Of which belonged to the
Harnden Express company, and the other
two to the Adams Express company, and al
containing an immense amount OF treasure
The car had two doors, one on each side,
and after the property was put In, these
were locked with padlocks. The car was
then run out from the depot, where 1t re-
manned some Is or 80 minutes, when it was
started on its passage for Boston, On Its
arrival in that city, Conductor Patterson
noticed one of the doors of the car little
open. and in an instant knew that some
thing was wrong, as it is the rule OF the
company not to open the car until its arrl-
val in Hartford, when it is opened, and mon
ev packages taken aboard and put off. The
car is also opened in Worcester and Spring
field, and at no other places on the route
between New York and Boston.
Seeing that the door was open, an exam
ination of the car and contents was instant
" made. and it was found that the door had
been pried open by an iron bar, the paddock
broken off. and that the robbers had enter
ed the car. and by means of an iron bar,
forced open the doors of the two safes be-
longing to the Adams Express company,
and taken out all their contents. They had
torn open all the envelopes, approprlatlng
to themselves the contents, except those OF
two packages, leaving the way-bllls and en-
yelopes strewn about the floor. There were
about hundred envelopes thus opened, but
of the amount they contained, we have not
vet learned. OF tive two packages the con-
SCENTS Of which they did not take, one con-
tanned 80 bills of S. 900 each, the same be-
ing greenback the other was roll about
twn inches in diameter, containing $4,000
in fine twenty bonds, making IN all $780,
600 which they left behind. These were
only two packages Of about 100 that were
oyerhaulcd. The greenbacks were evicent-
ly lost among the papers CT the hoor as the
package was small, but the bonds it would
| seem. did not suit the fancy of the robbers,
being property not so readily disposed OF as
/ bank bills.
| The greenbacks were in little drawer
in the safe which was guile full. The
package was found on the floor with one
! corner torn off. 1t is thought from its
jammed appearance, that in opening the
drawer, the package got caught SO as to
| tear off the corner of the paper covering,
and fell on the floor unobserved. The roll
| of bonds had the outside paper torn down,
| sufficient to disclose the contents of the
1 package. That too, was found on the floor.
4 The safe belonging to the Harnden Compa
nv. was undisturbed. When and where the
company got into the car, is unknown, but
it seems impossible that it should have been
done at any other place than New York, as
the train stops but few moments at any
station after leaving that place until its ar
rival here. 1t is thought probable that they
cot into the car while it was waiting on the
track to be hitched ON and taken down to
/ the tunnel.
The car is the same in size as an ordinary
box freight car. It is built with an iron
framework sheathed over with thick sheet
iron plates riveted together, and is 80 close
ly made that light placed inside would not
| be seen if the doors were closed. messen-
ger always accompanies the car, but usra' ly
stays in the baggage car. 1t is his busin IS
to keep watch of tie car, and to lock and
unlock it at the stations where it is opened.
The robbers probably got quietly aboard at
New York, provided with dark lanterns and
all the necessary tools, and knowing the
rules in regard to the train, leisurley helped
themselves to good sized fortune, andthen
watched their opportunity, and as quietly
effected landing. The telegraph lines be-
| tween New York and Boston were kept busy
yesterday by the company and large num-
| Der of messages were transmitted, indicat-
| idg that strenuous efforts were being made
to recover the property and secure the rob-
bers.
The scene in the car when opened in the
/ city, must have been quite singular. The
floor was strewn with valuables, which the
thieves had rejected or over looked. United
States bonds in considerable numbers lay
around loose. A bag of pennies was picked
up, and quantity of silver foil lay upon
the floor and the envelopes and wrappings
4 of the valuable packages stolen, were scat
tered about. Seeing something apparent y
more substantial than the other empty
wrappers, gentleman asked, 'lsnt that
money ?" and picked up $4,000 at one
handful The thieves left a dark lantern.
1t is reported that $58, 900 of the treasure
taken, was in gold.
i In the amount taken, as well as the bold
ness and success of the operation, this is
i one Of the most remarkable robberies ON
record. Last evening Superintendent San
ford and Assistant Superintendent Spooner
i Of Bridgeport, came here with some detect
ives, and held consultation with some OF
the express officers atthe New Haven House.
The way bills, for the missing treasure sent
on Saturday night, were brought up and
examined, and Mr.. Sanford telegraphed to
/ the Associated Press that the loss was not
i less than $500, 900 in bills, bonds, etc. We
i presume the precise amount is not yet
i known, but half million is o pretty large
sum for one nights work. M &.
i The thieves must have studied their JOB
i pretty thoroughly. The messenger who
4 came with this car should have examined its
i fastenings at every station. We believe he
4 states that he neglected to do so except at
4 Bridgeport, and then only on the side near
est the depot. Now it happens that at all
the stations coming from New York, the
\ platform is on the left hand side, while the
thieves broke in at heright hand door, and
/ thus the robbery was not discovered until
the train reached this city. The rumor
| that the telegraph wires were cut, is incor-
rect Where the thieves left the train is
not vet known. But withI the telegraph
wires in active operation, it would seem
probable that they must sooner or later be
apprehended.
By Telegraph
I New YORK, Jan 10.
Three persons implicated in the robbery