Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-12
THE GREAT EXPRESS ROBBERY.
Particulars Of the DarfnT Dced-LOss
over Half q Million
from the New Haven journal. Jan. al

over Hall q Million
From the New Haven Journal, Jan. 81
One of the most daring and successful
robberries that we have ever been called
upon to chronicle, occurred on Saturday
evening, on the express train from New
York to Boston, which leaves the former
city st 8 and arrives here at IL o'clock.
The facts, so far as we have been able to
learn them, are these: In this train there
was an iron car belonging to the express
eompsny-the only one on the road-in
which was placed all the express bundles,
and on this occasion three small iron safes,
weighing about one hundred and eighty
pounds each, one Of which belonged to the
Harndon Express Company, all contain
ing e large amount of treasure. The car
has two doors, one on each side, which,
after the property was placed in it were
locked with padlooks. The car was then
run out from the depot, where it remained
about twenty-five or thirty minutes, when
it was started on its passage to Boston.
On its arrival at that city, Conductor Pat
terson observed one of the doors of the car
a little opened, and in an instant knew
that something was wrong, as it is the
rule of the company not to open the car
at all until its arrival at Hartford, where
it is opened and money packages put
aboard and taken of. The car is also
| opened at Springfield and Worcester, and
at no other places on its route from New
door was open, an examination of the car
and its contents was Immediately made,
when it was found that the door had been
pried open by an iron bar, the padlocks bro
ken of, and that the robbers had entered
the car, and bymean of an iron bar, forced
open the doors of the two safes belonging
to the Adams Express Company, and ia
ken ont all their contents. They had
torn open all the packages, appropriating
to themselves all the contents, except those
of two packages, leaving the envelopes
and way-bills strewn about on the floor.
There were about a hundred envelopes
thus opened, but of the amount they on
tanned we have not yet learned. Of the
two packages, the contents of which they
did not take, one contained eighty bills of
81, 900 each, the same being greenbaeks
the other was q roll about two inches
in diameter, containing $4,000 in FIVE
twenty bonds, making in all SI3o,0o0
which they left behind. There were only
two packages out of about one hundred
that were overhsuled- The greenbacks
we're evidently lost among the papers on
the floor, as the package was small, but
the bonds it would seem did not suit the
fancy of the robbers, being property not
as readily disposed of as bank bills. The
greenbacks>wer In a little drawer in the
safe, which was quite full. The package
was found on the floor with one corner
torn of. It is thought from its damned
this package got caught SO as to tear of
the corner of the psper covering, and fell
unobserved to the floor. The roll of bonds
had the outside paper torn down sufficient
to disclose the contents Of the package.
That, too, was found on the floor. The
safe belonging to the Harndon Company
was undisturbed. When and where the
robbers got into the car is unknown, but
it seems imp sable that it should have
been entered at any other place than New
| York, as the train stops but a few mo-
ments at any station after leaving that
city till its arrival here. 1t is thought
probable that they got into the car while
it was waiting IN the track to be hitched
on and taken down to the tunnel.
The car is Of the same size as an ordi.
nary box freight car. 1t is built with al
iron frame work, sheathed over with thick
sheet-iron plates riveted together, and ii
so closely made that a light placed inside
would not be seen if the doors were closed
A messenger always accompanies the car
but usually stays in the baggage car. II
is his business to keep watch over the car
and to lock and unlock it at the station;
where the car is opened. The tobberI
probably got aboard quietly at New York
| provided with dark lanterns and all the
necessary tools, aud knowing the rules il
regard to this train, leiGurely helped them.
selves to a good sized fortune, and then
watched their opportunity and as quietly
effected a landing. The telegraph lines
between New York and Boston were kept
busy yesterday by the company, and 8
large number of messages transmitted, in
dicating that strenuous efforts were being
made to recover the property and secure
the robbers.
The scene in the car, when opened at
this city, must have been quite singular.
The floor was strown with valuables which
the thieves overlooked. United States
bonds in considerable number lay around
loose; a bag of pennies was picked up
a quantity of silver foil was strewed upon
the floor; and the envelopes and wrap
pers of the valuable packages stolen were
scattered about. Seeing something ap-
parently more substantial than the other
empty wrappers, a gentleman asked, "Isn't
that money!" and picked up $4,000 in
one handful. The thieves left a dark Ian
tern, and they took one article which may
assist in their detection, a small white
valise or bag, which contained a few
clothes belonging to an express mes enger,
and which they opened, emptied and car
ried off with them, probably using it to
remove their treasure 1t is reported that
$50, 600 of the treasure taken vas in gold.
In the amount taken, as well as in the
boldness and success Of the operation, this
is one of the most remarkable robberies
on record. Last evening, Superintendent
Sanford and Assistant Superintendent
Spooner, of Bridgeport, came here with
some detectives, and held a consultation
with the express officers here, at the New
Haven House. The way-bills for the
missing treasure sent Saturday night were
brought up and examined, and Mr.. San
ford subsequently telegraphed to the Asso-
ciated Press that the loss was not less than
$500, 900 in bills, bonds, &c. We presume
the precise amount is not yet known, but
half a million is a pretty large sum for
one nights work.
The thieves must nave studied their job
pretty thoroughly. The messenger who
came with this car should have examined
its fsstenings at every station; but we be-
lieve he states that he neglected to do so
except at Bridgeport and then only ex-
amined the door on the side nearest the
depot. Now it happens that at all the
stations coming from New Yoak, the plat
form is on the left-hand side, while the
thieves broke in the right-hand door, and
thus the robbery was not discovered until
the train reach this city. The rumor that
the telegraph wires were cut is incorrect.
Where the thieves left the train is not yet
known; but with the telegraph wires in
active operation, it would seem probable
that they must sooner or later be appre-
hended.
WITTICISMS.
In what color should a secret be kept ?