The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-23
CAPTURE OF a DESPERATE.

CAPTURE OF a DESPERADO.
Arrest of ABner Marks, the West Eir-
Kiuin safe RObber and Escaped PEN
iIenIIary COnEfcI-..ParItcuIR of
his Grimes and Flight from the Au-
thOrItles. see PinkertOn'S Detectives
Retake Him.
From Le Chicago EIepubIicdJI, September Is.
In our Richmond, Va, dispatches of
Monday last, mention was made of the
arrest of one Abner Marks, charge with
having robbed Adams Express Com
pany's safe, at Grafton, West Virginia,
OF Sl5, 900. This Marks possesses his
tory that is not only interesting, but
full of adventures, and statement OF
his connection with the robbery in
question will prove of interest to each
OF our readers. The beginning of the
transaction for which he was arrested
dates back to SepIemb Der l, 1854, and in
wolves the connection of several other
parties, who are now suffering the pen
atty of their crime. Previous to the
robbery, Arthur Risley, the principal
in the transaction, was keeping h9tei
at Grafton, called the Depot House, but
not being able to make il pay, sold
out his interest, and began to loaf
about the express office, where he very
soon became quite familiar. After a
short time he found himself without
dollar, and began to devise means of
raising the wind. Suddenly II occurred
to him to beat the Express Company by
an iugeniously arranged plan, which
he proceeded to carry out, as follows:
Collecting about Sl2, 900 in counterfeit,
broken bank. and Confederate bills, he
went to Wheeling, and sent the pack
age to himself at Grafton, through the
Adams Express Company. Having
previously procured duplicate key to
the safe, he induced Marks to break
into the building and steal the l2,OOU
package from the safe. The next day
Risley, pretending that he had just re-
ceived notice of the money having
been sent TO him, called at the Office and
demanded 1t. He was informed OF the
theft, and questioned as to who had sent
him so large sum OF money, but his
answers were conflicting, and be ex-
hibited "A certain confusion of manner
that created Il suspicion that all was
not as it should be. Risley left the of
ice, threatening suit in case the
money was not forthcoming within the
next twenty-four hours. The time hav-
ing passed, the Company refused to
pay the claim of Risley, and he COM
menced suit for the recovery of the
alleged stolen 1900.
Pending the proceedings, the safe
was again robbed of $4,000, on the
night OF the 9th of October, the money
in this case being genuine. The Cir
cumstances of this last robbery so
nearly resembled those which sur
rounded tho loss OF Risley's $l2 900
package, that suspicious were rife in
the minds of the officers of the Com
pnny, that the two burglalies Were per-
petrated by the same individuals, and
that the principal in both cases was
none other than Risley. Marks, who
was boon companion of Risley's, was
also looked upon with suspicion, and
the actions of both closely watched by
Il detailed corps from Allen Pinkerton's
time, been informed of the burglaries,
and the suspicious against Marks and
Risley. This corps kept both supposed
thieves under close surveillance for six
weeks, but made no arrests, as no posi-
tive proof could be obtained of their
guilt. At the end of that time they
both left Grafton and went to Canada,
whittier they were pursued by the de-
tectiveS, who enticed them to Detroit,
where they were arrested and returned
to Grafton. While there, ana pending
their trial, Risley managed to escape,
but was re-urrested in day or two,
and again imprisoned. The most Of
the missing $4,000 was found upon
Marks at the time of his arrest in De-
troit.
on the 10th of May, 1865, Risley,
Marks and Chas. G. Meredith, who had
! been arrested as an accomplice, but
whose part in the theft has not been
fully explained, were tried at Prunty-
town, Taylor county, West Va, and all
were convicted. Marks was sentenced
TO seven years, and Risley and Mere
dith to four years in the Peuttentiary.
Shortly after Marks Joined in "A success
full conspiracy with others of the con-
victs, to break jail and escaped. Since
tn en-, until n few days ago, his where
abouts have been unknown, though
full description of him and bis crime
was sent to every principal city in the
Union, and by means of 1t and the in
defatigabIe exertions of Pinkerton's
detectives, the fugitive was finally
Gagged for the second time. The follow
ing dispatches explain themselves:
"RICHMoND. Va, Sept. l5, 1867.
"AUen Pinkerton, Chicago, H.:
"A man named Abner Marks has
been arrested here on charge of robbing
express. An order was sent here about
twelve months ago to look out for him.
What is his case, and do you want
him7 ..
"HAMILToS, Southern Express"
"RICHMoND. VA, Sept. 10, 1867.
ALLEN Pinkerton, Chicago, H.:
"Do you want Abner Marks, suppos-
ed to have robbed the Adams Express,
| Western Division, some time ago He
Is under arrest mere, ana our Baltimore
people do not know about him An
swer. "R. Il. BULLOCK,
capt. Southern Express Co."
To the above the following reply was
returned:
"CHICAGo, Sept. 16. 1867.
"MessrS. Bullock and Hamilton, South
erl Express CompGny, Richmond, "a
'Abner Marks and Arthur Risley
robbed the Adams Express, at Graftsn,
West Virginia, September, 1864, and
again in October, of the same year.
Both were arrested by my force at De-
troit, November, same year. Most of
the money recovered. Marks made
his escape from an officer in Wheeling.
We re-arrested him. He was sentenced
May %, 1865, to seven years in Pentten-
tiary at Wheeling. He broke prison ut
Wheeling, and is now wanted by the
Warden. He is desperate man, and
the general good requires he should be
shut up. Shoemaker and Pegro know
all about the case.
ALLEN PISKERTOS.
On the receipt of the last above dis
patch by the officer having Marks in
charge, he concluded tnat he had better
make clean breast of the whole affair,
which he did, contessiug the facts to be
as related above. Marks says that af-
ter stealing the spurious Sl2, 600 package
ne burned it. according to Risley's in
struCtions.
Nor BAD.-A colored witness was ex-