The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-15
The Express Robbers.
LETTER FROM ALLAN PINRERIoN.

We find in the Toronto Telegraph the follow
ing letter from Allan Pinkerton, the famous
Northern detective:
Sn.-Will YOU please spare me space in Your
columns to make q PLAIN statement with regard
to the extradition cases OF Reno and Anderson.
charged with robbing the Adams Express. at
Marshfeld. Indiana, on the 2zd !, OF May last,
and that of 7. S. Morton G. L. Thompson and
Den Thompson, who have been lately upon ex-
ANIMATION before Police Justice McNabb,
CHARGED with robbing the Merchants Union
Express Company, on the 1st OF May last, on
the line of the Hudson River Railroad. Both
of these robberies were OF such nature as to
cause grea: deal Of 9tsehoH So1aS nom Inc e
senting, as l do. the Consolidated Express
Company of the United States, l therefore beg
respectfully to bring before Your readers the
following statement
On the night of the first of aIay of The pres
ent year, c. F. Thompson and l. S. Morton en-
tered by force and violence the car OF the Mer-
chants Union Express Company upon the line
of the Hudson River Railroad, and by the e3i-
dcnce OF Putnam Wilson Brown. a messenger
of that company, then in charge Of that Car and
of the treasures aboard, forclbly seiz I'd, bound
and gagged him, and forcibly robbed him Of
the moneys which we're in his possession at
that time. Denman Thompson became an ac-
cessory to the offence before its commission.
was ulon the train at the time OF The robbery,
and was also connected with the robbers. and
he received portion of the proceeds OF therob-
berry, These parties we're arrested in Toronto
on the 18th day OF August last. upon warrant
issued by Justice McNabb. TIE case was
examined before him. The evidence
adduccd showed clearly and conclusive
" by Brown, the messenger, and
other witnesses, that Morton and Thomp.
son we're the parties who. upon the night OF
the 1st of Nav, upon the line Cf the Hudson
River Railroad, forcibly entered the Express
car, tied, bound and gagged him as the mes
senger, and forcbly despoiled him OF the treas
ure which was in his possession at that time.
The only evidence to contradict THIS IS that OF
Denman Thompson, who was discharged by
Justice McNabb, and who then unblushingly,
and without an attempt to say that he had any
cause other than that OF justification of the
robbery which The prisoners had committed,
testified that he was one OF the parties TO make
I'D q combination between Putnam Wilson
Brown, the messenger, L. S. Morton and {. Z.
Thompson, aud that Brown, the messenger,
was an accomplice with them. thus attempt,
ing 10 lower the grade of the offence so that
il does not come under the Ashburton Treaty.
After full hearing Of the evidence, Justice
McNabb on the 28th instant discharged L. ).
Morton and C. Z. Thompson. holding that the
evidence was not sufficient, under the treaty,
for an extradition.
I arrived in tins city Oh the morning OF the
25th, and 80 soon as l learned ct the dischalge.
of the prisoners charged with the robbery OF
tbe Merchants Un,on Express Company, caus-
ed and had an information laid before Stlpen--
diary Magistrate McMickeE, and warrant
issued for the re-arrest Of the prisoners, put
reoret to saw that from the completely OF the
police officers and detectives from the unlted
States, and by other means, Morton ana
Thompson have not yet been arrested: out
am determined to remain in Canada su1hcient
Ianrth of time to warrant me in saying that II
they still seek refuge here. they Will prooa,
bly, be found by the proper and duly authorized
officers OF the Dominion; it they seek refuge
ia the United States, that is amply sufhctenl
for me. ,,ox
In reference TO the case Of Reno and Ander-
son, beg TO say that Seyln onf, Iuiaiia, ~ ~
somewhat noted as having been very unsale
for persons or vlluahles passing through tnere
for MANY wears. | will no. in this unucr'ake
to prciudice their case now pending before tue
court. upon u writ OF habedS corpus heno
and Anderson have been examined before jus,
ticc McAIicken, of Windsor, Who has ordered
them for cxtradition. Their dcienceI Is an dhOi.
advice. evidence for the defence is not admlssl'
BE upon the demand OF the United States for
extra dition under the Ashb,Tton and Webster
Treaty. That, however, is q matter which the
court will determine upon the nearing o. lhg
writ. The decision OF the Canadian courts l
have nothing whatever 10 find fault with; they
have universally been, I think, fair and right;
As the representative of the Consolidated
Evnress Companies, beg leave to say that
shall shall always bow to the decisions of the courts
whatever they may be. bu: at the same time
say we are contending for great rights. na'e
no doubt but the case OF Reno and AM
when it comes before the Chief Justice, VIII
receive a careful cttcntion and a just decision
Whatever that may be. VIC shal! defer 20 It IN
every respect Other CHARGES are also pe1nalnG PEI tn
viii undoub. .cdly be rearrestea. I would like
to say more with regard 10 them, but justice to
them, and with due difference to the court lou
demands of me should say no more. shal
be contented with due administration OF the
law, such as the Dominion will grant to crlmi'
mails within its limits. Apologizing to you fol
the rrcat length of this communication,
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ALLAN fINkER TON.
Toronto, September 80. 1868.