The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-07
THE EXPRESS ROBBERY At LAUs
RENSVILLE.

hENO FLLLE.
A Charleston Detective Acts tho Role Of
q Baltimore Drummer, Decoys his
Man to Charleston. and Bags Him.
On the night of the 10Th of August the Ex-
press safe of the messenger on the Laurens
Railroad WAS taken out Of the depot at Lau-
rensville and robbed OF $500.
THE pRUMMER's FIRST APpEARANoE.
About five days after the robbery, the route
agent of the Express Company called on Off
Ger s. J. Coates, of the Charleston detective
force, gave him the ''points" and requested
him 10 "work up" the case. Officer Coates
consented, and q day or two after the inter-
view with the agent, he, under an assumed
name, was in Laurensville, soliciting orders
from the merchants for Baltimore hou:e.
he threw himself in the way Of the express
messenger, Peter b. Scott, and made himself
very agreeable. But before proceeding to tell
how officer Coates gained the confidence of
his friend, we will relate OF
sooTr's MOVEMENTS.
On Saturday, the 14th of August, Scott re-
ceiveda q package containing $2Ss 0S, which was
to be delivered at Martins Depot. In this
package were three fifty dollar notes. He did
not deliver the package, nor did he enter it
upon his book. On Monday he went to Mr..
Miles, merchant, at Laurensvine, who WAS
making preparations to visit New York, and
asked him ifhe desired any large money. Mr..
Miles replied that was exactly what he
wanted Scott then went of, remained away
about three hours, and returned with two fifty
dollar notes, gave thenI to Ak. Miles and re-
ceiyed small notes in return. From there he
went to'a barroom and took drink. In pay
ing for it, he accidentally exposed p fifty dol
lar note.
Monday afternoon, package containing
$500 was handed to him to send of. He de-
posted it in his safe, and placed the safe in the
railroad depot, the door Of which was after
ward locked. That night, about nine o'clock,
friend of his met him going toward the de-
Dot, and asked him where he was going. Scott
replied that he had pressing engagement.
but would return in few minutes, and asked
the friend to wait for him. The friend waited
for him until his patience was exhausted and
then went home.
THE ROBBERY.
Early Tuesday morning, the express safe
was found about one hundred yards from the
Depot, open, and the late contents gone. A
thorough investigation OF the locks OF the
safe and the depot door showed that they had
been opened with keys, there being no mark
whatever to create even n suspicion that the
locks mad been picked or the bolts forced back.
CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATIONS.
With all of the above mentioned facts Officer
Coates became acquainted few hours after
his arrival He then proceeded to drum"
little, and also to improve his acquaintance
with Scott After many look at each other
through the bottom of tumblers and bottles,
and after several "Ittle games" they became
very confidential, and Officer Coates asked
about the robbery as sny stranger would do.
Scott said he was aware that he was suspl-
cioned, but he could prove his Innocence il he
was ever charged with the robbery; he knew
who committed the crime; it was white man,
but he couldn't prove it except by negro testi-
mony, and he didn't like to have white man
convicted by negro evidence. He asked ohcer
Coates what he would do under similar cir
cumstances, to which he replied that he
thought man was justified 10 doing ALMOST
anything to free himself from unjust suspi-
cion. After Officer Coates opinion had been
asked several times, he told Scott that he had
taken such an interest in him that he would
neglect his business and go with him to the
Express agent at Columbia, where matters
could be explained and he be relieved from
suspicion.
THE ARREST.
e Scott after some little demurring consented,
ana soon after, they were in Columbia. AS soon
as they arrived there, Officer Coates suggest
ed that it would be better to see the agent at
Charleston first. Scott thought that good
idea, and on Saturday night the detective alias
drummer was at headquarters. and Scott in
bed at the Charleston Hotel. His movements
were closely observed. but he did not once
suspect that he was being duped until yester-
day afternoon, when after being arrested by
Officer Levy twho made the arrest by request
OF Officer Coates,) and carried to the detective
Office, he was accosted by his late confidential
friend.
Scott is about six feet two inches in height,
rather ungainly and very slovenly in his dress.
He states that he is from Petersburg, Va, and
still asserts that he can prove his innocence.
There is great deal OF circumstantial evil
dence against the accused, and his arrest,
even il he establish his innocence, was cer-
tainly warranted. Officer Coates deserves great
credit for the skill and patience he has exer-
cised in conducting the affair. He has some
twenty or more orders from the merchants of
Laurensville for the Baltimore house which
he represented while in that village. The
said merchants, on reading this, will doubt
| less have their eyes opened to the truth that
the Baltimore house had only one proprietor,
one clerk, one drummer, &c.
MERoANrffE PRNTMa.-An kinds OF mer-
camille printing, such as circulars letter heads,
cards, bill heads, statements, &C., for count
ino.roonu and officea DtoInDtIy executad in