The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-08-19


The NEW YoRg EXPRESS 2oBBfR-. Oar
readers have already been informed Of the
robbery of the Pacific Express ear OF the NV
York Central Railroad, on Wednesday, morn
ing, by a gang of scoundreis, and CT their
carrying away large amount oi money and
valuables. The following is It detailed &C
count of the affair:
1.-The baggage car contained in I'd lit on t.
the local baggage, two safes q the nief-
jchants' Union Express Com2any, id was III
charge of Charles Conklin, baggage MA,
and W. 7. Beattie, messeng n Of lie cspl -
Company. The first intima ion thf Sc oGic D.
had of the presence of the ln,rljier> was at
Fonda, about midnight, when both were NJ
tackled with clubs and KNOCK ed dowu. pst Is
were then presented to their r. ads and Il ~
were admonshed if they did l:ot remain gu ct
they would suffer instant dca h. Both were
in their mouths to prevent their making any
cutlery. This done, the ringlcador took the
KEY of one of the safes from the pocket Of the
messenger, opened the safe and took out seI-
eral bags of gold and silver coin. The rob
bers, cutting the bagssopen and scattering the
contents upon the floor, appropriated to their
own use what they wanted. While this was
taking place three Of the gang succeeded in
removing the baggage, which was piled up
against the door leading to the first baggage
lear, which contained nothing but through
baggage, and knocked the baggage master
down, tied his hands behind him, gagged him
and stationed one Of the party over him with
a revolver. After rtling his pockets the lead
er returned to the express car and acted the
part of baggage man at Schenectady without
being detected by the station agent OF con
ductor, both of whom spoke to the robbers,
while the three officials of the baggage cars
were lying inside bound and gagged. After
leaving Schenectady the robbers resumed
their operations on the safes. As the train
was passing West Albany portion Of the
thieves went out on the platform OF the car
pulled the bell cord and applied the brakes;
the cars slowed up, but before they had come
to halt the engine Ell was told Of his mistake
and proceeded on, not, however, before the
gang had fett the train. The train reached
Albany on time, and as soon Us Il arrived at
the depot groans were heard cmanating from
the first baggage car George Wilson, night
dispatcher, George w. Munger and two or
three other employees of the company then gu
tered the car and found Sells, the bagw1 &c
man, with his hands and feet tied, his mouth
gagged and the blood streaming down his
face from a wound in the head Dn entering
the second baggage car Conkliu was found in
one corner, and Beattie in the other, both be
| ing covered with blankets and each suffering
great pain from wounds received upon the
| head. Conklin had a severe cash near the
left eye about two inches III lcngth and anoth-
er on the back of the head. His garments
| were saturated with his own blood. Both he
and Beattie were also suffering from the ct-
| fects of pepper thrown into their eyes, and
| from chloroform which had been applied TO
| them. 1t is impossible to estimate the exact
amount of money and other valuables stolen,
as the robbers took the prccaUtion to destroy
| Il large number Of the way bills which We're
in the safe. 1t is believed several thousand
dollars were stolen. Some of the way bills
| were found this morning scattered along the
| line of the road between this city and Albany.
| 1t is believed the robbery wa, committed by
persons well acquainted with the railroad,
| else the perpetrators could not have 50 Sue
cessfuly avoided detection ut Schenectady.
Some believe it was perpetrat,tl by former
| employees of the Central Railroad. On" OF
| the baggage men states that h, should DC
able to identify the three ,non who attacked
him. The ringleader, he says. was a tall
man, wore Il white nat and had on false
whiskers.a
Another account says ther. were two bag
gage cars attached to tie train, one OF which
through to New York III the ilror of tie
one sent through were found gold coins and
other money, which the robbers left behind.
The safe was found open. but it j. impossible
to give an approximate OF he loss. All that
can be said is that it is very heavy. Owing
to the loss of some Of the WaNbillS. and th,
others being sent through to New York, 10
estimate of the amount stolen can ite nl2d'-
/