The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-07
TIE EXPRESS RoBBERY At L4U-
RENSVILLE -
Charleston Detective Acts tho Rolo of
q baltimore nru'nneE. Deooy. his

a Charlcston Detective Acts tho Rolo OF
baltimore Druhimer, Dccoys his
Man to Charlcston. and BRgs Him.
On the night OF the 16h OF August tho Ex-
press safe of the messenger On tie Laurens
Railroad was taken out Of the depot at Lau-
rensville and robbed OF $500.
TEE DRUMMBB's FIRST APPEARANCE.
About five days. inter tho robbery, the route
agent of tho Express Company called on OIL
Ger 8. j. Coates, of the Charleston detective
force, gave him tho "points" and requested
him 10 ''work up" the case. Officer Coates
consented, and day or two after the inter-
view with the agent, ho,. under an assumed
name, was in Lauronsvile, soliciting orders
from the merchants for Baltimore hou.e.
he threw himself in the way Of the express
messenger, Peter a. Scott and made himself
very agreeable. But before proceeding to tell
how Officer Coates gained the confidence of
his friend, we will relate'of
~ soorr's MOVEMENTS. @4 &
On Saturday, tho 14th of August, Scott re-
ceived package containing $2ss SO, which was
TO be delivered at Martins Depot. In this
package wero threo fifty dollar notes. He did
not delivor. the package. nor did he enter it
upon his book. On Monday he went to Mr.
Miles, merchant, at Laurensvile, who was
making preparations to visit New York, and
asked him ifho desired, any largo money. Mr.
Miles replied tnat' was exactly what he
wanted. Scot. then wentoG, remained awsy.
about three hours, and returned with two Atty,
dollar notes, gave thou to BIr. Miles and re-
coivcd small notes in return From there he
fo 1,or lr;,,
ing for it, no accidentally exposed fifty dol.
lar noto.
Monday afternoon, o package containing
$500 was handed to him to send off. He de-
posted it IN his safe; and placed the safe in the
railroad depot, tho. door Of which was after
ward locked That night, about nine o'clock,
friend Of his met him going toward the de-
pot, and asked him whore no was going. SCOTT
replied that ho had pressing engagement.
bur would return in few minutes, and asked
the friend to wait for him. The friend waited
ior him until his patience was exhausted and
then went home.
THE ROBBERY.
Early Tuesday morning, the express safe
was found about ono 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 thoy had
been opened with keys, thore being no mark
whatever TO create even q suspicion that the
locks had beon picked or the Bolts forced back.
CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATIONS.
&ith all of the above menhqped facts Officer
Coates became acquainted fow hours after
his arrival. BE thon proceeded to drum"
little, aud also to improve his acquaintance
with Scott. After many look at each other
through tho bottom Of tumblers aud bottles.
and after several little games," they became
very confidential, and Officer Coates asked
about the robbery as any stranger would do.
Scott said he was aware that he was suspi-
cioned, but he could move his Innocence il he
was over charged with tho robbery; he knew
who committed the crime; it was a white man,
but he couldnt provo 1t except by negro teeti-
mony, and he didn't like to have white man
convicted by negro evidence. He asked Officer
Coates what he would do under similar cir
cumstances, to which he replied that he
thought q man was justified In doing almost
anything to FREQ himself from unjust suspi-
cion. After OfRcer Coates opinion had been
asked several times he,told Scott Tint 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
susp spicion. =. RE
THE ARREST. E
Scott after some littlo demurring consented,
ana soon after. they were in Columbia. AS soon
as they arrived there, Officer Coates suggest,
ed that 1t would be better 10 see the agent, at
Charleston fret. SCOTT thought that d, good
idea, and on Saturday night The d.lAe.i ye s.sas
drummer was ut headquarters. and Scott in
bed at tue Charleston Hotel. His movements
were closely observed. but he did not once
bst he vas being duped unl ys5ff, by
officer Lew (who made ds'sr sSb bet, .rc,. hu rsnnsst
Of Officer coates.) and carried to che detective
Office, he was aocosted by his late confidential
friend. t4l, &,
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 dca, CO t..Tos1 s1istahtial evil
dence against the accused, and his arrest,
even IL he establish bis innocenoe,l was cer-
tainiy warranted. Officer Coates deserves great
credit for the skill and patience he has exer-
oised in conducting the affair." He has soms
twenty or more orders from the merchants Of
Laurensville. for the Baltimore house which
he represented while in that village. The
said msrnhsnts, ON reading, this, will doubt4
less hare thejt IS yopened to the truth thas
the Baltimore house HAD only one proprietpf,
one olefk. one drummer, DO.
MERoANrnE. .PRrTMa.-An- kinds OF per-
@ntile printing, ,snph as circulars. Hasx heads.'
cards. bill heads; statements, &o,, for count
ing rooms and Offices promptly executed In
the neatest style and at the oNest rates 'fof