Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-09-10
4 Heavy Express Robbery.
shrewd Detective Piays IL Sharp Trick
A Confidence Game-Arrest of the Al
lodged ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of BaIti-
more Drummer.

Allusion has already been made in the
Courier to an extensive robbery of the
Express Company, which took place at
LaurensviIIe, s. c., on the 14th Of August.
In obedience to the request of the Compa-
ny, officer Coates of the Detective force re-
paired to the scene OF the robbery, and
having ferrete,l ont the robber, returned
to the city on Saturday. From officer
Coates we gather the following particulars
OF the robbery and arrest
f. III. Scott, messenger III the employ
of the Company on the LlurensVile Rail
road, was OH the 18th Of August handed n
package of money, amounting to $3.50 IS,
in which there were three fifty dollar bills,
with instructions to doliver it at Martin .
Depot. The package was not delivered,
nor was it entered on SCOTS book. On
the following Monday, the 10th instant, he
! went to the store of one Mr.. SMILES, in
l4anrensville, and asked him, Mr.. NJ, if
he wanted some large bills. Mr. Miles
thought he did want them, and Scott
going out, returned in short time with
two fifty dollar bills, for which he received
small bills in exchange. About an hour
afterwards while in a bar room, Scott ac-
cidentally displayed another fifty dollar
bill. On that same evening he received
81 800 in package, which he lOckedsup
in the Express COmpany's safe in the
depot, which was also locked. At about
nine o'clock that evening he was met by q
friend going in tao direction Of the depot,
and when asked where he was going, re,
piled that he had pressing engagement
and asked his friend to await his return
ing. The person waited, but Scott did
not return. On the next morning the
safe was found about one hundred yards
| from the depot unlocked and the contents
gone. There were no marks, however,
either upon the lock Of the safe or OF the
Depot, to show that they had been picked
or forced.
Officer Coates, when the robbery had
| been reported to him, proceeded to Lau
rensVilie under an assumed name, and IN
the character of a Baltimore drummer, -
He soon learned the main facts IN the case
| from the village gossip, and having reason
| to suspect Scott, devoted his attention TIC
him, and quickly, by his winning ways
| gained his confidence. Scott told HIM,
| Coates that he knew who committed the
robbery. but he could not convict the gull
ty party except on negro evidence, and he
did not like to do that. Ho felt very much
mortified because suspicion might attach
to him, and asked his Baltimore friends
advice on the subject. Tho drummer re
piled that he thought he was justified in
doing anything to free himself from sus-
picion.
After some further conversation on the
subject, Scots newly made friend protes
ted that he had taken such a liking to him
that he would go with him to Columbia in
order to explain matters to the agent. and
free himself from suspicion. The bait was
taken, and Scott, completely captivated
with his new friend, went to Columbia IN
company with him. Arrived there, officer
Coates suggested that it would perhaps be
advisable to come to Charleston and see
the head agent in this place, and being
again taken in Scott agreed to do so. On
Saturday afternoon Scott and his Baiti-
more friend, personated by officer Coates,
arrived in the city. The former took mp
his quarters at the Charleston Hotel, where
he was arrested yesterday afternoon by
officer Levy, not realizing the fact that he
had been duped, until he was confronted