The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-22
BAGGAGE SMASHING.

Trunks Broken Open In the CHrs-The ,Detec-
uVcs Foil, Dis AaaIn-A baroness Heavy
LOser-SI 10000 stolen.
To the officials of many of the railroads run
ming out of this city the statements about to be
given will not be news, but to the masses who
patronze the railroads some information may be
derived rs to what they are likely to be exposed
to while travelling.
Several months ago it was ascertained that
trunks containing valuable articles of clothing
and iewelry were being broken along the lines
OF the Hartford and New Haven and the Erie
and New York Central Railroads, and portion
o. the contents stolen. The officers of the roads,
it. Is said, eNCried every effort to discover the
authors OF the TobbeTieS aud the points ut which
they were perpetratCd. Their investigations
were of no avail. Property continued to disap-
pear in mysterious manner, especially on the
Central Road 1t was discovered, however, that
nearly all the robberies occurred on night trains
between Albany and Suspension Bridge, and be-
tween Troy and New York.
During the last two months, it is said that ira
vellers have lost more than 100000 worth of
property on the Central Railroad alone. Re-
Gently the working up of the case has been
given to some expert New York detectives, who
are now engaged in endeavoring TO fathom the
mystery of these peculations. 1t is understood
that in most cases the companies throw the
responsibility of the robberies on the city
express companies, and assert that their en-
plOyes are the really guilty parties, but this is
by no means clear.
The last extensive robbery reported occurred
on the 4th of November, between Albany and
Niagara. At three o'clock in the afternoon the
Baron and Baroness Olga de Maluta Fraloff, at
present residing at No 22J Wes. Twenty-thrd
street. in this city took the train from Albany
for the Falls, having checked their baggage
through to their destination. On receiving it at
the Fails from the railway company it was dis
covered that an immense quantity of costly
laces, most of which has descended through the
family to the Baroness. and is valued at a very
large amount, had been stolen from one of her
trunks the locks of which had been wrenched
Oft by some thieves who gained access TO the
baggage car.
The company's officers have since that time
devoted their energy to the recovery of the pro-
perty, without effect. The articles stolen consist
III part of three VOlants (tOuuces), each ten
metres long. in all thirtcthrce yards, for cor
sage (waisL) similar laces, cleveH yards five
and a half corsage, one-third of a metre in
width live yolants (hounces), oue-third metre
wide. fiiy-fvc yards: for COrsage (waIst), one
quarter meter wide, fifty-five yards: for corsage
(waist) one-Quarter metre wide, eleven YARDS
two volants (hOunces), with unique, twenty-five
yards: four ditto similar laccs, forty seven yards:
Tor mantila five and half yards; two valants
(lounccs), twenty-five yards 1ifty-five yards of
laces OF various widths and designs. and other
property, swelling the total to several thousand
dollars.
! 1t is understood that the Baron, desponding of
! ever recovering the property has applied to tn
! company to reimburse him for his loss, with no
| success and consequently, he has just offered a
reward of $1,000 for its return. IL is likely that
this large reward will result in the detection OF
some Of the baggage smashers who travel on the
! railroads for the express purpose OF rObbiOg
| passengers and their confinement ut the Central
! Police Office, where the robbery has been re-.
! poIued.-N. J. HerGLd, HIiS mOrDtHg.