Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-10-12
DARING RoBBEsx on TUE JoHNsrowN

DARING ROBBERY on THE JoHNsTowN
ACCOMMODATION TRAIN-A YouNd
WBsTMoRELANDER RETURNING FROM
CALIFORNIA LossEs sSS.OO0.-The Pitts
burgh Post. of Tuesday morning. furn-
ishes the following startling account of q
most daring robbery. perpetrated upon a
young gentleman whose parents reside
in Salem. this county. The Postsays /:
Yesterday evening at Eve o'clock, a
good looking young man, giving his
name as Christopher Herbert, of Salem,
about eight miles from Greensburg,
came to the Mayors Office with an ac-
count Ola robbery which almost sur
passes belief.
His Etory was calculated to excite
credulity in the mind of any one not
looking at the relator. He had been
in California since 1891, and located
himself at Whiskey Diggings. eighty
miles south of San Francisco. He had
deprived himself of almost every COM
fort in order to accumulate a sum which
with careful handling, would have placed
him beyond the reach of want He
set out on his return about four weeks
ago. with eight thousand dollars in a
well sealed package, and some three
hundred dollars ina large breast pocket
book. He stopped day at Omaha and
Council Bluff 8, arriving at Chicago on
Saturday. He bought suit of clothes
and some other little things. and in doing
so was compelled to take one hundred
dollars out of his large package. Hav-
ing finished hi. purchase. he left that
city on Sunday night, arriving here at
eleven o'clock.
The Cincinnati Express east did not
stop at Greensburg. SO he was compelled
to lay over until four but he went i'm
mediately to the Office to procure q ticket
for the Johnstown Accommodation. which
leaves at 4:O5 AS he was at the ticket
office, very sen,lemanly looking indi-
vidual stepped up and asked him where
he was going. He replied ''To Greens
burg" That's just the place am 60
ing to-" replied the stranger. Il do bust
ness there "Well" says Herbert,
"Mr. VIM. Keenan,, the editor there, is
my brother n-law' II know him very
well, know his paper" &c. Every
name Herbert mentioned, the friend
knew. .s rt-l
They walked down as far as one OF
the bauks, which one Herbert could not
remember, when his friend said lie had
little business in there he went in
and came out presently with draft in
his hand for two thousand dollars, which
he showed to Herbert. They returned
to the depot got OH the train. and it
pulled out Of the depot. The conductor
passed around and collected the tickets,
when man came into the car in his shirt
sleeves. with a pen behind his ear. laid
his hand on the shoulder of his travelling
companion and said, 'Mr. Harris, l be
iieve." "Yes." well, we can't ship
those goods Of yours till this balance of
three hundred dollars is paid on them"
We'll" said Mr. Harris, IL am in the
habit of getting my goods first before
paying for them That's no difference;
we have quite that "Well," remon-
s;rated Harris. "it would put me to q
great deal of trouble to get out of the
train now and, after a short dialogue,
he WAS forced to appeal to his friend
Herbert Perhaps he could lend him
$500, and he would refund it in Green's
burg. Herbert was completely taken
in. He believed the story, with its cir-
cumstanccs. and felt for his large pocket
book to advance the money. which he
counted out. He leaned over and count
ed the money ON his knee, and, as he
did so, the man in his shirt sleeves also
leaned down on him the other man crowd
ing pretty close. When the money
was counted out, the man in his shirt
sleeves told Harris 10 come out and sign
the papers, etc. Harris very politely
told Herbert to keep his seat till he re.
turned and they both went out of the rear
end of the car together. Herbert was
slowly putting up his pocket-book,
when he felt that his package was gone.
He then tried to get out the car, but
could not until the train reached East
Liberty. where he took the street cars
and returned to the city, going immedi-
ately to the Mayors Office. Chief Hague
heard his story and Immediately sent De-
tectivc Cupples with the man to Roches-
ter, supposing the two robbers would
take the accommodation to that point
and then ship west on the express.
The man Herbert is only twenty-six
years old, and had been in California
for the last nine years. He says he
worked night and day for the money,
and deprived himself of every comfort
He says if they had only shot him
wbilst thev were ahont II he would have