The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-04-14
Tricks upon Travellers.
From Cassell's Magazine,

One of the most wonderful robberie,
ever perpetrated-wonderful at least,
when one considers the means at the dis
posal of the robber-was the achievement
of Frenchman, who, for long time af.
ter it, was recognized in his profession as
+" the King OF the Bandits"
His claim to this title was based upon
a single exploit--the robbing of dill
eence-which feat he not only planned,
but carried into successful execution,
without any assistance whatsoever. tn
do this, he made all his arrangements
with the most careful completeness, and,
we may be sure, fixed night for the at
tack when the coach carried freight
worth robbing. He studied closely the
country through which the journey was
to be made, and selected point on the
road where there was very steep hill,
with hedges and underwood at either
side He then procured q number of
stout sticks about the length and thick.
ness of the barrel of a gun. These he
stuck into the hedges, letting the ends
appear, as if they were the muzzles of
guns directed by persons in ambuscade
behind che hedge. AS the diligence now
came toiling slowly up the hill, the driver
saw a man standing on the pathway, and
'gesticulating violently. On approach.
ing nearer, the man could be heard dis
tinctly haranguing them. +" Ready
Obey orders! No firing if there be no
resi- tance!' And then the robber, walk
ing slowly forward, stopped the horses,
told the guard to get down and to lie
with his face and hands on the ground,
and that no vio.enc. would be offered to
him. He then went to the door of the
vehicle, and assuring the ladies, who were
screaming for help, tnat they need be un-
der no alarm, begged each passenger, as
he stepped out, to hand him his purse,
and then to lie down on his face and
hands onthe ground and that no violence
would be offered to him. .,a a...ft
While this drama was being enacted, the
robber chief kept shouting to his assis.
tants not to fire unless there was resist
ance; not to fra until they should get his
8 gnal. Thus, one by one, he handed all
the passengers out, each giving up his
purse as If it were ticket, and then go
ing and lying upon the wet grass side by
side with the guard When the diligence
Wdc CAAptJ, Jul AiHnW dJ LuaH KctlTcu viii
all movable property he desired to possess
himslf of, and escaped through the wood.
The most amusing part of the story was
that amongst the travellers were several
officers fully armed, who surrendered their
swords at discretion, and joined the 9TH
er dupes on the grass, It is we'll to add
that the robber was ultimately apprehen-
ded, and the greater part of the stolen
property was found upon him. .rl..
Another very extraordinary robbery
was one which has only recently been
detected lift has less adventure in it.
than the other, it has certainly more
The enterpriser in this case
Was also highly Thought of amongst his
brethren, ;.nd ives well known to the pro-
thieves as "Jack in the Box
HIS chief residence was in the capital, but
ne had offices for bis business in many
other towns. His system was this. He
had a box so constructed that he could
lie down in it with ease, and rely upon
always having plenty of fresh air; i'll
could also contain provisions, tools, false
Keys, lantern, ETC., ETC., and the real
node Of opening it was from the inside
Jack, having caused himself to be buried