The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-06-29

CAPTURE OF THE ROBBERS.

CAPTURE OF THE ROBBERS.
On Sunday morning, 18th inst, one Of the
'boldest, most daring robberies was perpetra-
ted on the Mobile and Ohio railroad few
miles south of Meridian, the Southern Ex-
press Company being the victims. The rob-
berry was discovered at Meridian, where
the messenger of the company was to de-
liver some valuable packages, and upon
locking around for his packages found that
his
IRON SAFE,
containing about $31 900 was non est. Here
was a fix for the messenger, and he was at
loss how to proceed. He had been asleep
for some distance, how many stations he
had passed while taking his nap he knew
not. The way business" of the Express
Company is finished up by the day train
generally and hence the messenger was I'M
disturbed at night, and being alone, natur-
ally grew weary and took To mapping until
reaching Meridian, with the door of the
car securely fastened, as he thought, but
the running and jostling of the train had
loosened the fastening.
takes wood and water, between Enterprise
and Meridian, the conductor observed some
Que enter the Express car, but thought il
was the messenger, who had been outside
and no notice was taken of the fact. Ar
irving at Meridian between and O'Clock
on Sunday morning, and the robbery being
discovered, several of the employees of the
Company Immediately started out in pur-
suit of the lost cash. "A short distance be-
low Meridian signs of the plunderers was
discovered, and very soon the messengers
safe "a heavy sheet-iron box weighing per-
haps 200 pounds) was found in the woods a
short distance from the track with the sides
broken in. Further search revealed the
place where the letters and packages had
been opened and burned. Suspicion from
the first rested on two notorious negroes,
Wash. Crosby and Henry Greer, his COM
panion, who had lately escaped from State
prison here.
1t being Sunday and means of telegraphic
communication cut off the robbers had TIVE: =
ty-four hours advantage of the officers, in
making themselves safe from detection.
On Monday Mr.. A. B. Small, Superintendent
of the Southern Division and Mr.. j. A,
Morley, Superintendent Northern Division,
were telegraphed for and at once repaired
to the scene of the robbery, arriving there
Tuesday night, and proceeded to 'wOrk up"
the case with a success that should put to
shame majority ofthe so-called profession
al detectives. They did not wait for some
thing to "turn up" and in the interval allow
the villains to escape, but went to turning
up and in forty-eight hours had traced the
robbers to Mobile where they were arrested,
lodged in Jail, and nearly every dollar of
the $3l 900 recovered. AS was suspected
Wash. Crosby and his chum were the gull
ty parties, and on Friday evening last Mai
Morley left here with requisition from the
Governor Of Mississippi for the extradition
of the fugitives. Messrs. Small and Morley
deserve and doubtless receive the thanks
of the residents along the line of the N. s,
o. Railroad, as well as the officers of that
road for Kidding the community of these
desperadOes and thieves, as the estimated
loss of freight on the NJ. 81 o. Railroad
during the past season will not fall short of
$4,000, and these negroes are known to be
the leaders of a thieving band of Migrants
who have lived by this pillage.
Mr.. Worley's details of the distractions
and difficulties thrown in the way of the
officials in trying to ferret out the criminals
are quite amusing-the truth was foreign
to them. Patrons of the Southern Express
Company lose nothing by the robbery ex-
cept perhaps few hours delay in receiving
their packages.
1t is worthy of note that during the many
years existence, of the Southern Express
Company, extending as it docs to every Sec
ton of the country, that among all the at
tempts to perpetrate a robbery upon it, but
one has proved successful. With such ener-
getie, far-seeing and substantial men as
President Plant, Superintendent Mike
O'Brien, a. B. Small and j. A. Worley, and
their efficient corps of assistants, includ-
ing Lyman Gum and Tom. Lyon of the
jackson office, patrons may rely upon the
protection of their interests.