Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-10-26
AN ASTOUNDING ROBBERY.



The robbery of express messengers has
long been regarded as one of the finer
branches of thieving. Usually one or
more masked men suddenly appear In the
ear and with cooked pistol levelled at the
head of the messenger. rifle his safe and
then Jump from the train. An instance of
this kind, with slight exceptions, occurred
on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad last Sat
urday evening. The train going north at
that time stops at Union City for supper.
AS another train usually passes down at
the same time, the passenger train is
BACKED DOWN THE ROAD
a short distance and run on a switch, Sat
urday night the train arrived on time and
was duly switched, after which both the
engineer and fireman repaired to the eat
ing house for their supper Since the late
robbery of the express car at Moscow, only
a few miles from Union City, the express
men on this road have been doubled, two
men remaining with each car. One of the
men is the regular messenger, while the
other is merely guard. At Union City
that evening, the regular messenger went
to his supper and left the guard to watch
the car. In this way there was at the time
really but one man about the train.
A PASSENGER TRAIN STOLEN.
After finishing their suppers the engi-
neer and fireman lighted their cigars and
started for the train. To their great sur
prise they discovered that it was at least a
mile down the road. Starting in a 1apid
run they soon arrived there, and upon ex-
animation found everything about the en-
gine all right. Knowing that guard had
been left in the express car, they went
back to question him in reference to the
strange proceeding. The guard was found
almost speechless with terror in one of his
car, while his safes were open and the con-
tents strewn over the floor. When asked
what was the matter he finally managed
to make statement to the following eff
feet: r-
Soon after all had left the train for sup
per, and whilst he was.
EATING A COLD LUNCH,
he noticed the train start off, backing
down from the station. Before he could
even arise to ascertain the cause, two men
entered the car and, with drawn pistols,
demanded his keys. Thinking more of
his life than of the property entrusted to
his care, and being likewise frightened
nearly to death, he hastily complied with
the brusque demand. With q cooked pis-
tol, the muzzle of which was but very
few inches from his ear, the guard satvery
still, while one of the men rummaged the
SaIe. AFTER running snort distance, Cne
train gradually slackened and the guard
hearda rough, gruf voice coming from the
engine which wanted to knowif they were
not about through, As they were, the
engineer pro tenn was so informed, and af-
terkindly tellingthe guard that they would
kill him if he moved, the two men took
their departure, carrying with them all the
money that had been in the safes. Three
men were all the guard thought were con-
nected with the affair. He said he would
have given an alarm, but he was afraid
that the men would kill him.
EXTENT OF THE LOSS. a. ..-..--s..
The amount taken from the safe was be-
tween 81, 800 and $1,000, principally in
small packages. There seems to be reg
ular organized band of robbers in that por-
ton of the country, similar to the Reno
thieves, of Seymour, Indiana fame. Hunt
ing them down, convicting and hanging
them would have good ect.-Menlohis
AgnInnche 70