Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-01-13
A Terrible Tragedy.
EXPRESS MESSENGER SHOT AND THE
SAFE ROBBED.


Mass, was shot in his car on Friday
night on the express train, soon after it
left Albany. The safe was robbed of
|s2,259,-probably much less than was
expected by the robber, and his confede-
rates who it is thought werenearby.
The train left Albany at $40 P. NJ
The first information received in Albany
was from railroad employees at the East
Albany station, where the train stops to
take aboard the passengers who come
from Troy. Here faint knocking was
heard at the door of the Express car
when one of the men went to it, and slid
ing it aside, saw the messenger of the
American Merchants Union Company,
named Thomas A. Halpine, lying on the
floor of the car, bleeding from three
CHASTITY wounds. Calling for assistance
he jumped into the car and raised the
head of the unfortunate man, who had
just returned to consciousness. Halpine
told him briefly he had been shot by
somebody, and Immediately swooned
away again. The train was detained and
word sent to Albany, and another mes
senger sent over. In the meantime the
victim had been placed in another car
and taken to the city to DIR. Armsby's
office, where his wounds were dressed by
Drs. Armsby, Lansing and Lasher.
The Albany Argus has. the following
account:
The shocking deed was committed one
minute after the train left the depot
proper, the murderer aud robber jump
ing into the car from the north side the
moment il was directly over the crossing
of the Rensselaer, and Saratoga railroad,
corner of Lumber and Montgomery
streets. 1t may be stated here that the
track run directly east and west across
the river. The train was going eastward,
and the door on the north side of the car
was closed, while that on the south side
was slightly ajar. Through this one the
villain clambered up and into the car,
and bracing himself against the side
commenced firing at the messenger, who
sat in chair near the north west side of
the car, figuring up his freight BILL
Halpine Immediately attempted to rise,
but the ball struck him in the neck and
he dropped to the floor. The robber con-
tinued firing and approached him, and
holding the pistol close to Halpine's head
fired twice more. One Of these balls
struck him below the right eye and
lodged in the head. The third ball en-
tered the right ear and lodged in the
head also.
,. 1t is known thown that the damning
deed was done in the spot indicated,
: from the fact that railroad men who
were engaged in switching cars on the
Bull Run SWITCH" which is directly
,, under the bridge came up on the bridge
. to see who was firing at them. They dis
, tinctly heard the report of pistol shots
and could not fancy where they came
from. The robber must have taken thu
keys from the messengers pocket imme
diately, and proceeded to the safe, found
the money bag, slit it open and abstract
ed 81, 259 in bills, and left the car-prob
: ably the moment it reached the Green
bush side of the river, as the train slack
up on the curve on that side of the river
The fellow is described as about five fee
nine inches in height dressed in darl
! with only light body coat on, blacl
moustache and slouched hat. Hi
q weight is about one hundred and fort,
;. or one hundred and fifty pounds.
Our reporter went to DIR. Armsby' Of
:, fee, where the wounded man was fount
g lying on one of the small trucks used a
depots for transporting baggage, proppet
!. up by pillows, his face blackened by pow
n der, the blood flowing freely from thu
wounds in his eye and mouth, presenting
: horrible spectacle, rendered more terri
;. bly, impressive by the presenceo of his young
= and beautiful wife, who had been sum
! moned by his friends, and who bent ovel
. the wounded man with pale face, offering
him with touching solicitude those deli
. cate attentions which only wife's offic
/, can render to husband in time of sick
: ness or trouble. DIR. Armsby h ad jus
extracted the ball from the wound in tn,
h neck as our reporter entered ; it appear
\ to have been fred from small Smith
;. Wesson pistol of the pocket size.
THE WOUNDS INFLICTED
were three in number, the first one bein
y in the neck, the ball entering the RICH
e. side and passing directly through to tn
IL left side where it was found and extrac
VS. ed. This wound is severe and painful
to though not dangerous, the jaw or the lie
ry side being badly injured. The secon
ty wound is just below the right eye, tn
er ball entering just below the angle of IL
n eye, passing backward and slightly dow
We wards, lodging in the back of the thros