National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-17
Rnbbery of A Hallway Train.


The robbery of express messengers
has long been regarded ms one OF the
finer branches of theylng' Usually one
or more masked men suddenly appear
in the car, aud with cooked pistol vel
ed ~ the head ul the messenger, nm" M
safe aud then Jump from the tram An
instance of this kind, win slieh' cNrtp'
tion~, occurred on the Mobile ana ONO
Railroad. The train cong north AZ
that time stopped ut Union CITY for sup
per As another tulln usually passes
down at the same time, the passenger
train is backed down the road short
distance aud run on u switch the tram
arrived on time aud was duly switched,
after which both engineer ana brennan
repaired 10 the chtng-hollse Tor theli
supper Since the late robbery OF the
express ear at Moscow only few miles
from Union City, the cxpressmcn on
this road have been doubled. two men
remaining with each ear. One OF the
men is the regular messenger, While the
other il merely guard. At Union CITY
TINT evening the regular messenger
went to his supper, and left the guard
10 watch the cIr In tins way there wa
ut the time really hut one man about thr'
train.
After finishing their surpers the en-
gineer and fireman lighted their scgus
and started for the train, To their great
surprise they discovered that II was at
least mile down the road Starting on
Il rapid run the, soon arrived there, aud
upon examination found everything
about the engine all right. knowing
that guard bad been left in the express
chr they went back 10 question him IN
reference to the strange proceeding.
The guard was found sitting almost
speechless with terror in one corner OF
the ear, while his safes were open Gnd
the contents strcwn over the hoor.
When asked what was the matter he iin-
ally managed to make statement To
the following effect Soon after all had
left the train for supper 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 demand
ed his keys. Thinking more of his life
than die property intrusted TO his care,
and being likewise frightened nearly to
death, he hastily complied with the
busque demand. With cooked pistol,
thc muzzle of which was but very few
inches from his ear, the guard sat very
still while one of the men rlmmagcu
the safe. After running short distance
the train gradually slackened, and the
guard heard rough, Gruti voice coming
from the engine, which wanted to know
ii they were not about through As
they were the engineer pro TEN. was
so informed, and after kindly telling the
guard that they would kill him if he
moved, the two men took their depar-
tire, CARRYING with them all the money
that had been i'll the safes. Three men
were all tine guard though were connect
ed with the affair. He said he would
have given al alarm, but he was afraid
that the men would kill him.
The amount taken from the safe WAS
between 81, 800 and $4,000, principally
in small packages. There seems to be
IA regular organized band of robbers in
that portion of the country similar to
the Reno thieves, of Seymour, Indiana,
fame Hunting them down, conyicting
and hanging them would have good
effect