The New York herald., 1871-01-01
UNITED STATES EXPRESS ROBEER
ARRESTED.
The Crime Committed Nearly Year and a
Half Ago.

The Crime Committed Nearly a Year and n
Half Ago.
From the Omaha Herald, Dec 2S.I
Our home readers will well remember the robbery
committed by J. K. Bear upon the United States
Express Company, at Brownvllle, more than q ye ar
ago. lt occurred on the 25th OF August, 1869, and
created great excitement as well as astonishment.
Mr.. Bear was a man OF family ana much esteemed
in BrOwnvIle, and by superintendent Shepard
whose confidence he enjoyed. He Is about twenty
eight years of age ana was the last man who was
suspected oil being Capable OF sucn crime. In an
evil hour ne gave way To temptation and made him
self a kissing and by-word among men, He did
more He wrecked a loving family forever, and de-
sJroyed the hopes Of o iond vile and beloved child
The former, longer wiling to be connected with
such man, and dcspairing OF seeing him again,
procured q divorce, and this man Bear, once so full
or promise Of leading life OF usefulness, returns
wlieess and abandoned man. His capacity TO lead
winch has destroyed him, for whore he was finally
overtaken Mi. Edward Morsman had some difficulty
IN convincing his friends that he was really the man
Bear OF whom he was III search.
IL is unnecessary to recount the circumstances OF
the robbery. Tney are fresh in the memory Of most
oil our citlzenS., The amount Of money stolen was
SIS 900. The most vigilant pursuit failed to capture
him. Traced tO the Soutiward as far as Memphis
he euded the officers there and came North intend
ing, according 10 his own story, to come to Omaha
and buy ticket over the Union Pacific TO the West.
Mr. Bear, by the way, Is very reticent about the
weary ana tedious lie he led Afterwards. He admits
that every day he suffered an agony or punishment
from mingled remorse and fear. Whenever he
apprehensl0alS Of exposure, and looking ON every
man Is a sheriff, caused him to move 10 another.
Mr.. Morsnan, the United states express agent OF
Omaha. was selected to undertake his arrest. His
whereabouts having been ascertained Mr.. Morsman,
on December =, armed with q requlstion from Gov.
eTnor Butler and a commission TO act &C the agent
OF the state, started for Salem, oregon. Bear was
at oregon City, where he was engaged as agent OF
the California and Oregon Railroad. lie had
changed his name to Andrew J. Curtis, and by this
name was there well known and esteemed. Mr..
Mofsman proceeded to salem, the capital,
when Governor G1Over issued the necessary
warrant for his arrest, which Mr. Mors-
man made Immediately on his arrival at ore
gon City. He found Bear ia his ooscc. and
when he made known the object OF his visit the only
answer he made was, "All right sir." as though ne
knew the fate he had long struggled 70 avert mad
Ut last overtaken him. The culprit put irons
and taken on board q steamer for San Francisco,
whence he was conveyed To Omaha, where he ar
rived yesterday. The trip was without special
incident.
AT this time of writing we have nothing of import
ance concerning the lost money The 0plnon seems
to be tnat the prisoner Will plead guilty to crime
which he freely c0no5ses, 1t is the belief that Bear
knows where $500 OF the money is and his story
that no lost II out Of the skl with which he escaped
Is not credited. That amount was put In a tin box,
and was in package shipped by John L. Carson TO
tho FIRST National Bank OF Omaha. Bear VIII be
taken to Brownyllle to-day.