The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-29
THE LATEST EXPRESS ROBBERY.
SeVenty-five Thousand Dollars Stolen from tho
Adams Company at Columbus, Ohio.
Detection and Arrest OF
the Thieves.
All the Money But One Thousand
Dollars Recovered.

COLUMBUS, Ohio May 90, 1871.
With the exception Of what has appeared In the
meager teegraphlc dispatches but few particularly
have been made public In relation TO the recen1
robbery or the Adams Express Company at Gov
umbus Ohio. The following facts are given on
good authority, and viii give tolerably clear I'm,
derstanding OF the case:- 4,
At one end OF the Union depot In Columbus Ia
situated small building, in which Is transacted
the night business Of the Adams Expressa
such as delivering 10 and receiving money
from the messengers OF the night traInas
the regular Office OF the company being
located East Broad street. The usual practice Ia
to send down to the depot, about six P. NJ each
day, all the money, &C., intended for the messen!
gers on the night train For some time past George
w. Bradley has occupied the position OF chief clerk
at the depot, being assisted by young man named
Richard Collier. About six P. NJ. on the 10th INST
Bradley left the general office Broad street. wit
large amount OF money, which he brought down to
the depot in safe and placed 1t in the small Oflce
at the ehd OF the depot From this time
until one A. NJ. on the nth he attended
to his duties usual, going to and receiving money
and valuables from the night messengers. IL ha4
since been discovered that when the train left q
one A. NJ. he had about $72,ooo in his possesslonf
but OF this amount there was one package cOntain%
ng s32, 900 worth OF revenue stamps.
The next train reached Columbus at twenty-five
minutes past two A. NJ None OF the clerks making
their appearance at the car door as usual, John
Gossman, the messenger, sent one OF his guards ia
see what was the matter. The guard knocked al
one OF the folding doors to the ollce but, gettin&
response, tried the handle Of the door which ha
found unastened, and walked into the office. The,
room was III state of darkness, but on lighting q
match and going to the gas burner he found thal
the gas had been turned down very low, and that
Bradley and Collier were lying on the bed IN tina
ofice, apparently asleep. On beng aroused from
their slumbers by the guard they looked around and
seeing q number Of waybllls scattered around the
moor, Bradley remarked that 'fhey must have been
roboed'' but, added he, as ne saw the package
OF revenue stamps lying IN basket at tha
head Of his bed, 'Well, they didn't get this pack
age" Collier was lying on his back when foundsi
with the bedclothes turned down. Bradley was
lying on his side in a cramped position, and both
were breathing heavily. Near him was lying
small sponge, and he advanced the opinion that
taey had been chloroformed.
There were two safes in the ollce. the keys to
which had been taken from Bradley's pocket, the
safes opened contents distracted and the keys left
IN the locks. All the valuaDles had been taken, with
the exception Of package OF valuable papers and
one OF unsigned currency. casual examination OF,
the folding doors would indicate that the bolt which
from the outside; but more careful investigation
developed that the bolt had been bent back too far
10 admit OF lis having been done by bursting open
the door from the outside. The bolt was bent about
three inches further back than was necessary to
allow the other door TO pass IT, which showed pretty
conclusvcy that the door had not been forced from
the outslde and this theory was somewhat strength
ened by the absence OF any marks OF violence upon
TIe agent OF the company was Immediately nOti-
Ned OF the robbery and teegrapned TO the principal
Columbus, in company with i the ofiicials OF the
National Detective Agency, from Chicago and
the detectives after carefully examining the Office
ana surroundings. concluded that Bradley or C0l-
lions developed that on saturday, May Is, Bradieys
brother, Theodore +. Pradey, made ms appearance
h ras i'v m"s nnH
Theodore had formerly been IN the employ OF the
company as SseIs ana aaa terwaras been mes.
Railroad, but had been discharged for carelessncss.
lie then entered the employ OF the Adams. as per.
again, for drunkenness. After hts arrival Sainr-
day. previous TO the robbery he had only
aud It being ascertained that he was
still In the city, two detectives were put upon his
track. II was learned Inat nc had represented that
he had lately married wealthy lady III Chicago;
but upon investigation II was learned that heodore
was little prone to exaggeration, as the lacy was
The niece OF celebrated conrtesan OF that city, VINO
WAS also The Sas 81 this 0uss Ct Mad ve
her niece the alternative OF marrying Bradley
81 going to se r nSuse 81 tine
suspected parties being seen In town, and the detec
tses investigated other clues; but the objective
point seemed 10 he centred In the Bradleys. For
thirtysx after the robbery George allowed
remain unmolested attending to his usual duties;
but was suddenly taken Into custody and confined
on Friday Theodore left for chicago closely
contact with his wife on saturday night. On Tues
day he attempted 10 leave for canada, but matters
found upon his person, concealed il every pockes
OF his clothing His hotel was incn visited, hts bag
gage searched and about $1,000 more found
Of the money found was identined as being
night he was brought 10 Columbus. Previous to
this, however, his nolher's house In Coumhns.
visited and In LOT In the rear OF the house tar
pautn bag was found buried. which, on being
stolen money, including a number OF bonds, which
were ut once identified.
Up to this time George had bcen very reticens but
when confronted with the fatal proofs broke down
and confessed that himself and brother were tho
n ss 10 Ss for
pose, his brother having posted him - 10 wnen
Inere would prSDaoy PC me largest o nmo1 q
month large amounts are shipped from that city 10
tue paymasters OF the different roads.
ON the night OF the robbery George remained mp
after Collier was asleep and had then dosed
him with chloroform. He had then opened the saics
O'clock A. M. was joined by Theodore with the nag,
who, after giving George dose OF chlor0form, took
the money anc made himself scarce. Theodore
then buried the money, as above stated, having Sc
cured In all over $4,000. The two Bradleys nave
since made full CONCESSIONS and indictments having
been procured against them, they wlll be brought
up for trial on Monday, May 20. II Is thought they
will plead guilty.
With the exception OF about 1000 all the stolen
money has been recovered. This amount was pro-
baby squandercd by Theodore, who was very lavish
IN his expenditures, having purchased gold wa!ch
and other articles Of Jewclry. The fact that inc
money was recovered and the guilty parties ar
rested within eight days after the discovery OF tho
robbery Is very creditabe TO the detectives VINO
worked The case.