Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-28
HEAVY EXPRESS ROBBERY.
Twelve Thousand Dollars Stolen Capture
of the Thieves.
FROM the Mobile Register, 24thl

From the Mobile Register, 24thl
On Sunday morning last the South.
ern Express car on the Mobile and
Ohio railroad was robbed of its safe
and contents, amounting TO upwards
OF $4,000. 1t seems that the meSsen'
ger went to sleep in his car, and upon
the arrival of the train at Okatibbee,
the car was entered, the safe rolled tC
the edge OF the door, and then thrown
out, after the train was in motion,
The person committing the robbery
was bare-fOOted, and did his work 50
quietly, that it was only when the
train was near Meridian that the
messenger discovered that his sale
was gone. Upon making known the
fact OF the robbery at Meridian, the
Express people at that place imme-
diately started in search, and at
about O'Clock in the morning, found
the safe in the woods, a short dis
tance from Meridian, cut open with
some sharp instrument and its
contents Tified. To show by how slen-
der a thread experienced detectives
ferret out cases and bring the Offend
ers to Justice. we will briefly state the
manner in which the robbers were
caught and Q portion Of the money re-
covered. In the vicinity Of Meridian,
some I've miles distant. IN a region
known as the Mountain Range, aces
sible only by by-paths, sre a set OF the
most worthless negroes in the country
-desperadOes and cut thrOats-Who,
for wears, have been the terror OF the
whole country. They have depredatee
upon the stock Of the inhabitants, but
As q general thing confined their at
fentiOn To rObhing the cars OF the Mo
bile and Ohio Railroad Company, and
TO such an extent that, we are reliably
informed, the company has lost in this
manner about $50, 600 in the past two
wears. 1t was their practice, when the
train stopped at water or wood sta
tiOns. TO open the doors Of the cars by
means Of keys which they had made
expressly for that purpose, and seve-
raj of the gang entering and then clos
ING them. When the train was put IN
motion, the parties concealed IN the
cars would roll out the freight, which
would be picked up and carried away
by Others Of the gang stationed at Civ
en- points for that purpose.
The leaders of this gang OF high
wavn1en. said to be thoroughly or
ganizsd, were Albert Grier, an es-
csped convict from the Mississippi
Penitentiary, and Wash Crosby against
whom ten indictments are now pend
ing. Both are negroes Of desperate
character. and have been frequently
hunted and shot at, but always man
aged to make good their escape. So
bold had they become that, surrounded
by their gang, they would stand in
some Of the mountain passes and
openly defy arrest. Crosby is the
worst OF the two, and il is now pretty
well known that it was his party who
got up the Meridian riot, during which
Judge Bramlett was killed.
Upon finding the safe the Express
people went to the house Of negro,
said to be honest, living on the edge
of the mountain, and from him learned
that on Sunday morning he was
aroused by a party Of negroes asking
where was his ak. Being very much
afraid he did not 90 out, but told them
where il could be found. From this
the detect yes were satisfied 1t
was used for the purpose of
breaking open the safe, and that the
robbery was committed by the gang
living in the mountain, which was
still more apparent by discovering
q fire q little further on, and the
charred remains of express papers aud
the messengers leather pouch, Not
daring to 20 any farther for fear Of
being murdered, assistance was had
and the mountain secured. CrOsby's
was entered, the receptacle for
nearly all the stolen property Of the
gang, and MS wife was seized and
taken TO Meridian. From her il was
ascertaine1 that the robbers had gone
south Of Meridian.
Captain Quinn, the Chief cf Police
here, being advised Of the ROBBERY, on
Tuesday, arrested two negroes on sus-
BiciOn, wearing new suits and spend
ing money freely, and they were
readily identified. The detectives
worked their points so finely and well
that yesterday Crosby, finding that all
was known, confessed to the robbery,
and, from information he gave, his
proportion Of the money, $1,000, was
found seCreted near Whistler. Grier
is still very reticent, and refuses TO tell
where his share OF the plunder is Sc
creted.
Much credit and just praise in bring
ing t,eese desperadoes to justice is due
10 the eEergy and zeal OF our indefati-
gable chieI u police, Captain Quinn,
Colonel O'Bris1, General Superin-
tendent Of the Southern Express Com
psny, and Messrs. Perry, Small, Nor
ley ard Osborne, Of the same cOmpa-
ny. These gentlemen worked night
and day, sparing no pains or expense,
It being q well known principle OF the
Southern Express Company 10 use
every endeav0r to detect the perpe-
traitors Of every robbery, nOtwith-
standing that the expense Of so doing
may amount TO double the value Of
the money or other articles stolen.
Colonel o. Brien, who, by the way, Is
4 most efficient and popular officer,
informs Us that there is greatrej jOicing
in Meridian at the capture Of the
thieves, for, without their leaders, IT
- very probable that the gang Of des-
peIadoes will be either caught or dri-
gen out Of the country.