The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-11-04
An ASTOUNDING ROBBERY.
Three Men steal a Railroad Passenger
Tratn-Ihey rake It n Mhe, over
power an Express Messenger, and
Rife his SAFE.

From the Memphis (Tenn.) Avalanche, oc;ober "a
The robbery Of express passengers Las lot 9
been regarded as one OF the finer Branches
OF televlug. Usually one or more masked
men succe1iT aPpear in the car and with
cooked pistol lsveied ct the head of the
messenger, fife his sale and then Jump from
the train. an instance OF tnis sind, with
slight eXcepuors, accGrrec on the Mobile
and OHIO Railroad last iturday evening The
tram gong IOftA al that time stops ut Union
City Tor supper. As aLOtner train Usually
passes down at the same time, the passenger
tram is backed down The road short distance
and Tun on a switch. Saturday night the
train arrived on time, and was duly ewitched
alter which both the engineer ard fireman
repaired 10 the eating-house tor their supper
Since the late robbery OF the exDrsss car at
MOSCOW, only few miles tom Union CITY
the eXpTessmen on this ROAD have been
doubled, two men remaining with each ear
one OF the men is the regu a. messenger
while the other Is merely guard. At Uuion
Cty, tnat evening, the rex ular messenger
went 10 his supper and left the guard to
watch The car; IN tnls way th re was at the
time really but one man about the tram.
Aiter finishing their suppers the engineer
and fireman lighted their cigars and started
Tor the Train. 10 their great surprise they
discovered that it was al least nile down
the road. Starting in rapid run they soon
arrived there, and upon Examination found
everything about the engine all right.
knoT wing t1at q guard hsd been lett ia the
express car, they went oack TO question him
Ia reference 10 the strange proceeding. The
guard was found sitting almost speechIess
with te r0r in one corner OF ms car. while mis-
sales we're open and the contents strewn over
the floor. WIen asked what was the matter,
ne finally managed to make 4 statement to
the following effect:
Soon alter all Lad lett the train for supper,
and while he was eating cold luncn, he noticed
the train start OF, backing down from the
station. Before he could even arise 10
ascertain the cause, two men entered the car.
ard with drawn pistols demanded his keys.
Ihlnklng more or his LIE than the property
lntrusteu 10 hls care, ana being likewise
frightened nearly to death, be hastily compli-
cd with the brusque demand. Wita cooked
pstols the RuZZ.e OF which was but yer7
few inches from his es., the guard sat yery
stlll, while one Of the men Iummaged the safe.
After running q sBort distance, the train
gradually slackeLed and the guard heard q
rough, gruff voice coming from the engine,
which wanted 70 know il they were not
about through. As they we're, the engineer
pro tenn was so informed and after kindly
telling the guard they would kill him if be
mONeo, tne Two men toCk their departure,
carrying With them all the money tnas hac
Oeeh 10 the sales. These men were all the
guard thought were Connected with the
affair. He said be would have given sn alarm
out ne was afraid that the men would kin
him.
lie amount taken from the safe was be
otween 81 500 aud 5000. principally in small
PACKAGES. There seems to q regular
organized band OF robbers in that portion o.
tLe country, similar 10 the Z no thieves, o.
seymour, Ind, fame. Hunting them down,
eonvictlng and hanging them would have
good effect.