Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-06-26
Extensive Nail Robberies-Arrest OF
the Perpetrators.

| long time insured success and bafiied the
skill Of the most expert detectives in the
country. Through the efforts of Mr.. j. s.
Elwell, the special agent Of the Post office
Department in this city, assisted by the
National Detective Agency of Allan Pin
kerton, the bold rascals have been brought
To bay, and are now confessing their
crimes and begging for mercy, behind the
strong walls and bars Of an Eastern prison.
W r Wales and Robert X. Dudley are
the names of the young men who nave
made themselves famous in the ranks oil
robbers. These two men, before com
mencing operations, matured their plans
| and perfected their plot very much as the
writer of romance is supposed to mark
| out his programme before he enters upon
| the material labor necessary to the pro-
| duction of his work. The first step was
\ the most important Of all, as upon its sue
cess depended, in great degree, the future
prosperity of the ambitious brace OF
rascals. Wales was young man OF some
standing in society, and in business cir
Giles he was looked upon as honest and
trustworthy. The semblance of these
traits of character secured his appoint
ment as postal clerk on the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern Railroad, between
Toledo and Buffalo, about two years ago.
While thus employed he made the ac-
| Quaintance of other route agents, among
| them a man named Harmon. For several
months Wales diligently performed his
duties, and secured not only the conf
dence of the officers of the Department,
but the friendship and esteem of his asso-
ciates and fellow-clerks. Having accom-
plished all that he desired, and not caring
TO continue in a position where labor was
required, the young man resigned his
position, with the view Of commencing a
series of robberies that have terminated
! in his disgrace and prospect of his inn
prisonment for many years. Dudley, in
the meantime, had remained in the back
ground, patiently awaiting the develop
ment CT their deep-laid schemes. Har-
mon was the man whose friendship Wales
had most assiduously cultivated. They
were bosom friends-at least Harmon so
regarded Wales, although the latter prob
ably felt no further friendship than does
the confidence operator toward the luck
less victim he fleeces without twinge of
conscience. After leaving the service,
Wales, as was the custom in those days,
and is still, among members of common
fraternity, frequently took short trips on
the car of Harmon, and was freely granted
privileges on account of his former con-
nection with the service, that would not
have been permitted but for that circum-
stance, no matter how close might be
the bond Of friendship. During these
rides, the shrewd rascal never failed, be-
fore he left the car, to steal whole pack
ages of letters.
Having secured as many rs he could
well conceal about his person, he would
leave the car at some place previously
fixed upon between himself and confed-
crate, and, with the assistance of Dudley,
the work of rifling the letters would be
performed. If money was found it was
appropriated If drafts large enough to
warrant the risk were fonnd, they were
negotiated through the various express
companies, forged letters of indorsemen,
being sent in. When the money was re.
ceived in this way, Dudley, who transact
ed this part of the business, always made
it convenient to change his base of opera
tions, assume new name, and Ostensibly
establish himself IN some business that
would establish his identity with business
men. When this had been accomplished,
and everything was in readiness, Wales
would take another ride, secure more let
tiers, and repeat the operations so success
fully performed in previous efforts.
The first draft known to have been
fraudulently negotiated by them was
mailed by Governor Washbxrn, of Wis
consin, on the 9th of May, 1872, and was
collected on forged Endorsements, through
the Adams Express Company, at Pitts
burgh, Dudley receiving the money on the
3D. of June, and decamping on the same
day. From Pittsburgh he made his way
to Buffalo; from Buffalo to Rochester
thence to Albany, and stopping briefly al
New York and Newark, N. j., and Phila
delphia, he finally reached Mattapan, near
Boston, and quietly located, with the in.
tention Of suspending business until the
storm should blow over, and it would be
safe to operate once more.
While performing this journey, the
keen-scented bloodhounds of the law were
upon his track. They followed him with
relentless purpose, and unceasing perse-
verance, sometimes only missing him by
day, and then losing track of him for a
week, and perhaps month. But, on the
31st day Of May last, in his quiet retreat
in the New England suburb, the shadows
that had followed him so long at last
found his hiding place, and he was trans
ferred from the comforts of indolent ease
to the hardships of prison life.
His confederate, Wales, the man who
had perpetrated the robbery, had been ar
rested on the 7th of the preceding March,
and the fact was kept profound secret,
and no doubt Dudley was perplexed in
mind at the unusual neglect of his part.
ner In crime to "shOw up" and repeat the
depredations that had secured for both of
them comparative wealth.
Both have confessed since their arrest,
and they are now in Jail in the Western
District of Pennsylvania, where the first
offence was committed, awaiting trial.
Dudley is an Englishman, and nothing is
known of his past history. Wales has a
father residing at the White House, near
Toledo, the locality he selected as the
base Of his thieving operations.
The chase for the fugitives has contin-
ued for more than year, and Mr.. Elwell,
during that time, has travelled more than
ten thousand miles in quest of the prey
he finally succeeded in securing. The
amount in drafts and money stolen will
never be known, but it is certain that in
drafts alone about $4,000 has been real
lied and divided.-Chicago Eoening Post.