National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-05
Conch Robbers In Montana In ts7i-Thc
Robbers OF Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express
Captured Two Years Later.

from tho Virginia City Montanian, July al
Many Of our readers will remember that
on the 9th of July, 1871, the Ircasurc-box Of
Wells, Fargo u Co. was robbed Of $4,000
while the coach was stopping at the Rcd
Rock dinner station, thirty-lvo miles below
Lovcll's. All that could be fairly conf cctnrcd
at the time was that collision had been
made between the driver, stock-tcndcr and
station-kceper TO steal the treasure-box and
throw suspicion on other parties. There was
no messenger accompanying the coach on
this trip, and the robbery was easily accom-
pllshed. All efforts to work these suspicious
into positive proof were unayaillng, though
the scycrest measures were rcsortcd to by the
express detectives. II we remember cor
rcctly, shortly after tho occurrence party
under guidance Of tx" Bcldicr corrallcd the
stock tender and cndcavored to make him
confess but severe checking at the end Of
n lariat ELECTED nothing but stout denial Of
the crime, and the affair soon passed out Of
comment. The officers Of the stage company
and the detectives, however, still believed
the station people guilty, and for two years
have kept the movements Of McClain, Station
kecpcr,) H.nsman, "a Red Rock ranchman, }
Rugg and Mccoy under strict survoi lance.
During this time Mccain has got tired Of
keeping station" and gone into the stock
business, having over one hundred head of
cattle and horses when arrested; Hinsman
grew prosperous In degree of rapidly that
seemed unreasonable TO those acquainted
with his resources, and Rugg was flush be-
You'd the profits Of his nvocation. But there
seemed no way Of proving how all this sud
a. had
developed nothing. but increased suspicion.
But within few days the whole affair has
leaked out, II seems, through a dissatisfac-
ton among the robbers over division Of the
spoils. Jim Mccoy, the stock tender, now
comes forward, pleads guilty to participa-
tion In the robbery, and turns States evidence
against his companions. The reason for this
$4,000, McClalh, Hinsman and Rugg appro
priated the lions share of the money, putting
off Mccoy with the paltry sum of Sl27 and u
promise that they would make II all right
some time" This they have never done, and
Mccoy, probably out of pure spite, now
peaches" on his pals.
Mccoy lodged the information with the
officers some two weeks since, and on Satur-
day last Sheriff Con Bray had the four men
In jail at Baunack. II Is understood that all
the parties plead guilty, aud that McClain's
stock and certificate Of deposit for sec 20 al
the banklng-house Of Henry Filing, drawn In
| favor Of kinsmau, have been attached and
turned over to Wells, Fargo Il Co., us par,
of the stolen treasure. .IcClain and Hins'
man are cool scoundrcls, and on several occa
siops since the robbery have sold grain to ant
otherwise dealt with the stage company
Rugg was arrested in Salt Lake City, aud
like Mccoy, was impccunlous.
The parties will probably be brought be
fore Judge Knowles at the October term o
the Second judicial District Court at Ban
mack, whence they will he given a term cacl
in the Montana penitentiary. It is time n
example was made of some of those coach
robblng hspcradocs, and we hope the cap
tured quartettc will receive Just as much pun
ishmcnt AS the most liberal construction U
law can lnnCt.