, 1874-06-01
THE RECENT EXPRESS ROBBERY.

Tho robbery Of oxproas-cars Inns become very
froquont Of Into, nnd LAS boon carried on with
moro or less impunity from tho fact that tho
scoundrola usually go in gangs Of four or five.
and arc armed heavily enough to ovorpowor
tho guardians Of tho cur heforo thoy
commence tl,eir operations. In tho case
Of tho robbery OF tho oxpross-car on
tho Michigan Central Railroad, laat Friday
evening. tho oooluoss and bravery OF tho oxproHs-
messenger, Spencer uoath, lod to tho death Of
ono Of tho Villains, although It did not prevent
tue robbery Of tho aafo BY his companion. Tho
factsof tho affair arc briefly these: When tho
trasn arrived at Michigan City, tho two robbers
got on tho front platform of tho orpross-car,
Which was Immediately bohnd tho tondor, and, uu-
dor coyorof tho darlsnoss claa1horod over tho cur
to tho roar platform. After fastening tho door
OF tho baggago-car, SO 1t could not be oponed,
they prfod Tho door Of tho o1proas.car of from
It's hinges and Immediately entered. E1r. Iieatl
was aloue IN the car, fixing his accounts, and
was not aware of their proBonco, until ono of
tlion1, suddenly apripging forward, knocked him
to tho floor with hoavy blow. Although half
stunned, hc Immediately; lrow Ills pistol mud, IA
tho villain bent ovor him to comploto his bloody
work, he shot him through the hoad and killed
him. Heath then tainted away from the objects
Of tho terrible blow ho had received
and this ghve tho other robbor an
opportunity to rob the safe and CO.
capo from tho car. Whon tho train reached
Niles, the bravo messenger was found in tho
car lie had 80 faithfully guarded, lying by tho
Rdo Of tho dead robbor, but was aoon restored.
It Is ovidont tint tho robber who ESCAPED, soe-
Ing h1r. Hoath full unconscious, must havo sup-
posed him dead also. Tho only thing to regret
in the atfair-for the loss Of money is not i1n-
portant, amounting only to s2,700--iu that Mr
Heath could not have preserved his conscious
mesa long enough to shoot tho otlcr scoundrol
also, as he most asaurodly would have done.
In accomplishing GO much as he did, however,
la has shown himself to DO cool co,1sa.
geous hero, made out Of gonuino manly
stuff. and faithful aud determined
guardian Of his employers property
uo not only deserves tho thanka OF tho public
for Kidding the world of ono Of these scouudro1e,
but hc specially deserves tho gratitude of tho
railroad aud express corporations in wl,oae scr-
vice he was employed. Such gallantry is untitled
to prompt and hearty recognition.
The circumstances Of this robbery only confirm
tho importance Of the Recommendation we have
many times urged, TINT those who aro in charge
of tho galuab1cs on q railroad trim, and tho en-
ployes of the train also, should be armed. 1Iad
Mr. Heath not been armed, both the robbers
would have escaped, and probably he would have
lost his 1ifo also. With determined mon In
charge Of traiu. sufficiently armed to
moot any emergency, express robborics, aud
stoppages Of trains by bauditti. which have be-
come 80 frequent Of 1aso, would soon ceaso.
This robbery has shown what one brave man, al
though a1one and unaided, can do. Had thoro
been another employo i'll tho car also armed, tho
scrvicea Of tho detectives in capturing tho es-
capped robber would hayo beon Unnecessary.