, 1874-01-21
HEAVY ROBBI1RIES~
Tho Arrest Of Elisha Cosv1cs, Mall
Agent Ola tho Chicago, ROCK Eslntu
s. Pacific Ientiroud for IkobbinE tho


The Arrest OF Elisha CO1y1es. Mall
Agent Oh tho Chicago, ROCK Eslnnd
Hlnf1s.
Fycn, tic Davenport Democrat, Jan. Is.
Ono Of the most astounding Bystems Of mail
robberlos ever known in this State has latoly
been unearthoa by special agents OF tho Post
Office Department, and ,tho, whole matter was
isinnd & Pacific nailroad. 70 Begin 1t
tho beginning, suspicious were - ezcited
sEn't ts on cSes 9s u.s. m m aalss fss ss%sr tss s s
dry goods merchant Of this city, mailed 9 lotter
at the office in this city, containing 920 directed
to party at Downoy, Iowa. This lottor loft Da.
yon 5t on ho mosnng ct oct GoT
postmnstor Russell Immediately reported the
case to tho Department at Washington, and ho.
together with special Agents ], 2. stuart, Of
Iowa City, md ]. 2. Furay, Of Omaha, procoea-
work up the matter go as to fnsten. the rob-
borios directly Upon Coules, but tho agents
wero fully satisfied Of his guilt in fow days
after taking the caeo in hand. 30 docoy lettoIs
effect their purpose. On Monday morning Inst
tho special detectives Stuart and Furay arrived
in Davenport, and were in consultation with
Postmaster Russell Tor long tinle. They also
10 take Ills "run thoy having at list brought tho
caHo to focus. On Tuesday morning Cow1es
loft tho city Ia charge OF his car. and tho dctect
iyoB wero alao passengers on tho Hamo train. Yes"
terday morning h1r. Russell received dispatch
from THO detoettves, stating that they had just
arrested Cowles in his chr, near Avoca. 1t is
stated that when arrested Cowlos had ono Of tho
DOGGY letters in his hand, and others in his
his robborios. Tho confession viii not be msdo
public, but it is stated that he has boen riaing
lestors for years past and that for several weeks
ho has been stealing letters at the ratio Of tifty
dry. He appears to havo exercised l Att'e
into letters by the wholesale In por-
fcot1y reokless and indiscriminate manner. Tho
prisoner WAS taken to Dea Moinea and placed in
Elisha Cowlos has had an ovontful life, and
has seen much trouble and many changes. Ho
ia 50 years old, ia native OF Now England he
went from his nativo State to Michigan, where
ho won't into business and amassod much wealth,
town in which he lived. At tho time he
owned and operated two large Haw-mills.
and waa prosperng finely when misfortune
came, and ho was twice burned out losing oaoh
time ovor ss0,o00. About eight years ago he
came to Town, bought tract Of land near kel-
logg, Jasper County, and upon this farm he has
over since roalded with hH family. Ilo has boon
married twice, his second wife being half
sister to Schuyler Colfex. Ho has q largo fa1a-
lily, consisting Of his wife md nino children, the
oldest being sou 20 yehra Of ago.
Cowlea has boon mail agent on tho Davenport
t'raln Of the G., 3. I. Il 7. for sovon years; ho
has always boon regarded q good, reltRblo
clork, but mover rs very smart or efficient one.
Ho had ALWAYS been regarded as atrlctly honest
up to tho date Of the disclosures last Octoper.
From fhe Davenport De,nocrak Jan. 10.
It appears tint an Assistant Postal Clork
namod DoNlott, who worked with Cowlos, was
largely instrumental In detecting the criminal
actions of Elisha Cowles. Ho frequently caught
him opening letters, nbstractiug money thero-
from, and burning the rest, It appears that
CoWlea was taken to Council Bluffs and
placed In jail. 11o WAS yesterday taken
before United States Commissioner Williams
tAoge, and, waiying an examination, ghvo bail In
the amount OF s2000O. Mrs. Oowlea was not in
tho Cur when l,er Husband waa arrested, na haa
boen stated. 6ho was at tho bedside of hor fa-
thor, III Buohanan, Mc1l., who died ycstertay.
Sic iB a prominent monlbor Of the Slate Q1AnEo,
and ono of ita oiiicorH.
1sobbtlsf. tho United states Treasury
of 7T,Ot}0 -- 4 Sun 0f Hlrss Judge
Williams, and II Treasury Clcrfe, Ar"
rcntpd While Ende1.y0riaY to dispose
OF tho pIuntlcr.
~ ON Tho iNt,o Fork IPorId, Jdn. 10:
About a fortnight ago a room III tile TroaBnry
Department, Washington, In which informal rev.
oula warrants, ready for issue, on Unitcd statoB
depoHtarioa ars kopt, was myateriouBly enteroa
by burglars, who forced skyllght, descended,
packed up *76, 900 worth OF warrants, and got
out by climbing back through the Bkylight. 1t
vas oTldcnt TINT the thieves know the place
vol and were perfectly able to select auoh wRr-