Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-31
CHICAGO.
A Widespread Gang of Robbers.
The knights of the Railroad.
IoI,n A. STurrelI EeIiYsed.

CHICAGO. Jan. 30.-Proceedines in the
Criminal Court of this city, which have
inst resulted in the conviction Of Mike
Jones. alias NJ. Ii. McHenry, and his SEN
tence TO the penitentiary for ten years, have
developed one of the most extensive and
stupendous schemes of robbery ever dis
covered IN the United States. The band,
of which Jones was only an ordinary MEM
Der, directed their attention chiefly ia rail
road lines, particularly to the Pittsburg,
Fl. Wayne and Chicago, and to large dry
goods houses of this city. PittSburg, Gin
cinnati and st. Louis business men have
taken great interest in this case, and are
encouraged by this prompt verdict to hope
that now the leaders may also be con-
demned. though they are backed by money
and legal talent. Jones, although but 23
years old, has already served one term at
Joliet. There are four more indictments
against him in connection with the ne
farious business. His arrest, trial and con-
yiction are very important achievements
every way, and great credit is due TO Dir.
W. W. Chandler, agent Of the Star Union
Line in this city, who, in the face OF hu-
merous threats of destruction Of freight
trains and personal violence, has continued
his efforts with a zeal, energy, skill and de-
termination worthy of all the praise which
good citizens accord him.
James r.. Baron alias Adam Brown alias
Tom Davidson and at least q dozen other
aliases, is now in Chicago Jail, having been
arrested at Buffalo some four weeks since
bv Detective d. p. Sherill of this city,
who had been looking for him diligently
for the last eight months. Half that time
Baron was living in this city, acting as the
leader of the most desperate band Of bur-
glars ever organized on this continent.
Mike Jones belonged to this gang, and was
the first of their members, including Baron,
whose arrest the vigilance of Mr.. Chand-
Ter has secured, and the six other members
have scattered in various directions.
The Star Union Line suffered to the eX-
tent of nearly four thousand dollars by
depredations from incoming night trains
during the period of four months last sum-
mer, and the goods thus stolen in transit,
We're secured temporarily at a point in In
diana not twenty miles from Chicago, were
repacked on the premises Of James Even,
4 farmer, also member of The gang who is
also under arrest. From thence the goods
were shipped from various points to sundry
Auction Houses
at Cincinnati. St. Louis and elsewhere.
The house of RodemOcher q Co., Of Gin
cinnatl, ID. Heaton &. Co, Of the same city,
claiming to do respectable business, sold for
for the account of Adam Brown during the
summer some twenty thousand dollars
worth of goods. stolen from the Star Line,
and probably as much more that was de-
rived from sundry burglarieS of stores in
Chicago and vicinity. The proceeds of the
sales were paid over TO Adam Brown at
Cincinnati, to ID. 5. Gould at St. Louis,
but the same man in both instances.
This Baron is a noted hotel rObber, and
his first trial on the nine indictments now
confronting him, will probably be the
famous fremont Hotel robbery Of this city,
nearly year ago. An adrOit thief made 4
haul of nearly twenty thousand dollars
worth Of iewelry, the property OF Mr.. Mills,
of New York. That Mr.. Barron was the
man. there is not the slightest doubt. He
was arrested and escaped on straw bail.
After a temporary absence from the city,
he came back, rented a dwelling on Park
avenue, under the name Of Burton; also
rented three barns within as many squares
from his residence, under different names,
and in those locked barns the gang over
hauled their plunder and prepared it for
shipment. He made this the headquarters
until the day Of Mike Jones' arrest, on
Sept Is when he suddenly disappeared
and was found at Buffalo by officer Kerr as
before stated.
Barron, whose prison name at Kingston,
Canada, during three years residence there,
1868 to 1865. was Adam Brown, is a Scotch
man, about b years old, very intelligent,
well educated, Of fine address, has served
as clerk in the silk department Of the three
best dry goods houses in Chicago and also
was three months in Semple's store at Pitts
burg. during which time the store was rob
bed, blown open. etc. and Brown never
suspected. Yet his woman says he put VI
the job.
The Woman il the Case.
The mistress Of Barron is a young woman
about as" wears, formerly wife Of citizer
of Pittsburg. whose Incorporate habits
made her an easy victim to the evils Of :
young man occupying such position a
Barron did in the prominent dry goods
house Cf Semple in PittSburg. She ha:
placed the officers in possession Of mUcl
valuable information touching the opera
tiOns of the gang of robbers in the largt
cities. To make sure Of Barron the prose
cution has secured a requisition from In,
Governor of Ohio to take them to Cinein
natl if he gets off here aS on former Occa
sion an associate did
4 Respectable Rascal.
In the Criminal Court today, before
Judge Rogers, the case Of David \. Gage
Gefaulting c,,- city treasurer, was taken N
on the motion filed by Cages counsel, TIVE
weeks ago to-day, to quash the indictments
Defendants counsel argued that the indict
meue foi failure to pay over moneys in hi
charge IS treasurer was insufficient. lie al
SO showed that the Indictment was founde
on a law long since repealed, as was alsC
iile indictment for perjury. Argument 70
the prosecution was made by States Attor
nev Read, and at its conclusion tie couT
took the matter under adviSemeut. Th