The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-21
The Usual Missouri Express Robbery,


About once year Missouri is good for
a bank or train robbery which is the won
der of the country, for few days. The
latest one occurred Saturday morning,
before daylight, on the St. Louis, Kansas
& Northern K. X. between Ferguson and
Jennings stations, some 10 or Is miles
above st. Louis, The robbery appears
not to have been discovered until the train
reached the Biddle street depot, in st.
Louis, when the employees Of the company,
not seeing the messenger, entered the car
in search Of him. Faint cries from the in
terror of the chest, which was securely
strapped, attracted attention, and the
messenger, Charles Kincaid, was speedily
extricated. He had not scratch or
bruise to show but had been halfsmothered
by his confinement.
The express car is an ordinary one,
having a door at each end and secured by
self-fastening lock and by chain which
is fastened loosely on the inside. so that
the door can be opened few inches but is
still secure. The object of this is that the
messenger, when any knocks for admis-
sion, may be able to see who is there be-
fore leaving the door unsecured. kincaid
says that when he took charge Of the car
in Kansas City he noticed that the staple
holding the chain on the rear door had
been drawn out, leaving the door secured
only by the lock. The express car was
hitched to the tender and preceded the
baggage car. He says he thought little OF
the insecure door during the early part Of
the night, but when the train passed
Mexico, he prepared to take nap, there
being few more stoppages before reaching
st. Louis, He put the heaviest package
he had, weighing about $50 pounds, agalns
the door, and then went to sleep. At st
Charles he got up and put some wood il
the stove, after which he dropped Of
again When he next came TO conscious
ness he felt n hand on his collar, and o
looking up saw two men standing over hin
one holding revolver in each hand, Will
the other held him in a tight grasp, Ne
word was spoken, but a wrench at tn
collar brought the messenger to his fee
Looking him square in the eyes, and a
parenuy reading his decision to renal
passive, they went Immediately to worl
While one held him the other searchC
his pockets and got the keys, lie the
opened the large messenger chest al
rapidly threw out the packages. Beto
Kincaid understood the plan, auoth
wrench at his coat collar wheeled hi
around and tumbled him into the trun
A single package was thrown to him #
apillow," one of the robbers remarke
and the heavy lid was shut down with
thud and strapped. The robbers tn
went through the contents Of the car,
Guiding the safe, at their leisure. Neal
every package was broken open.
Just where the robbers left the car is I
known. If kincaid story is correct, tn
probably jumped off when the train slow
up in the suburbs Of st. Louis, and cross
over into Illinois by an upper ferry.
kincad is unable to give more than t
most vague description Of the men.
he says was about five feet ten inches Il
and the other n little heavier built and
quite so tall, Both wore short, dark COS
one little faded, and that is all he knC
about them. Both wore masks Of b
cloth The lock on the car is .uubrok
consequently they must have had key
the latch of the door, and must have en-
ed By the rear platform, where the oh
was loose, as the chain on the front d
was undisturbed. Nobody else on
train saw the men on or off, and KIM
can only guess that the robbery took p
this side of Ferguson, as there were
stoppages after he was locked up.
whole affair is very mysterious.
The company is reticent about
amount of thel loss, but the contents of
safe, in money and valuables, amounte
nearly $4,000. There was one mo
package of $4,000. One estimate
the loss at $4,000.
The detectives have been at worl
day. but have scarcely clue.
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