The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-09
THE ADAMS EXPRESS ROBBERY.

RECEIVER.
The story OF the Adams Express robbery has
at last been told, and the mystery with which 1t
was invested by the detectives has been dspeled
by the confession OF Jonn Sweeney, OF the
suspected men.
sweeney, in company with Dan HAIRY, en-
ploye OF the company. was arrested Thursday
night on suspicion and since then has been locked
up Mt the headquarters. Alter the arrest,
Mr.. John Hoey. the superinten OF the
express company. visited the men several times.
with q view to have them tell what they knew
OF the anair or MAKE some acknowledgment
which would lead TO the recovery Of the property.
From the first sweeney was steadfast In his denial
Of any knowledge OF the robbery; but on Satur-
day HAIRY animated that he could do something
for MIR. Hoey II Mr.. Hoey would assist him in re-
turn Mr. Hoey says he did not pay any attention
TO this offer OF Haury's but the fact that Sweeney
turned informer looks as though 1t had been used
to influence him Sweeney. Mr.. Hoey, however,
Bays he only appealed 10 Sweeney on behalf OF his
mother and sister, and that that was SUFFICIENT to
induce him to make
"cLEAS BREAST OF IT."
Before giving the confession 1t may be well to
give Mr.. Hoey's version OF the loss OF the safe,
which, by the way is now published for the first
time. That gentleman says that at half-past seven
on the morning OF Sunday, the 18TH day OF Janu-
ury, tnrly-tWo safes anu TRUNKS were drought To
the principal oalce OF the company at No. SO
Broadway. and instead OF being immediately locked
mp in the vault they should have been, sullivan
the Waterman, allowed them TO stand in the yard.
Sullivan went to church ana left Waterman
named Clark In charge OF the packages until he
should return. While Sullivan was away Dan
Haury entered the ysrd ior the ,rI PURPOSE
the freight OF the Eastern cars. He complained or
being MI, ana requested to be relieved OF the work.
a
appears that ne Immediately began TO load up an
empty cart wnicn stood IN the yard. 1t was |
Haury's duty to drive this wagon TO Communipaw |
at Jour A. NJ. the next morning (Monday) so as 10 |
was turned and his attention engaged IN another |
part OF the yard Haury lifted one OF the
iron boxes H ana put aso, no In vas the ioao, nor
In few minutes !t was los. TO signt beneath a
mass OF freight, which was auicAly thrown IN
After the wagon had been loaded and made ready !
Ior the morrow Haurv departed. and shortly there
alter Sullivan returned from church and locked |
mp the treasure boxes and trunks without missing |
any or .hem. Next morning the money clerk
rallied for the boxes and one was found 10 be
Communipaw and returned. All the employees
were examined. but when it Came 70
ana became so indignant al the sus.
plclon which he supposed attached to him
learned OF the lost SAFE, so private detectives
we're called i'll to work up the case. shadow"
On two occasions assaulted his shadower. AS he
Knew he was watched he was too wary TO be
a. headway. In tue meantime the company mad
received description or the property lost and
advertised IL. on W Wednesday morning German |
ad named Koope, VINO lives in Seventy fourth
street. found package on the corner OF second
$780, 900 worth OF North Carolina State bonds.
which he brought to headquarters and handed
over 70 superlntendenT Walling Here was the
hau been done in New YORK and that the perpe-
traitors were not professionals; The supearintend;
stage Of the case the superlnt endent decided
Sweeney. The men were found in Washington
Ilrees on Thursday night and brought TO
plain appearance called at headquarters and |
requested to have an audience with the Superin-
tendent The request was compiled with, and at
the conference the stranger said his daughter
worked in tae same shop with two girls named
respectively Lena Wilson and her maiden sister
Ella Lunz. Untl the day previous they mad been
In very poor circumstances, but by some means
suddenly become rich. The evidences OF their
prosperity were found in rolls OF bills which they
exhibited to the ~ wondering eyes OF their worKlng
companions. The Superintendent immediately
sept Tor the girls IN question aud examined them.
Ella aid not wish to conceal anything and told ala
she knew The money she had was given to her
BY friend named Philips, who proved to be
ne6t previous to the arrest Philips came to her
house IN company with another man ana told her
his aunt had died and lett him $500 00o. He pro.
uuced from his pocket lmmen', roll OF bills
and said 1t was part OF the leganf. From thus
roll he sos!raeted 500 and BANDED s 70 her. vita
wanted To take her to a bal. After he had given |
her the money, the young man VINO was with HIM
took bottle OF champagne out OF his pocket and /
they made merry. Wnen this bottle was drank, |
Phillips produced another one. and that was also
consumed. The men then lett ana the girl |
had not seen them since. ON these ample
acts the police went to work. Tut did
aad come from or where the great bulk OF |
The stolen money had been placed But for |
either would be found At this juncture Sweeney |
turned States evidence. and by his confession all
the clews are strung into consecutive story.
THE CONFESSION.
In his confession to Mr. Hoey Sweeney stated
that he was informed by Haury that the safe was |
on the truck ana everything was right" The
next morning sweeney went over on the same |
boat with che wagon when contained the SAFE
and waited outside the freight depot until
the wagon had been uuloaded. When Haury re-
turned ne jumped INTO the wagon and in aoout
three minutes had the safe open and the contents
put into one bag. On the way back TO New York
they threw the safe overheard. Haury went to
the orfce and sweeney went 10 his house, corner
OF Albany and Washington streets, wnere in about
nan an noar ne was Joined by the driver Here
same day sweeney says he went up to "Moser
Enrich's house, In fifty-tnird street, TO
WORDS converted. Enrich keeps one OF the most /
famous 'Iences" 10 the country. having done |
of the DAY. Enrich took the CROOKED stun''- |
bonds-and gave MN about $500 IN exchange; he
also bought a diamond valued at $500 and some |
Specie both proceeds OF the robbery He did not
give iull value but told Sweeney to call again.
Ine next time sweeney called he told him he had |
the bonds advertised, and being O little
frightened he threw then away.
As soon as this Statement was maze officers |
were despatched { arrest Enrich, and three hours
later he was brought 10 HEADQUARTERS prisoner.
When sweeney had progressed tnus far Mr.. Hoey
inquired what had been done with tile money, and
sweeney answered that 1t had been buried in |
basement In Nassau street; that be had hired q |
little boy TO bury 1t for uim. This ended the con-
lesion. and In company with the superintendent /
and Mr.. Hoey the iniormer out to look for the /
boy, VINO was found without much trouble Inc |
boy conduct the party 70 tie cellar OF No. 81 Mas.
sau street. where $4,000 OF the stolen money was
found sccreted In the wall. The boy was In the |
employ OF the gentleman who occupies the cellar. |
II appears be did hot know what was IN TIE |
package.
THE PRISONERS AT COURT.
The prisoners were brought 10 the Tombs yester. |
1dy morning &C nalf.past ten and HAIRY was I'll. |
ragned Mr.. A. Oakey Hal, counsel for Haury, |
cross-examincd sweeney al length and wrenched |
ron MN sort OF an acknowledgment that ne !