Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-04
The Plot to Plunder the Lake Shore
Express.

NEARLY week ago Messrs. Cone and
Chaplin, Superintendent and Agent of the
United States Express Company for this
city, learned that robbery of one of their
cars on the Air Line was contemplated,
and that the attempt would be made night
before last. In order to prevent it, and 10
make sure work of arresting the gang in
the act, they called upon Capt. Purdy,
who, with them, perfected plans for pre-
venting one of the best-laid schemes for
robbery since the arrest and lynching of
the notorious Reno gang, at Seymour, Ind.
Night before last Messrs. Cone, Chaplin
and Tim Hart, of the Express Company,
Capt. Purdy and Sergt. Nohl, of the regu.
lar force, and Detective Cavanaugh, of
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Railroad, took No. 5 and went to Arch
bald; just before reaching Wauseon they
saw campfire in the woods around
which were gathered several men. At
Wauseon the officers changed to the east
bound Chicago express, which arrives IN
this city at 2:40 a. m. AS there was no
attempt made to rob that train, the same
parties again took the midnight train 60
ing west last night. AT Archbald-as on
the night before-they changed TO the ex
press, eastward bound. In the express
car were some $275, 900 in currency, and
over $125, 600 in bullion, in charge of Mr.
Ed. Lacy, messenger. AT Wauseon four
former employees of the Lake Shore IL
Michigan Southern Railroad got on
board. Their names were l.. II. Hart
well, an eX.freight conductor, Charles
and Frank Dwight and William Emery,
alias Sophus. This party left this city
some time ago and went TO within from
one-half to three-quarters of mile of
Wauseon, where they camped out in the
woods near the railroad track, to perfect
their plan, which was to board the east
bound express at Wauseon, cut a hole
through the door of the express.car, undo
its tastenings, enter, seize, gag and bind
the messenger, secure his keys and throw
off his safe at the Swan Creek crossing
where il is suspected there were parties
in waiting to take it away with a wagon
get OIL the train, join their confederate
and divide the plunder. The officers had
also made arrangements for their Tecep-
| tion. Messrs. Cone and Chaplin were in
the express car, secreted by the door
nearest the baggage-car; Lacy, the mes
senger, was lying down near the center of
the car teigning sleep. Capt Purdy,
Sergt. Nohl, Detectives Cavanaugh and
Ti6bets, were in the end of the baggage
car nearest the express car. A signal had
been agreed upon by which the officers
were to suddenly open the door, rush out
and secure their prisoners. AS there was
no eXpress-car attached TO the train night
before last no attempt was made, but last
night everything was favorable, the eX-
presscar was in the train, the night was
dark and the rain poured down in tor
rents, and, as was expected, the gang
| boarded the train at Wauseon.
The two Dwights and SOphus imme-
diately climbed upon the roof of the bag
gage-car while Hartwell remained upon
the platform of the same car. After a
careful survey of the surroundings, Kart
well produced three-fourth inch auger
and bored hole in the center of the eX-
press door, through which he observed
the location of the express matter, safe
and messenger, by the dimly burning
light in the car. Finding the messenger
apparently asleep, he proceeded to bore
three or more holes near the lock, and
with panel-saw cut out hole sufficient
ly large for him TO get his arm through to
loose the fastenings. The remainder OF
the gang then descended from the rool
and took their places upon the platform
of the eXpress-car. During the interval
tn Q officers had not been idle. Mr., Cone
sci zed the bell-cord and GnxiOusly await
ed the moment to give the signal 10 the
officers in the baggage-car. Mr., Chaplin
stood ready TO seize the arm that was to
be thrust through the prepared opening
TO uniasten the door. Capt, Purdy