The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-10-25
Downfall Of q Brave Man.

Seldom is it in the annals of crime
that more singular story in every re.
spect is published than that which fol-
lows in regard to George L. Price, a
messenger of the Adams Express Com
pany, whose route was from the City of
Chicago. The first time that Prices
name was heralded to the public was
about two years ago. He was then run
ming as express messenger on the same
route, viz, between Pittsburgh and
Chicago. 1t was near midnight and
the train was running at full speed,
when Price was astonished, this side of
Forest Station, by the car door being
broken open, and revolver, in the
hands of man wearing black mask,
presented at him with an order to
surrender. For reply Price grasped his
own revolver, which was lying near.
The robber fired, the bullet lodging in
Prices left shoulder. Price returned
the fire, and the robber fell forward
dead, the bullet having lodged in his
brain. The body was taken off the
train at Lima, Ohio, where it was iden-
titled as the remains of man named
Brinkley, a former conductor on the
road. The affair created considerable
noise in the newspapers, and Price i'm
estimation. The Express Company pre-
sented him with 81 900 in gold and a
three months vacation on salary, and
his associate employees purchased and
gave him a fine gold watch. The bull
let which lodged in his own shoulder
and the one which the physician ex-
tracted from the brain of Brinkley,
Price took, and had gold-mounted
locket made. Moreover, Price was
made pet of the Company, and was
most implicitly trusted. In order to
remain in the good graces of the officers,
Price, after he resumed work, exerted
himself to report any petty derelictions
of duty on the part of other employees.
As a result he became very unpopu-
lar among his associates, though rising
still higher in the estimation of the Off
GERS. But, alas for the fallacy of APP
pearances! For some time back it had
become evident that some dishonest
employe was using his advantage to
rob the Company, but doing it in way
to almost defy detection. Among these
robberies was that of 500 from cask
of silver containing $1,000 1t seems
that the cask was put on a train for
Chicago, and marked When it reached
that 1a sit ety soS it was eognted and and fah fR
charge, suspicion attached to him.
Steps were then taken to lead to his de-
lection, if possible. On last Sunday,
at noon, Price left Pittsburgh in charge
of the express car for Chicago. Before
leaving, Mr.. Snively, General Manager
of the Office in this city, placed in his
hand three decoy letters, each contain
ing ten dollars, to be delivered without
way-bill. The letters never reached
their destination. The officers, becom-
ing convinced that Price was the cill-
prit, ordered his arrest He was ac-
cordingly taken in custody on Monday
forenoon, in Chicago. He remained in
confinement until yesterday, when he
was released on 81 900 bail, for a hear
ing. The extent of Prices embezzle-
ments could not be learned, as the Off
GERS themselves do not know yet what
is the exact amount. They do know.
however, or feel convinced, that he is
the person who has taken numerous
sums recently which the Company has
been compelled to make good. Pitts
burgh (Oct ~ Dispatch to Chicago
Times