The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-16

nation of Modern MacchiavehiisH-
Cbee,e Subssfsused for BulldOsing--
AMere stripIfng Relieves the Union
Exress Company Messenger on the
Allegheny Valley Rnslroad-Rides
20 the City Undiscovered-Puts the
safe Into the Express WagOn-ls
Driven 10 the P0stohace Corner
And YamOses Unseen With His
Booty-NO Clue 10 HIS whereabouts.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
There appears to be no limit to the in
genuity of the lswless. Every day de-
velops if not new theory, at least new
application of one seldom tested, but
allowed to pass out ofpublic recollection.
Not many summers ago Galveston bank
was robbed of $4,000 after q style that
far outshines Dick Turpinism, or the re.
cent style of bulldozing.
MODERN MACCHIAvELLIsM.
A man, who had all the appearance OF
a dealer IN cattle, entered the bank, pre-
sented draft for the above amount.
drawn on New York bank, and asked
TO have it cashed. as he was anxious to
perfect large purchase of cattle as early
rs practicable. Of course, the suspicious
OF the bank officials we're aroused, and
they telegrsphed at once to New
York. When reasonable time had
elapsed, an answer was returned
lat the DESCRIPTION and name OF the
party presenting the draft corresponded
In every instance 10 one OF the New York
banks, most solvent depositors; that his
draft was as good as gold. Still unsatis-
fed, the Gslvestonisns dispatched re-
pe4ted kilograms to New York, lnvarl-
ably receiving the same or similar reply.
After keeping the bogus cattle dealer
waiting for nearly three hours, they
honoied the draft and the b. C. d. de
p.rted into chaos, rs far as the Texan
b,ak officials have ever been able to
discover. The secret of the transaction
WAS that the cattle dealer had confed-
crate, who, by means of a pocket instru
ment, tapped the New York wires both
WAYS north of Galveston, and substl-
tu,ed himself Tor the cashier of the Goth
AIN bank.
THE LATEST EXPLOIT.
Nothing more had been heard of this
sublimely impudent style of operation
until yesterday morning, when the COM
munity were startled by the information
that the Union Express Company, a
branch of the Adams Express, had been
robbed Ct a sum vs.iously estimated at
from $4,000 to $4,000. The circum
stances of the robbery are substantially
IA follows:
On Tuesday afternoon, probably about
three o'clock, person representing him.
self as a railroad official, appeared at the
door of disused station house, five miles
this side of Templeton station Redban k
JunctIon), fifty -four miles from the city,
on the Allegheny Valley Railroad, and
stated to tho track Waterman on duty
there, that he had authority to send u
dispatch to Parker City, wenty-eight
miles further up the river. he desired
the watchman 10 procure assistance and
have the wire tapped. The latter, not
doubling the identity OF the pseudo
operator, secured the services OF two
trsckmen, and soon succeeded in cutting
the railroad wires to and from Oil City.
FIRST SCENE OF THE PLAY.
The operator evidently knew what he
WAS about, MS out of six wires passing
that point he Discriminate with the
skill of an artist between tho railroad
and Western Union ores. rr'ducing
from his pocket MI instrument, at the
time he judged best for his purpose, he
telegraphed 10 Parker's, ovc- the sigma
ture of George Bingham, Esq, Superin-
tendent of the Union Branch Adams
Express Company in this city, that Mr..
J. Ii. Brooks had been authorized to re-
heve Mr.. Thomas Bingham. Express
Messenger on Train No. 2, which leaves
OH City at 2:35 p. NJ. and arrives here
ut CHOPIN.
The operator at Parkers recognizing a
strange but exceedingly skillful hand at
the other end, telegrsphs the sentence:
"Who are your" To which the reply
came mo. 2" signifying one of the prin-
cipsl telegraph operators of the Western
Union office in this city, parker" (the
operator at that point after further in
terchange of message all OF which tended
to dispel his suspicious, sent word that
he would so inform young Mr.. Bin CHAM,
nephew OF George Bingham, Esq when
train No. 2 arrived 1t Parker's.
The so-called Brooks then dire ted the
cut wires to be replaced, and leisurely
walked along the track to Templeton.
Here he called at Thompson's hotel and
ordered supper. So particular was he
about the meal that herequested his tried
eggs to be turned. He paid his bill
promptly and waited the arrival Of train
No. 2, making himself generally at home.
Along came the down train, and Brooks
leisurely boarding the baggage car, which
is also used to carry express matter;
walked up to young Mr.. Bingham, and
stated that he had been directed to relieve
that gentleman. Mr.. Bingham
DEMANDED HIS AUTHORITY,
whereupon Mr.. Brooks produced the tel
esrsm purporting to have been sent from
Geo. Bingham, Esq, ordering the latter
10 hand over his office to Mr. j. II.
Brooks, return to Parkers and await fur
Their orders from Pittsburgh. This dis
patch. coupled with the previous bogus
direction which young Mr.. Bingham had
received at Parker's, and the calm, easy
manner Of Brooks, completely dissrmed
his suspicious, and the former at once
Welded possession Of his keys and func.
lions. The train stops hero about twenty
minutes for supper, and during the inter
i'm the bsggage-msster, Mr.. John Muckle
asked Mr.. Bingham if the latter did not
"thinK the whole thing q put-up-job.'
Mr.. b., could not DO persuaded that it
was, and remained until the train No. 3
going North arrived, when he took pas.
sage for Parker's, coming down 10 the
city Yesterday afternoon.
ESCAPE OF BROOKS.
Train No. 2 pulled out from Temple
ton and shut of in the Union Depot on
tine. At Kittan ning a package marked
a containing vslusbles TO the amount of
$3.50 was taken, and receipted for by
Brooks, who appeared to be generally
familiar with the express business. The
recent is written in fine flowing hand,