Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-24
BARNEY RILEY.

buildings east or west q sufficient distance
to destroy that town.
BARNEY RILEY.
Tho Career OF . Young Man Now In Our
County Jail for Robbins the Mails.
The swift downward career of Barney
Riley a}ioe Dudley NJ. Riley, arrested for
robbing the poatofice at White Swan, d.
T., is given the Omaha Republican by
Special Mail Agent John B. Furay
Barney" Riley, as be is more familiarly
called, is the son of a rich father who lives
in New York, and who gave him q splen-
did education At Yale College, where he
graduated. During his college career he
was supplied with all the money he wanted
and every wish was granted. In the panic
of 1878 his fathers fortune was swept away,
and the family were left in poor circum-
stances. The son, upon being thrown upon
his v resources failed to accomplish any
thing, as he was not Of a practical turn Of
mind and he possessed neither trade nor
profession of any kind-only an rnamen.
tai education. Becoming discouraged he
at last enlisted in the Eleventh United
States infantry under the name of Riley,
which is not his right name. He did not
let his family know of this step, and they
are to-day nawar OF his Whereabouts or
what has become of him.
When his time expired in the army he
fonud himself at Standing Rock, Dakota,
where he went into the employ Of the suit
ler IS . book keeper, By his gentlemanlv
conduct. his genial manners and his super
Tor educational accomplishments he won
hosts of friends, and for a time he prospered
hhely. But in the course of time he took
10 gambling and drinking. and then his
downward course on the road to ruin began.
He was discharged, but upon going to Fort
Sully he obtained employment with the
army sut!er at that post. He continued bis
bad habits, however, ard it was not long
before he received hts walking papers. He
then went to the Cheyenne river agency,
where MI. Cation, the Indian trader, en-
ployed him as book keeper. Again be was
bounced. He next obtained a position as
stage driver on Capt. W. w. Msrsh's line
between Yankton aud Fort Sully. He
drank too much whisky to suit his employ.
er. who let him out Of his job. He then
losfed around for awhile and spent what
little money he had, and then he sought
and obtained employment with Pratt s.
Ferris at White Swan and Fort Randall.
The postmaster at White Swan, receiving
a better position at Fort Randall, abandoned
the office and the business of which he was
the agent: and put Riley in charge Of both.
The postofice was turned over to Riley on
the 18th of January, and he at once went
on a prolonged spree. On the 23d of Jam
uary two packages came down the river
road by registered mail. He received them
and went so far a. to make out q receipt 10
forward them. At this point he was over
come by temptation, and instead Of sending
the packages forward he robbed them both,
one of them containing seventy-fve dollars.
He followed this theft with another on the
2Sth. taking three packages that we're going
the same way, and which arrived at White
Swan between 2 and 4. O'Clock in the morn
ing. q time at which no other person was in
the building. On the goth be gobbled a
package bound up the river, and which
contained sixteen dollars, with which be
continued his spree. On the evening of the
29th of January a package mailed at Spring.
6eld. Dakota, containing four ten dollar
bills Md consigned to Rosebud Landing.
into his hands and remained there
The rest Of the night he spent in gambling
and drinking with = lot of soldiers and
before daylight, when the stage
from the north, he took . letter ad-
dressed to G. G. Sperry, postmaster At
Greenwood, Yankton agency, and contain.
ing Eve dollars.
While in the possf6ce he was SO drunk
hat he did not know what to do with the
plundered packages of that night, but care
lesely threw them under the table, among
ONE mail sacks. He now informed the
postmaster that he va going to Springfield
md would come back on the next stage, aad
be accordingly took his departure.
Riley did not return, however, but went
Yankton. Trouble soon arose about the
receipts. which had not been returned to |
Postmaster Sperry At Greenwood, and the
postmaster at Yankton telegraphed to Mr..
Office concerning the robbery at
White Swan. which had now become known.
md he stated also that Riley, who was sps-
pected, was At Ysnkton. The dispatch was
forwarded BY wire to hr. Furay at Sidn y,
md he telegraphed to the marshal of Dako.
to arrest Riley, which was done.
Meantime the postmaster at White Swan
nad found some of the plundered packages.
Nj. Furay proceeded to Ysnkton, aud
.heo be came into the Jail, the jallor said
o Riley, Here comes Special Agent Furay,
g I'd help you Barney Riley"
Before Farsy lett the jail be obtained
confession 10 writing. The exam
took place and Riley was held for
rial. bis bail being fixed at $1,000. Mr..
Furry did not produce the confession at
Ibis examination. % 1t was unnecessary,
here being sufficient proof without II.
Riley took eight registered letters Alto
gether. From n be Obtained $40. from
SIS. Ind from another IS. II d
thought that he got away With ., ally $500 |
The White swan pcstmsster will probably
to settle for the lost money, % he had !
no business to turn his flee over to Riley. !
Cedar County Nonpareil The farmers
along the surveyed route of our railroad
erected across the line . sign board.