New-York tribune., 1881-10-28

HOW THE ERIE ROAD ESCAPED ROBBERY.
THE EASTERN END OF THE LINE FOR TWO HOURS
IN THE CONTROL OF A DISC 'ARGED TELEGRAPH
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DISPATCHES SENT OVER
THE WIRES
William j. Sipple was arrested at his home in
Fonrth-st., Jersey City, late Wednesday night, on
suspicion of being of he chief consprat'rs in
the plot to rob the paymaster of the road last Mon
day night. lie was formerly a telegraph operator
in the employ of the company, but was discharged
in February last for neglect of duty. Detectives
Brown and Grimes learned that all the dispatches
had been sent from a small wooden building known
as the lighthouse" near the eastern entrance to
the tunnel. At $50 O'Clock Monday night man,
who has since been recognized as Sippe entered the
Dollhouse. and asked if Mr.. Conlllin, the tele-
graph operator, had gone. The watchman
said that he had gone, whereupon Supple
took possession of the telegraph instrument. For
the next two hours he had control of tins end of
the road. He ordered all the operators at all the
stations east of Paterson to ground all wires except
No. l. the wire he working on. The order
was signed with the initials OF W. j. Holmes, the
telegraph superintendent.
Spple then called Paymaster White at the main
Office in jersey City, and in the name OF General
Bird W. Spencer the treasurer OF the company tele-
raphed him the details of an imaginary plot to rob
the safe in the poymastcr's Office of S5O,OOO the
Jispatches puruorting to come from PassaIc He
said that the plot had been discovered by the
Ne.y-Yorll police, who had taken measures to
capture the thieves. In order TO facilitate
the operations of the police it was directed that all
tLc ears be taken out of the depot and that no
trains he started without further orders from Cen
cra Spencer. lie also directed MIR White 10 take
the paper none. out OF the sale ara put II IN tle
bag. SO that il could be carried to place of safety
in ease the plans of the police failed. Mr. White
obeved the instructions, and teleIraphed back that
he had done 50. He was Immediately summoned to
pa-sac to confer with General Spencer, and started
on the next train, first informing Superlntendent
Hill of the condition of affairs, and leaving the
money in his care. When sufficient time had elapsed
for Mr.. White TO reach PasSaic dispatch, plrport-
his clerk IN the Jersey City Office, directing
him. by order of General Spencer, to hand
the bag of money over to Detective BOylan, from
Inspector Bymcss Office. The clerk handed the
dispatch to Superintendent Hill who sent word
back that he thought the money would be more Sc
cure in safe and that he intended to call on the
Jersey CITY police for protection. An answer was
returned directing HIM TO say nothing TO the jersey
This was the first thing that aroused Mr.. Hills
suspicious. and he telegraphed that he WOuld assume
the responsibility of keeping the money III the Saie,
and would deliver II to no one put Mr. spencer nun,
self This determination on the part OF Mr. I'LL
baied the plans of the cOn>plraOrs, and after tec-
graphing to Mr.. Hill To wait minute, the man VINO
has been identified rs Spplc left the Dollhouse.
Chief Murphy subjected Slpple TO a rigid eXarni-
nation, but the prisoner persisted III dearng ms en-
tire innocence. The chief ordered him TO be
searched and in hls pocket was found one of the
dispatches purporting to have been signed by Cen
era Spencer and sent TO the Jersey City olhce De-
tcctye Brown came IN at TINS point, accompanied
by the watchman who had charge Of the bell house
on Monday night he watchman immediately
recognized Supple rs the man VINO had been In pos,
session OF the house lor TWO hours ana VINO dd all
the teegraphng. The prisoner Is held for examlna-