The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-03
The Stage Robbcry--As Related by Mr.. Al
fred Giles.

The reporter interviewed Mr.. Alfred Giles
concerning the robbery of the stages, which
took place about three and half miles this
side OF Fredericksburg, and gained from him
the following particulars:
About 9:I5, p. NJ, was in front with the
d liver; it was a beautiful moonlight night, and
just in pas ing the shade of some large trees,
two men jumped out, and on presenting cooked
| pistols told the diver to hold up. He mme-
diately stopped, and thsn the robbers asked
him if there were any passengers; he an
swered, none inside; whereupon he ordered US
to hold up our hands and get down, which we
did; one of the men then gave his large six
shooter to his partner, and with small der
ringer in one hand went to work with the other
searching me. The other man stood some
three yads distant with his nicklc plated six
shooter cleaning in the moonlight, full cooked
on us. The robber first took my watch, an
Eng iSh gold lever. | remarked that / hoped
he would not keep the watch, nor diamond
| ing wore on my lInger, as they were presents
from my mother, and being easily identified
would = ObabIy lead to his conviction. My
money, some $40, handed him; he thought
|
touched the ring; he then searched all my
pockets and sachel even looking at letters,
but got nothing but the $50. | then asked i'll
| could take my hands down as | was tired of
holding them up. lie SAID all right, and upon
4 request brought my overCOat from the stage
| and even helped me on with it. He next
| went through the driver, MIR. James Brown,
| bat only lOuk his knife, saying he never
| robbed drivers. During all this time, some
| thirty minutes, the other man never moved,
but kept his cooked pistol on us. The robber
then went through the mail; he only made
water haul and did some general cursng for
being in bad luck He was about to open a
box in the hind part of the stage when he
| thought he heard the stage from Frcdercks-
burg coming this way. | lie asked me the time,
and Brown if the stage was due, Brown an
,wering yes; he at once began making prepa-
rations. They had already a rope stretched
| across the road, tied to tees on either side.
We were then ordered to stay under a tree
| facing the coming stage, as he remarked if any
| shooting was gong to be done we would be
killed first. | said III get behind the tree if |
| hear shot, which caused quite a chuckle
| such safety was only momentary as they then
| ordered us to walk on in front of them to meet
| the coming stage. When the stage was within
! 4 few yards OF us, they called out 'hold up"
| much to the establishment OF the driver hy
| name Ed. There were no passengers, only
another stage driver taking a ride to meet his
| friend Brown and then return with him. They
| at once pulled up and were ordered to Get
| down and stand in line with their hands IN.
| The robber went through the two new victims
| to find out il they were armed, but there was
| not fire arm in the entire crowd; knife was
| all that was taken from Ed and he certainly
| kept his word of not robbng stage drivers. for
Ed. told me he had some 500 in his pocket
which was not detected. The mail sacks
were then taken from the boot of the stage,
the straps cut, and with these words, here, |
have treated you like a gentleman, left YOU a
watch worth $500 and fine diamond ring;
you will have to help me with the mail" /
was pressed into service. Calling out the
names of the letters, etc; the only thing OF
value obtained SO far as | could see was fine
gold self-wnding watch; it was taken posses
sion of with the remark, Sod is good to the
kid: every damned fool has his profession;
stage rohbng is mlnc.' He put all the mail
back and returned to the other stage as he said
to find a b!an.,et for his saddle He came
across mine, dark grey with stripes Of red
and blue al the ends. He took if, saving.
Il hate to take it, I'll swear, but must.
tor haye no saddle blanket" The
drivers several times seemed nervous abou;
their teams running off, and on Ed. speakin
about it, the one doing the watching said
all look after them" This was the first and
only time he spoke, the robber then took the
rope down, ordered the drivers on their boxes.
which they did after strapping up the back
part Of the stage, and then, when we were all
seated, called out, SHOW drive like he'll" I'D.
went on by himself towards San Antonio. and
his friend went home to Frederick Sburg with
| Jim Brown and myself looked behind as
we were driving off and saw the men pretend
to run on one side of the road, but eventually
ran the opposite way into the prairie with nv
blanket dangling on the ground. 1t was SUP
posed their horses were in the prairie out of
sight. The man that did the robbing was
about feet inches, dark complexion, small
and regular features, not at all bad looking,
peculiar voice, he was dressed in a dark suit
with white hat. His partner was thought to
be about 5 feet 10 or IL inches high and light
complexion; neither over 2SyearS. They did
not try to disguise themselves more than the
deep shade that was cast by the moonlight
from the broad brims OF their hats. lanes
Brown, the driver, on reaching frdeericks-
burg, at once notified the sheriff, who went
out with the other driver who came home with
Brown, but met with no success. The driver
said was the luCkiest fellow to get off from
stage robbers with gold watch and ring, and
SO thought myself.
Maj. Plumley and Col, J. l.. Haynes have
Il