San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-24

"heh ietireu only removed nv
outer clothing and placed them in the
berth behind me where l Thought
they would be secure. l was awSk.
ened about one o'clock or therabout;
nv valise was then all right; went to
sleep again and was conscious of moth.
ing more till called up by the porter
before reaching Abilene to get up for
breakfast, when !. missed the valise;
called the porter and asked him if he
had moved the valise, thinking he
might have done so; called Mr.. N.
and askedhim if he had moved or seen
any one move it. He said no, and
then l was seriously alarmed and
hastily dressing myself went to the
conductor and reported the matter to
him officially, and informed him of
the contents of the valise. BY this
time the train was pulling into Abb
lene and l went out to watch those
who were getting off there; and then
while the train waited and searched
through the sleeper witkoui result.
AS soon as train started again report
ell the facts in detail to train conduc-
tor; then after consultation with him
and Pullman Palace conductor, as
certained that certain passengers had
left the sleeper at Cisco ond Baird,
two stations next to eastward of Abb
lene, and as they were unknown and
had gotten on the cars at Fort Worth,
decided must at once put the
authorities on the look out for them.
left the train at the next station,
Sweetwator, and telegraphed facts to
chief paymaster of the department
at San Antonio, and then found the
sheriff of the county and reported my
loss to him and asked his co cooperation
in discovering, if possible, the robbers
at his suggestion telegraphed to
sheriff Ware, of Mitchell county, to
hold if necessary, in his opinion, af-
ter getting circumstances of the rob-
berry from my clerk, (whom I had left
in the train to proceed to Toyah) land
search the train. This was done,
and Ware telegraphed me he had
searched the train but with no result.
1 made written report to the chief
paymaster and took the first train "a
freight back to Baird and Cisco, at
both of which places I put the author
tiles on track Of persons who had left
the train there. Also reported loss to
the authorities at Abilene, whom 1
had not been able to see earlier in the
morning. Had to remain at Cisco
till 4 o'clock in the morning next day
and took the train west for Colorado
City to confer with Ware and Captain
McMurray, of the frontier battalion,
who from their acquaintance with the
country would be able to give me val
liable assistance. Also telegraphed
to the sheriffs of all the adjoining
counties, facts of the robbery and re-
quested them to use all the means at
their command to aid in the discov-
cry. In the meantime received a tel
egram from the sheriff of Shackleford
county, at Albany, stating that he
had man arrested and asking for
description, Not being able to fur
nish one, wired him to hold prison
er until Sheriff Ware, Captain Nc
Murray, myself and a detective could
arrive and see if we could identify
him, asking if possible to. bring the
prisoner to Cisco to meet us. Our
object in this was to bring him before
the conductor and porter of the train
to see if he could be identified as one
of the parties who had left the train
at Cisco or Baird. This was not done,
and we could not without great loss
of time owing to the infrequency
of trains, get to Abilene. But from
information regarding his arrest we
were pretty well satisfied that this
man had nothing to do with the mat
ter. The sheriff telegraphed howev-
er, that before being released the man,
who was also held for cattle stealing,
would be sent 70 Cisco. After arrang-
ing for proper investigation of his
case I came to Fort Worth, where [
was to meet Major Russell, Depart
ment Inspector, who had been sent
by the department. commander to
make investigation of the affair. Was
informed on arriving at Fort Worth,
that the valise had been found some
where near the line of the railroad,
riaed of its contents, but have not
vet heard where, exactly. This will
be known tomorrow. Meantime,
detectives are following every clue
that IS nresented, and every possible