The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-04
RAILROAD ROBBERS.
Gang or Thieves In Virginia and North Caro-
lima Broken Up-OId Offenders CAUGHT at
inst.

fOT some tlUt tnt iuiHOlitlts vi tltc
Richmond and Danyille railroad have been
annoyed by the depredations OF petty
thieves at various points along their line.
Indeed, the pilfering In one shape or an
other has been going on for more than
year; hut while 1t was exceedingly annoy
ing 10 the road, IL never assumed any great
proportions. The officers OF the road from
time 10 time, however, had their attention
called to missing packages OF dry goods
and articles Oh this sort, and with their ac-
customed energy employed detectives
some from adistance--to take the matter In
hand and try and ferret out and bring to
punishment the offenders. The efforts OF
these men, however, failed, and the thieves,
growing bolder by their success, made
their forays more frequently, and re-
Gently made such hauls as whole
bale of cotton aud cases OF shoes. IL was
hard to find the exact locality upon the
line at which the work OF stealing was
done, as the most OF the cars robbed were
through freights, and the articles taken
were on this account not missed un-
til the train reached the terminus OF
the road either ut one end OF the
Captain Green, OF the Richmond and Dan
Of Richmond, and placed the matter in his
hands. This was about month ago, aud
the detective at once set to work, with the
following results: He struck clue which
showed that theft was committed at two
points-one near News Ferry, IN Halifax
county, Va, and the other at or near
Lexington, n. G.. The detective kept
men at both these points, and divided
his attention between the two. One dark
night about a week ago conductor and
brakeman Of a freight tram while passing
I'D the train, which was standing at News
Ferry. saw man jump ont Of car, and
disappear rapidly in the dark. The man
left in such hurry that pair OF
brogan shoes, almost new, were left
behind. lie had removed these in or
der 10 make less noise in walking,
and had become frightened and dropped
them. Wren took charge OF the shoes,
found ont from the mark on them who sold
them, and from this man asccrtained to
whom the shoes belonged. The man was
negro named Alexander Satterfieid alias
Alexander Field. lie confessed that the
shoes belonged to him, and that Thomas
Brander and Paul Williams, also colored,
were his uccomplices in crime. Wren az
rested these also, took them before Justice
Edmunds, and who, after giving them the
benefit OF an examining trial, sent them on
for hearing before the County Court OF
Halifax, which holds its session on the 25th
OF this month. All the witnesses were sum-
moned to appear at this time.
THE CAROLINA CASES.
Tuesday Detective Wren arrested the
Carolina thieves. Circumstances pointed
to white man named Henry Kepler, who
kept n low den at Il place known as Holds
boro', in Davidson county. In this mans
house Wren found the bale OF cotton
which was stolen from the Richmond and
Danyie road about the. middle OF Dccem-
her last. 1t was shipped December ii,
1882, from Uniontown, South Carolina, by
Farr & Thomson, and was consign-
ed to George II. McFaddcn Il Co.,
Philadelphia, care West Point Com
press Company, West Point, Va.
The detective found the tag with the above
address on the bale Of cotton. 1t also had
the private mprk, Of. A. X. D." on u.
In the same house Wren also found six
new Singer scwing-machinessw swhich hep-
Ter admitted he had purchased for gal
lon OF mean whiskey. Mr. Wren then set
out to arrest others Of the band OF thieves,
together with the ringleader, notorious
negro nan:ed Ben. Ellis. He found TINS
negro driving wagon loaded with WOOD
along Il lonesome country ROAD. w non
called upon to surrender, thenegro jumped
from his wagon and showed fight, but after
considerable trouble was oyerpowered and
taken into custody. Another negro, named
Williams. was also arrested. All
the parties were taken before Squire
Moves, who examined them and committed
them TO jail, to await trial before the Supe-
rior Court Of Davidson county, which
holds its session on the first Monday IN
March next.
The parties arrested in both cases are
the old offenders who have 50 long eluded
capture.