Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-24
A STRANGE CASE.

About three weeks ago the safe of the
steamer Montana was robbed of $500 while
lying ut the wharf in St. Louis, under cir
cumstances 30 peculiar that they aroused more
than passing attention. 1t seems that Mr.. J.
j. Earl, clerk OF the steamer, had placed Il
large amount OF currency and coin in the safe
the evening previous to the robbery, locked
the combination Of the safe and retired as
usual. Next morning he opened the safe at
eight O'Clock, aud found that currency to the
amount stated was missing, although the
coin was intact. Phil. Schneider, Jr., night
watchman Of the boat, and his father, Phil.
Schneider, mate on the same vessel We're ar
rested, but as there was no proof against them,
they were released, the son severing his CON
nection with the Montana and the father re-
manning IS mate. The latter made the trip
~ usual, but nothing was said to him on the
subject. Nothing occurred on The succeeding
trip going up, but coming down last Monday
the Montana stopped at VOLTS island, a point
five miles above Lexington, ostensibly to
take in a supply Of wood. While at anchor
here, according to the account Of the mate,
he was awakened at about 10 o'clock by three
masked men. armed with revolvers. who
marched him ashore. They took him to the
woods. and by means of threats, and by
stringing him up several times until he was
half s%trangled, endeavored to eXtort FROM
him the whel eabouts of the stolen money.
He stoutly protested his innocence and WAS
finally released. He rejoined the Montana
and remained aboard her until she reached
Waverly, when he took the train for st..
Louis.
The mate was interviewed by reporters at
st. Louis, and says:-"I was awakened by
some one roughly shaking me, and saw two
masked men standing at the side of the lounge
on which I was sleeping. They said, Get up,
we have a warrant for YOU l said, Il guess
not; you've got hold of the wrong man, But
they said I was the mate and was the man
they wanted. 1 arose. but they kept urging
me on, calling out That I was too slow. When
we were out of the cabin we were Joined by
a third man, who seemed to be acquainted
with the ship. The men were three to one,
and were all armed. They crowded me out
of the texas onto the roof. 1 asked if 1 could
see the captain, but they refused to permit me
to see anybody. While they were pushing
me down to the cabin deck Capt. Keith ap-
peared. ami said, What does his mean? I
said, Eyes, I would like to know what 1t
means" The men did not reply, but hurried
me down to the lower deck, to the bank.
When we stepped off the stage one of the
men gave . low whistle, and two men came
out of the bushes about 100 yards away. l
asked them what it all meant. had been in
one trouble already about three weeks ago
about some money, and now 1 was in anoth-
er. Yes, the money, that's what we want
Tell us where the money is or We will hang
you up"
II replied thev might hang me if they
wanted to, but that l could not tell them
where the money was, as I did not know.
They then took me to the woods, repeated
their threats and displayed a rope. Persist
ing in my inability to inform them they hunt
ed about for q suitable limb.
They were a long time getting the rope
ready, evidently waiting for me to confess.
They finally put the rope around my neck
and pulled me up twice. Both times l gave
the same answer. They pulled me up q third
time and then slackened the rope until l was
on tiptoes, and l was slowly choking. When
they lowered me ! said, Gentlemen, You
have me overpowered, but 7 can't tell You
where the money is.' Then the four men |
seized me, one at each arm and leg, n one |
held the slack rope. They let me drop, and
that was the last 1 knew; I lost conscious
ness. When I came to the four men were |
dragging me toward the river. HE is play |
Ing possum,' said one Of the men. With deep |
curses they made me rise to my feet, told Inc |
to return to the steamer, and disappeared. I
there until l had acquired enough |
to stagger to the boat. The stage |
and line were drawn in and the boat was |
to 60. One of the men threw out a
plank to me and 1 wen on board. The cap
tain asked me what was the matter and 1 re-
Piled that he knew without asking. / re-
NAMED in the cabin, suffering terribly, until
daylight. When we reached Waverly / OBJ
sained $40 from the clerk and came to st. |
Louis ON the train. The owners of the boat
ased to live in Lexington: they were born
raised there. l think the ku-klux out
rage on me can be traced to them.
"What makes me think SO more particular
ia that Capt. Keith told me to stop twol
hours at Kansas City for p~assengers--a thing
We never did before. We didn't get a single
passenger. The reason for stopping at Kan
'ss City was that we would thereby arrive at
Lexington at 10 O'Clock at night instead of at
lusk, as usual. Then, again, on our way up
Capt. Keith went into Lexington, and we
sept the boat waiting for him for over 20
thing that has never happened |
BEFORE"
Did you ever have any difficulty with the
captain or clerk before. p
mo. sir; in four years ! never had any
rouhle. The only trouble l ever had with
he clerk was about my wages.n
Mrs, Schneider said the manner In which
Ter husband w~ssabeing prosecuted would kill
Ter.
schneider.has been on the river since 1874.
lie served in various capacities on the steam
rs st. Joe, Key West and Montana. and has
hitherto borne an excellent reputation. He
cells deeply the cloud that has come over his
prospects, and stated that he was deferred
rom taking summary. vengeance on his de-
FACTORS only by consideration for his wife
nd children.
We have been awaiting for the arrival of
he Montana at st. Louis, 80 we could get the
eport of the officers Of the boat, but yester-
avs papers had not a word in regard to The
ase. 1t ia thought strange that the boat did
Ot land here, where she always Goals, and
there there was money awaiting her. We
Ope the story of the mate will be greatly
If not entirely contradictet.
ALL FOR COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION.
HEADQUARTERS DEMOCRATIC ExECUTIVE)
CONT. Of LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Mo-,
May s, 1884.
By order Of the Democratic Executive
of Lafayette County, q DEMO
Ratio COUNTY CONVENTION is called to
meet at the courthouse, in Lexington, on
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1884,