The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-20
CAUGHT AT LAST.
Tfller, the st. Louis Express Thief, Captured
at Milwaukee and $50. 900 Recovered.

Tnler, the st. Louis Express Thief, Captured
at Milwaukee and $50, 900 Recovered.
MILWAUKEE, March 14.-PrentiSs Tiller,
the Pacific Express COmpany's agent at St
Louis, who decamped with nearly $780, coo
4 few days ago, was arrested at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning by Milwaukee detective
and $4,000 of the money recovered. A
young man looking like a tramp, with a
small mu uStache, brown hair, of slight build
and unObtTuSive features, and of about 135
pounds weight, bought trunk at the store OF
Carpeles Schram, and on Tuesday asked to
have it shipped to G.. II. Pachen, Detroit
Mich. He left valiSe which he asked to
have placed inside the trunk to save him the
trouble of carrying it When about to put
the valiSe in the trunk the clerk dropped it
and the clasps burst aSunder, the bulging
contents rolling out upon the floor. In gath
ering up the bundles he found them wrapped
in Pacific Express COmpany'S labels,
and closer examination disclosed
that every package contained a prize, the
total amounting to nearly 10000. The pO-
lice were notified, and with a description of
the man traced him to a cheap boarding
house III the Third ward. but he was not at
home. They found his trunk and seized
it. As the boarding house people said
the nan was frequently out all night, the
pOlf$e continued searching the city, think
ing he must be out ON spree. This morn
ing he returned to the trunk store to ask
| about his valiSe, and was arrested. He had
been at the Third Ward boarding house
since March s. but it is not known whether
or not he boarded anywhere eise before
that. Besides the money there was large
amount of valuable jewelry in the valise.
| The money was placed i'll the Mei-
chants Exchange Bank The arrest
of Prentiss Tiller caused great crowds
to gather at the Central Police Sta
ton, but the prisoner was carefully guarded
and could be interviewed only very briefly.
He was loud in saying he had no accom-
plice, but sc the same time it remained for
the company to prove who stole the money.
He was very happy, and proposed that the
police shut the outer doors and charge the
crowd an admission price to see him as a
curiosity. He was identified by Chicago and
| st. Louis agents WHO were in the city, hav-
| ing been called from Chicago last night,
when the money was found yesterday.
THEIRS ACCOMPLICE
| ST. LOUIS, March 14.-Inquiry of the Pa
cifc Express Company officials here regard
| ing the arrest of man at Milwaukee sup
| posed to be Tiller, throws very little light on
| the matter. They are very reticent, and
| little information can be obtained. 1t may
be said, however, that officials and detectives
here believe that after the robbery Tiller' )
accOmplice took charge of the plunder which,
| he being a stranger, was easily taken out of
the city. The arrangement eventually
was that the accOmplice should divide the
spoils and send Tiller'S to him by express tc
Milwaukee, addressing him, of course, in an
assumed name. Tiller reached Milwaukee
on the morning of the Sth, but there made
the troublesome discovery that he had for
gotten the name he was to assume in inQuir-
| ing for his express package. In this emer-
gency he telegraphed McFadden, at Sher-
man, Texas, asking what was the name the
valiSe was to bear. The telegram was i'll
tercepted and McFadden, who had
already been located, was carefully watched
| to determine whether he sent an answer.
He did not, and his arrest occurred a few
| hours later. Meanwhile express authorities
| here were notified, and on Tuesday eve
ming detective started from here for Mil
waukee. 1t would appear that Tiller sue
ceeded in recalling the name he was to as
sumo, and got possession of the valise be-
| fore the detective arrived; but met with
disaster few hours afterward,
through the trunk store episode which Oc-
CURED at time when it is said the whole
detective force of Milwaukee We're looking
for him, knowing him to be in town.