, 1884-03-04
A Big Money Haul.

st. Louis, March 3.-Prentiss, teller
and money clerk OF the Pacific Express
company here, whose father is a Louis
vile detective, disappeared about three
o'clock yesterday afternoon, taking
with him one or two valises full of
money and packages, the total amount
being nearly $76,0Oo.
1t is the custom Of the company to
keep a money clerk and day Waterman
on duty in the oficeIon Sundays, the
doors being secured by a chain and
lock, 40 one being admitted except the
messengers who arrive on the morning
trains and have money packages to
turn over. Yesterday afternoon the
teller was on duty and the Waterman
remained in the back DON attending
10 the door, the front door being
locked. About two O'Clock the watch
man went out to lunch, leaving three
messengers sitting by the stove. While
be was gone the teller went out and
returned with a stranger whom the
messengers supposed to be q new clerk
or messenger.
Prentiss and the stranger went into
the front Office and were thought no
more Of. An hour later the teller came
into the back Office to wash his hands
and remarked to the Waterman, who
had returned, that he believed he would
20 out and get some lunch. Wiping
his hands he re-entered the front OH ce
and was not seen again. Half an hour
afterward the Waterman walked into
the front ONCE to get something and
was surprised to nnd the front door I'M
locked and the teller absent. He spoke of
1t to the messengers, and they told him of
the stranger. This alarmed him and he
~telephoned Mr.. Butler. also Mr.. Fuller,
the general manager Of the company,
and they came to the office at once.
While 1t was evident a robbery had
been committed, they could not get
into the safe to ascertain what was miss
Ing, as the teller had taken of the keys,
and 1t was not until after midnight
That the safe was opened, and consid-
erably later before information of the
matter was given out. The police were
promptly notified, however, and tele-
grams were sent to conductors on all
trains leaving, giving a description of
the teller.
1t was learned this morning that the
teller brought to the Office on Saturday
afternoon a large leather valise, which
ne put in the basement. 1t could not
Dc found to-day, and from this fact it is
believed preparations for the robbery
were made on Saturday.
A visit TO his room, No. 1922 Ohio
street, to-day, disclosed q number OF
unused money envelopes and printed
slips OF the company, and as he could
nave had no honest purpose in having
these in his room, MI. Bullet thinks
ne has been robbing tie company fol
som time.
The teller is a young man % years Of
age and was formerly with the Pacific
Express company two years and hat
.ne entire confidence Of bis employers
ne being a steady, quiet man.
he Is described as % years old
brown moustache and hair, pimpl.
iace, unobstrusive features, of slende
puiid, and weighing about 1876 pounds
Vi neat dress and quiet manner Hi
confederate is entirely unknown to tn,
cypress people, they not having th
.hgntest conjecture as to who he ia
me company have offered a reward Q
"'ooo for the arrest OF the man an
recovery Of the money, and IL capture
ne VIII be prosecuted to the full extern
OF the law.