Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-16
A HEAVY HAUL.

Daring Robbery on Savannah EloIlua
and Western Railway Cara Nal1se
Containing 500 Lifted by a Car Seat
Thief.
Inc details Of a daring and successful
car. seat robbery at the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway passenger depot
were reported to the police late Thursday
night, and the detective force is now
working the case.
On Thursday morning Mr.. George b.
Hack. well known lumberman at Hack
ton. 10 miles below Jesup, on the Macon
and Brunswick Railroad, arrived in the
city and registered al the Marshall House.
He was accompanied BY Mr.. J. D. Barnes,
manager Of Reppard's Mills, at Josselyn.
No. 81. on the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway. Both gentlemen came
70 Savannah for the purpose Of dTa"IIg
money with which TO pay the mill hand9
In their employ. After transacting some
business they went To the savannah
Bankand Trust COmpanF's and drew
t0rlthcr about $1,000. OF this amount
Nj Hack drew 500 and Mr.. Barnes
$1,000. They returned 70 the u aI7naI
House. and intending 10 leave on the o:4O
e. 70. train. engaged carriage 10 carry
them 70 the depot. While stapding IN
a stranger, who had been lOunging IN the
chairs on the yeranda, approached. ana
asked permission To ride with them,
as he was going 70 the same train.
The stranger had the appearance q
travelling man. and no objection being
raised he made one Of the party getting
out as the carriage reached the depol
platform. Mr. Hack had with nm MS
valise. containing his mOney-SZVJ IN
ID rff = II
number Of other articles. Mr. Barnes
also had his money, amounting
to over Sl.200 in a yalise. Inc
train was in readiness and both gen
tlemen entered the car. taking separate
seats. \ delay in the arrival OF lhe
Charleston and Savannah tram necessItd-
ted a delay in the departure OF the south
/ bound train, and after waiting some tlihe
Mr. Hack went out On the platform. leaE-
/ ing his yalise in the seat he had occupied,
which was just in the rear
Of the one occupied by Mr. Barnes:
He took the precautiOn, however, % can
the latter's attention 10 IL. and asked MIN
70 look after i a few minutes during Ms
absence. Mr.. Barnes was lylng oO"H
with his head resting on his own Nallse'
and in a moment fell asleep. Mr.. Hack
had not been out Of the car over ten nm
utes. during which time he was walking
up and down the platform awaiting the
arrival Of the Charleston train, Wnen ne
returned and found his Valise gone.
Mr. Barnes was aroused but was I'M
able 10 give any explanation OF the mater.
Both gentleman Immediately reported the
case 70 officer Allen Jones in charge Of
the cOmpany's yards, and search was
made to discover if possible the author
Of the robbery. There were several Occu-
pants of the car when Mr.. Hack entered,
but it was impossible % attach Suspicion
to any one Of them. \ few minutes
later the train pulled out Of the station.
Mr.. Hack. however, had concluded 70 re-
main and assist III the search Iof ms
property. Acting upon the advice OIL tne
officers at the station, he went to the police
barracks and reported his loss to ten.
Anderson. who placed the case IN the
hands Of Detective Kelly. owing TO the
lateness Of the hour little could be done
that night. 1t was believed, however,
that the perpetrators OF the rob
berry had watched Mr.. Hack ana
followed him from the bank
to the train, and awaiting their oppor-
tunity, had grabbed the yaJise and
jumped from the car, escaping uhuer
cover Of darkness without fear OF detec-
ton.
Yesterday morning, Isadore Roberts,
cOlOred brick mason. while at work on an
clubhouse in the Beach Institute grounds,
corner Of Price and Harris streets,
found In the lower part Of
the structure a leather yalise which had
apparently been cut open and part Of the
contents taken. He took the valise to
the barracks. where all Of the articles,
among which was the canvas bag which
contained the silver. were identified by
Mr.. Hack as belonging 10 him. The clue
was taken up by the officers. but as yet
they have not succeeded in obtaining any
further trace Of the property or clue 70
the thieves. Nj. Hack believes that the
stranger who rode with him in the car
riage 10 the depot was in some way con-
nected with the affair. but Is unable 10
give the officers anv further information.