The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-19
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A CHURCH PILLAR IN DIsGRACE.
"A Sensational safe-Robbery Case, and Mr..
Sutherland's Part in It.

Sufherland's Part in It.
Louisville Commercial.
At the Arlington Hotel, last night, reporter
was introduced by the gentlemanly night clerk
10 Mr.. J. H Mowatt, a detective of Lafayette.
Ind, formerly of the Pinkerton agency, Chicago
who related beautiful Sunday school story IN
which an amen brother of the Methodist Church
figures conspicuously. On the 9Th of October last
the safe in the store of Rafferty, & Sutherland
at Springville, Ind, robbed of 81, 800
Sprngville is ten miles from Bedford, on the
Bloomfield Narrow gauge railroad ABOUT eightv
miles from Louisville. The firm in question is
composed of NJ. c. Rafferty, and e. Il. Suther-
land, carrying on general store as is usual
in small towns Sutherland besides being a
gtorekeeper. is postmaster Adams Express
agent principal of the high school and avery
large pillar in the Methodist Church. lie
is thirty years old, is married, has
several children, and is very popular,
particularly among the good brethren
and ''sistren." After the robbery was committed
Sutherland employed local detective to work up
the matter and finally on the 24th of October
called Detective Mowatt into the case After
signing the necessary contract with Mr.. Mowatt,
Mr. Sutherland was asked to state all he knew
in connection with the robbery.
He said: II went to church on the night OF
Oct B. and afterward went to the store, where
found the safe door open, the inner doors locked,
and on opening them discovered that all the
money had placed in the safe, 81 800, was mss
ing, | saw man named J. NJ Gainey, loaing
around the store and | think he is the robber."
The safe was new one of Halls make, bur
glar proof with combination lock- Mr. Mowatt,
who is safe-lock expert. says man not know
ing the combination numbers would nave exact
ly one chance in 1877 000 600 of opening it. Suth-
erland said that he was'the only one who knew
the figures of the combination, but that he had
Kept them on piece of paper IN the drawer, and
intimated that some one had got possession or
the figures in that way This he told Mowatt
after he had been working on the case several
days. He also said Now, Dir. Mowatt, want
you TO discover the robber and no matter who
he is even though it be myself arrest him."
81 concluded az once" said Mr.. Mowatt that
Sutherland himself was the robber, and this
morning after having sfted things thoroughly
/ arrested him and placed him In jail Well you
can wager that howl went up, especially from
The pious citizens aud the Jail was thronged all
day with brethren and sistren of the church,
who extended sympathy to the brother and
vented their wrath upon me for my unholy
action. They told the victim that the Lord
would see him through, and many fervent pray
ers were offered in his behalf. I've got the dead
wood on ninl, and the law will see me through
much to his sorrow, | am free to confess. The
money stolen did not belong to the firm;
$1,167 of it belonged to- Dr. Wesley
Short. son ain law of Rafferty,, and the
remainder to the Adams Express Company At
a preliminary trial Sutherland was held in the
sum of 81. 500 for robbing DR.. Short, and on next
Wednesday he will have hearing on charge
of rohbing the Adams Express Company. l
think he was hard pressed for money and took
the money to pay his debts with. He has not
disposed OF it as yet, and has it secreted some
where ] arrested him at his home in the pres
ence of his wife who is fiery tempered and has
a red head When told him my errand, he
turned to her and said 4 am arrested She
replied. Yes, and you gave the nasty thing
$50 to catch you too Sutherland had given
me $50 TO pay expenses with.
''The matter is all the talk in Bedford, where
he has host of friends He is one of the most
popular young men In that section His mother
owns considerable property, and it is thought
will make desperate effort to clear him. When
arrested he expressed both astonishment and in
dignation, and made bold effort to buldoze
me, but wouldn't have it, and he finally broke
down and cried. Ho did not confess, however,
and means to fight it out He is a
nephew of Judge Pierson, the newly
elected Judge, of Bedford, and is highly
connected otherwise The matter has
created the greatest sensation and
developments awaited with anxiety. He
wanted me to arrest Gaihey, and pressed me
very hard, saying that if l dida't Gainey would
be mobbed by the citizens. | stood him off, as |
felt confident had him dead to rights from the
first He bungled the whole affair up; told me
many conflicting stories and made monkey of
himself generally. He not only gave me the
best of grounds to arrest him, but has also in
nv opinion, convicted himself. He will go to
the penitentiary sure. despite his hypocritcal
pretensions to religion and his many friends"