The Osceola times., 1885-06-13
EXPRESS ROBBERIES.
Old-Time Affairs Revived by the
Monon Outrage.
A Plucky Messenger and Baggage Man.
Sam Bass' Career In Texss-Desperats
Struggle to Save Hundreds of
Thousands Of Dollars.

party Of gentlemen were canvass.
ing the details OF the atrocious murder
and express robbery on the L., n. A. &
{. X. K. recently, when the conversa-
ton took a comprehensive turn, and
brought up incidents of like character
that have occurred within the past ten
years.
"Was the late Smith,ille job the
work of professional? asked the
writer
Every likely. I do not see how a
chance-tramp could be so well ac-
qualnted with conditions favoring the
success of such robbery If it was
the depreciation of tramp he had de-
voted considerable time N securing the
Information he wanted relative TO the
inmates OF the car, their habit Is, and so
on. He went about the bus ness as one
fully equipped, knowing just what he
had 10 contend with. and where to find
the spoils without loss of time or bung-
Ing search for valuables. IL was the
work OF an expert, or at least one so
lar advanced in the initiatory degrees
OF express robbery that it would be pay
Ing but little compliment TO his skill to
grade him as an apprentice. He knew
all about that train and the express
run"
Said another of the party; That
robbery, in which one man against two
comes ont the victor, calls 10 mind an
attempt 10 rob an express safe that hap,
pened on the Baltimore a. Ohio Rail-
road, when a plucky messenger and
baggage man saved $4,000 and other
valuables by beating of five robbers. 1t
was near seven O'Clock on the evening
oil April Is. 1878, that an east-bound
express stopped at Washington juno
ton for water. The messenger,
Stephen Miller, took the opportunity to
look into the safe to see that the $780,
VoO was secure. While bending over
the safe he was startled by voice;
Yes, he has got the money; let's 20
Tor him." Miller quickly arose and
saw two men. He instantly grasped
MS revolver, when the two men escaped
from the car, followed by two others
whom the messenger did not at first
see. But the fifth man, more plucky
than his fellows, who had been waiting
outside the turn Of events, leaped into
The car, brandishing a club. He was
powerfully built, and apparently had
double the strength of Miller, but the
messenger accepted the odds and
dashed for his antagonist, whom he
caught about the neck and body. A
struggle ensued that might have re-
suited unfavorably for Miller, had not
tne baggageman, hearing the noise,
come to his rescue. At this the robber
broke away from the messengers grasp,
jumped from the car and escaped"
do you remember" said another,
anxious to contribute his portion to
the record of outlawry and robbery.
that during the war one of the large
express companies lost considerable
amount of money it was taking to an
army paymaster? The money was the
pay Tor brigade, and when the train
arrived at dining station the messen-
ger left substitute in charge while he
went TO dinner The money was in
packages of one hundred dollars. but
when it reached the paymaster he, on
checking it, found several thousand
uoiiars wanting. 1t was assumed that
.neir regular messenger, although he
was arrested and afterward discharged,
could not have done the stealing; but
circumstances were so strongly against
MS substitute that he was convicted and
served a long sentence in the peniten-
uary: Suspicion still hovered over the
regular messenger and he, to relieve
himself of 1t, offered to compromise
WIN the company. 1t was not accept
ed, the company preferring to take the
llsk OF recovery in another way. The
ssuoslitute, after completing his time,
isit the peniteutiary, to be shadowed
SIX months by detectives, who finally
Vssovered hin ip tho act Of taxing the