The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-22
A DETECTIVES STORY.
Robbing an Express Train and
Tracing tho Robber


One OF the most vivid stories OF an
original and successful attempt at rob
bcry. in which the deity covered tracks
OF the robbcr were clcvcrly traced by an
exceptionally Shrcwd detective. is told
by Thomas Furlong. Chief of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Secret Service. The mar
rativc-o one of absorbing intercst-tells
how iugcniously scheme was con-
ccivcd and worked 10y the express mes
scuscr and telegraph operator, W. W.
McCalla, whereby he succeeded in rob
bing the Union Express Company, Of
Pittsburgh, Pa, out OF $1,000.
"McCalla," said Chief Furlong. twas
about twcnty-Scycn years old when he
turned hi, trick in 1884, He was u
small man. not much over five feet.
When Met ALA took possession of the
expires, car he Immediately entered
upon tile discharge of his duties as
IN s,cugcr n, though he hal served at
the Job for years. Boxes and packages
were put oil ut their proper places, and
when the train reached Pittsburgh he
took his scat on his safe in the express
WAGON AMI rode through the town un-
Gil hc cot opposite the City Hall. He
jumped oil then in spite oi the drivers
pro,c,tatiou, aud disappeared. 1t was
eleven o'G,ock that night before the
robbery was discovered. The driver
had told the Waterman that new mes
scngcr had brought the run in, and,
finally, getting t'rcd Of waiting for him
10 turn up with the safe keys, reported
the matter "a. Superintendent Bingham.
IT, opened the empty safe and called in
The police to investigate the robbery,
nnd they concluded after an cNamina-
ton that the safe had no money in it.
was in Oil City at that time,
and also acted us special agent
cor the Allegheny Railroad. On the
18th Of March, 1874 il suddenly dawned
lpon the mind, of the officials Of the
Union Express Company that they had
been robbed. Joe Cupples was then,
AMI /, now. special detective for the
express company. lie and myself were
set 10 work to lind the robber. There
wasn't the slightest clew to his identity.
All that We hid to start on was the fact
that the job had been worked BY tap
Ping the wires and sending bogus dis
patch, We travelled along the road.
lnd finally located the spot where the
work was done. 1t was between Kit
tanning and Cowanshannock. The
road runs along there under IN inn
mcnSc high BLUM, where land-slides fire.
lucn,ly occurred. and often big bould.
ar> would roll down on the track. To
prevent accidents of this kind watch.
men were placed at convenient dis
lanccS, and were provided with little
box houses To shelter them from tho
storm, that whistle along the mountain
,.dc. II was one of these places that
McCalla selected. lie had no trouble.
ior he knew all about tclcgraphing. so
when hc told the Waterman he had
come TO examine the wires no obicc-
lion was made. lie climbed tho pole,
ana out of half a dozen or more wires
selected the proper one to answer his
purpose with promptnesS that at once
marked him u an expert ut the bust.
ness. IL was the Pittsburgh wire he
wanted. Cutting il in two without any
hesitation he grounded the south end and
sent a message 20 the agent at Brady's
Bend. inquiring the name of the cx.
press messenger who was coming IN on
train No. .. Signed, George Bingham.
George Bingham was the Superinten-
dent ofth express company. An an
swer came back promptly, saving the
express messenger on No. . was Bing-
ham. brother TO George. McCalla
then sent the following dispatch. pur-
porting 20 come from Pittsburgh:
bingham. Messenger. Train No. 2. March
n, iS,I: J. &. Brooks will meet you at Temple.
ton on No. n. You will turn over To him your
run aud take his receipt for money and all
valuablcs. lie win bring your run into Pitts
burgh. and You will return ON No. u 20 Par.
kcrsburg, where you will report To Mcclellan,
Route Agent, who awaits you there.
.1tl GEORGE BINGHAM.
superintendent.
"Answor."