Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-04
Gns.r EXPRESS Robbery.
One Man. SIRgIe-fsnded, RObs an Express Hes
senger on Train In Missouri, Capturing $780,.
O00-One Of the Most Skiliful Exploits In the
annals nj Crime

One Man. sIngle-Handed, RObs an Express Mes
senger on Train in Missouri, Capturing $780,.
0o0-One OF the Most skillful Exploits In the
Annals OF Crime.
The Adams express car attached TO pas
senger train No. 3, on the st. Louis & San
/ Francisco road, which left st, Louis at
S:25 Monday night the 25th inst, was
robbed of over $50, 900 in cash between
St. Louis and Pacific, Mo. Before the
train left st. Louis a man giving the name
Of Cummings presented to the express mes
senger, Mr. Fotheringham, a cleverly forged
letter bearing perfect fac-simile OF the sig
nature OF Barrett, the local agent OF
the express company at st. Louis.
The letter stated that Mr.. Barrett
had decided to put an extra man on
the route, that the bearer was he, and that
Mr. Fotheringham vas directed to teach
him the details OF tho business. The stran-
| ger Was allowed to enter the car and took
| great interest in all OF the movements OF
the messenger, apparently desiring to learn
quickly the ms and outs OF theduties which
the letter stated he was expected to per-
| form.
Supt Damsel gives the following as the
result OF IA long examination of the mes
senser, made at the Office OF the company:
Mr. Fotheringham says that as he was
about to 60 out on his run last night,
a man came to him with letter purport-
| ing to be signed by myself and Mr.. Barrett,
| instructing him to take the bearer
Jim Cummings, on his run as far as
Pierce City, for instructions. In accord
anee with the supposed instructions,
Fotheringham took the stranger and set
! him to work checking up. Then he began
| his own work. Fotheringham was standing
with his back to the stranger, his coat off
and the handle OF his revolver sticking out
| OF the pistol-poeket, when about ten or III
| teen miles out OF the union depot, he was
attacked from the rear. Tho stranger
| gripped his neck with one hand and
| grasped his revolver with the other.
| Before Fotheringham realized what was be-
ing done, he was thrown to the floor. He
| struggled and fought, but the stranger
overcame him and bound him hand and
foot. Then he put a gag in his mouth and
| tied him to the sale. Having secured the
messenger. he proceeded to go through the
| safe and take all there was in it, Sever
al pouches of silver he cut open,
| but left them when he found what
! they contained. At Mincke some men
working in lime kiln tagged
| the train on account OF an obstruction on
| the track. While it was standing still some
one tried to get into the express car, but
the robbeT stood over Fotheringham with
loaded revolver and prevented his max
| ing any effort to cry out. At about Pacif
| ie station, the robber took his plumber,
| and opening the front door OF the car went
| out on the platform and closed the door.
| What ne did after that Fotheringham
| does not know. He lay on the floor o! the
| car until the car reached st. Clair, when
| he was able to get the gag out OF his mouth
| and cry out for assistance. The train
men, hearing him, endeayored to get in the
| back door, and finding il locked went
around to the front door, which the robber
had left open. They released him. Foth-
| eringham says the robbsr was about six
| feet high, twenty.four years OF age,
| weighed about two hundred ponds.
| He had dark, straight hair, cut close,
| IA thin, dark mustache, a low forehead,
| wore dark clothes and dark gray over
| coat. The messenger WAS gagged with hand
| kerchies tied in knots forced in his mouth
and bound around his head. His hands
were tied together behind his back with a
silk handkerchief. His legs were fastened
| with straps taken from valises in the car,
| cords and heavy strap which WAS around
| the safe. He was tied to handle OF the SAFE
| 1t is customary TO send new men out on the
road with messengers to receive instruc-
| tions and such orders as Fotheringham
says we're presented to him by the robber
would be issued either by Route Agent Bar
rett or himself. Fotheringham telegraphed
| in to the company's general manager that
he had been robbed, and he mir Damsel)
was notified OF the fact about half-past
| one o'clock this morning. Mr.. Damsel says
| he can not yet name the amount stolen,
| but as the run was unusually heavy, he
| thinks it will exceed $4,000