The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-28
THE BIG EXPRESS ROBBERY.
No Developments and No Clew to the Thief
Confirmation of the Messengers Story.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 27.-There are no new devel-
opments in the Adams Express robbery at this
writing. Mr.. Damsel was seen at his Office this
morning and said he gave the Associated Press
all the facts in the case as far as they had come
% his knowledge, yesterday, and absolutely moth
eng new had turned up since. In regard to the
Yepors that Messenger Fotheringham had made
8 confession, he stated that there was no truth
in it; that they were working on the theory that
the messengers story was true; that the latter
had not been arrested nor placed under surveil-
lance but Of his own accord was in constant
communication with the officers of the company
and the detectives who have the case in hand,
and is aiding them as much as he is able in their
attempt to discover the whereabouts and iden-
6ity of therobber. The dispatch from Springfield,
printed here this morning, giving the story OF a
man who travelled from St Louis with an ind-
giausl who answered the robbers description,
snd whose satchel contained large number of
bank notes tied up in packages, was shown Mr..
Damsel He said that if the story was true it
was very important discovery, but there were
so many stories afioat of like nature that it
was difficult to select the probable from the inn
probable ones They would investigate the oc-
currence, but he doubted if it would lead to the
discovery of the robber. The detectives have
several other clews, and are hard at work upon
the case
Fotheringham N was seen at the company's Office,
this morning, by reporter, to whom he told the
story of the robbery. He made his statement in
frank, straightforward manner, without the
eli hir% cia
He said that he was we'll aware that circum-
stantial evidence pointed strongly to his being
an accessory to the robbery, but that he had
nothing to conceal and was confident that the re-
suit of the investiga tion would clear him of all
suspicion The only poiHt in the messengers
statement which was not given out yesterday is
that the robber told Fotheringham that he had
hn accomplice upon the train, who, if he (the rob-
oerl was unable to carry out his plans unaided,
would come to his assistance.
u. e. Wier, superintendent Of the Cincinnati
division OF the Adams route, arrived in this city
from Cincinnati this morning and has been in
conference with Superintendent Damsel con-
cernlng the robbery. It is thought they will of
fer q large reward for the capture of the robber
Fotherlngham, in relating in detail his expert
ence with the robber to-day, said: "After bind
ing me, Cummings, as he called himself, took
tne Key to the safe from my pocket, unlocked the
"nN soOh Iuo pouches out he Ln6n LOOK his
grlpsack, and opening It, tried to fit the pouches
ln without opening but could not do SO. He
shen took his knife from his pocket, cut the
poucnes open and removed the contents. He re-
moved some articles of clothing from his bag and
tnreW them out of the window of the south side
OF the car We were then somewhere near Mer-
lmec, should judge, for we had just passed
t.lrougn tunnel. He transferred the money to
!, ns Dag and was then ready to make his escape.
oelore ne left he said to me: You would be sur
prlsed II told who am / said: don't know
1s y would. WE'LL he continued I am Jim
cummings, the last of the Jesse James gang I
was In that Blue Cut job, and only got ST. 800
ous OF IL Since then / have passed
considerable time in Australia and
Gan francisco He seemed familiar with the
names and doines of the various members of the
James gang. When he began talking he re-
moved the gag from my mouth, but when the
Aain reached poiLt Pacific he replaced it
80 1nat could make no outcry, in the meantime
threatening to blow my brains out if attempted
~ attract any ones attention.
40 test the messengers statement a search
as maoe Tor the clothes which he said the rob-
s;Sa nau thrown from the car. and on the south
~ y. tne track, near Merimec. several articles
sarg v.Osnlng and some old papers and printed
songs were found, and have been broueht ,o This
;ys One OF the garments measured about 38
hiusnes around the waist bearing out Fotherino.
LOU statement as to the size of the wearar
~ no IS ~ supposed. OF course, to be the robber
s.. Ao Collar was also found. Fotherinc cham's
aseinents have thus far been remarkably clear
sss sa1 sUalgntforward and free from contrad;c
rohh..Ah me opinion is gaining strength that the
rss.ay vas bona fde affair, and that the
SSeehger was In no way accessory to it.