The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-28
THE CAPTURE OF CUMMINGS.
The Pinkerton Agency Tells the Story
OF the Search for an Express Thief.
A Narrative That Reads More Like ImprOb-
able Fiction than Plain, Matter-Of-
Fact Statement of Actual Occurrences.


of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency to-
night. to a representative of the Associated
Press The agency has succeeded in arresting
five men, named Frederick Wtrock. who is the
author of the slim Cummings letters, and who
is claimed to be the man VINO perpetrated the
robbery; W. W. Haieht, an ex-empioye Of
the express company, who is supposed to have
aided in planning the robbery, from his knowl-
edge of the railroad run; Thomas Weaver,
Chicago laundryman, who was with Witrock be-
fore and after the robbery; Edward Kinney,
brother-in-law of Witrock, upon whose person
was found considerable portion Of the express
money. and Oscar Cook, who was with Witrock
after the robbery, and afterward divided the
money, and mailed the Jim Cummings letters
The detectives have turned over about 49, 900,
and estimate that from $40, 900 to $45, 900 is still
unaccounted for The story of the chase has ali
the dash of romance about it, and certain feat
ures of it would be regarded as improbable in
fiction
The express car or the st. Louis & San Fran
cisco Soad was rfied on the night of Oct. %, and
the express nessenger, David S. Fotheringham,
when discovered Sy the train hands, was found
bound and gagged in she car. He explained
that he had admitted man SSto the car who
presented letter from John B. Barre,$, route
agent of the express company, the letter ex
planning that the man was to be employed by
the company, and was to be given an oppor-
tunity to learn the business. Fotheringham re-
lated that while on the run the stranger pre-
sented revolver bound and gagged him, and
then carried off all the money in the safe. The
robbery occurred at Pacific Junction, about
thirty-six miles from st. Louis.
The Plnkerton agency sent operatives in all
directions, and the wagon roads running from
Pacific junction toward the Missouri river were
traversed, but only meager trace was found of
anyone, and the officials when they returned to
st. Louis, were completely at sea. In the mean
time letter addressed by ''Jim cummings"
to the Globe Democrat, of St. Louis. This af-
forded ciew on which the Pinkertons claim to
have comprised the arrest and fixed the crime Of
all the participants. In the meantime the de-
tectives obtained the names of all persons dis
charged or who voluntarily left the employ of
the express company during the preceding year,
and found among the former w. W. Haight,
who had been discharged nine months previous
for suspected theft of packages This man had
been messenger on the road, from st. Louis to
Vinita, |. T., covering the same run
which made by Fotheringham The
detectives found that he and Fotheringham had
been no intimacy. Haght was traced to Kansas
City, and from there to Leavenworth, where his
father was an inmate of the Home for Disabled
Soldiers From Leavenworth it was found that
Haight had come to Chicago, where he had been
employed as an express driver and also worked
for Fred Witrock the mysterious Jim Cum
mings. who was operating coalyard at the
corner of Lincoln and West Lake streets
Haight left the city on Oct q, two days after
the robbery, stating shat he was going to Flor
\ f.. FIJI
They had been very poor. but showed evidences
of sudden af1uence Immediately after the rob-
berry. The investigation by the detectives in
Chicago showed that Witrock had also
come from Leavenworth, and he
was absent from the city he could
not be questioned concerning Haight
When inquiry was pursued respecting Witrock
it was found that he correspondent very closely
to the description given of the mysterious Jim
Cummings" Further cautious inquiries showed
that Witrock had left the city on Oct. IL with
Tom Weaver, a laundry man, whose place of
business Is at No. 733 West Lake street, and
within few doors of Witrocks coalyard. 1t
was also learned that the men had taken with
them two valises, shotgun and musket, and
explained that they were going to Arkansas to
hunt Weaver it is ascertaned, had returned
to Chicago on Oct % Some of the handwrit-
ing of Witrock was obtained and Submitted to
the man who was passing judgment on the letter
addressed to the Globe Democrat. The detec-
exculpate Fotherneham professed to tell the
facts leading up to the robbery and what had oe-
Cured after the robbery. In this Jim Cummings"
explained that he had left package in the
Union Depot at st. Louis which would show
that he had number of the letter heads of the
express company, and in this letter the writer
said he had gone to the Missouri river to point
opposite Labadie and took a skiff below ST
Charles and foated down the river Detectives
sent to st. Charles, and found that two
riu rho ne
Weaver had bought a skiff and provisions, and
had gone up the river on Oct IA, instead of
down the river. The skiff was afterwards found
in gully, partly covered with sand.
In the bundle Jim Cummings spoke of as bav-
ing been eft at the Union Depot, in addition to
other articles, were some printed bags, and on
one of these was found the address 210S Chest
nut street, but which was only discernble under
a microscope. At this number was found to be
living woman named Mrs. Berry, who related
that she had had two roomers who corresponded
to Witrock and Weaver. They had come to her
house on Oct Is, and Weaver departed on the
night of Oct ~, saying he was going to Kansas
City Witr0ck left the evening of Oct 25.
explaining that be intended to go to Kansas
City also. Mrs. Berry was able to give a very
close description of both the men. Searching
the rooms they had occupied two red stamps
were found which corresponded to the labels
placed on two valises shipped to ST. Louis from
st. Charles as was explained by a study of the
uOohS VI VIC aclllc IApTcSS company, showing
that they were the baggage of two men who
had been at that place, bargaining for the
skiff and provisions. When these facts had all
been gathered, close watch was placed upon
Weaver in Chicago and the coal yard of Wit
rock, which was being managed hv kinney OPP
eratives were also sent to Leavenworth, where
Witrocks mother and sister, both respectable
people, were residing. 1t was found that l:.ights
wife and child were with Haights mother in
Leavenworth, and Haight's wife was in cor
respondence with Haight, who was located at
Nashville, Tenn. Haight was discovered to
have gone extensively into the roofing business
at Nashville, and he was always kept under
active watch About five weeks ago daughter
and son of Mrs Berry, OF St Louis. came to
Chicago and identified Weaver as one of the
men who had been a roomer at their house
The detectives then decided that they won Id not
modest Weaver, but would await the return of
Wtrock.
Investigation about this time showed that
Oscar Cook, formerly residing at Leayenworth,
a close friend Of Witrock's, had gone to Kansas
City Whara ha WAS found TO ha working as a