The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-27
BIG DOODLE BAGGED
BY A hold EXPRESS RoBBER.
An Adams Express Messenger Bound aud
Gagged by One Man aud the safe
Depleted of Fifty Thousand Dol.
Iars-Ths Robbers Escape.

Depleted of Fifty Thousand Dol
) lars-The Robbsr's Escape.
ST, Louis. Oct, 28,-Ths Adams Express
CIr attached to passenger train No, 3 on
the St, LouIs and San Francisco railroad,
which left this city at 1925 last night, was
robbed Of over $4,000 in cash between
here and Pacific, Mo. From reports 1t
seems that before the train left this city o
man giving tho name OF Cummings pre-
sented lsttsrs to the Express Messenger
Mr., Rockingham, purportlng TO be signed
by the officers OF the company,
stating that Oummings was ahout
TO take a run" ON the
line and asking rockingham to give him
the points, When rear MerrimRc the
stranger oVerpowered the messenger,
gagged him and bound him TO the safe
alter which he rihsd the car. He cut open
the bags containing the silver, but took
none OF It, Al MerrimaC the robbsr left
the train, The robbery was not dlscov-
ersd until the train reached Pacific, when
the express car was broken open and
Messenger FEothinghsm found tied to the
sale.
Express officials are retCent, but admit
that over $780, 00O ives taken. The robbsr
ia impeTIeCtly described as a tall, dark
man OF prepossessilg appearance, dressed
In black with very largehandsa and feet. II
is singular coincidence that he gave the
name OF jim Cummings, the only member
OF the once celebrated James gang who
has never been accounted Tor,
NEAT TRICK.
The stranger who gave the name Of
Cummings to rockingham, the mesaeu.
ger, presented c'eyerly forged letter
bearing perfect fac sinlle Of the sigma.
ture Of Barrett Roole, the local agent Of
the ExpreHa company at st. Louis. The
lstter stated that Mr.. Rooe had decided
to put au extra man on the route; that
the bearer was he and that Mr.. Froth-
inghsm was directed to teach him the |
dssails Of the buGiness. The stranger was
allowed to enter the car, and took great |
interest In all tho movements OF the mes
senger, apparently desiring to learn
quickly the iuS and outs OF the duties
which the letter stated no was expected |
to perform. Mr.. Frothlugham'S sus.
pici0na we're not aroused, and the stranger
impressed him rs "a quiet and proposes.
ing companion, The two men busted
themselves with aCcounts, etc., and all
went well till point between St. Louis
and Pacific, Mo-, was reached. In the
meantime the new assistant was informed
that there WAS nothing more that he
could do at that time and he seated him.
self in chair awaiting till come new
duties should bo assigned him to per.
form,
COVERED WITH A REVOLVER.
Rockingham was still busily engaged
over his accounts with his back
turned to Cummings. In the course Of
time It became necessary for him to 20 to
the safe, aud turning to do SO he saw the
stranger callnl y sitting In the chair with |
u cooked revolver leyeled at his (Froth.
ingham's) head. Cummings eau.
tiously approached the dumb.
founded messenger and told him II he re- |
malned quiet aud made ne |
cry or raised no alarm his life would not
be endangered, but II he acted otherwise |
he could not sOswer for tbs consequences
Rockingham mad nothing 10 do but sub.
init and according to his statement the
robber bound him hand and foot, put |
HRg into his mouth, tied him to the safe |
90 that he couldn't move and proceeded
with his work. The safe had baen left |
open aud 1t took but few minutes for
the robber to secure the bank notes and
valuables in the shape Of jswelry, etc
dc cut open the bags containing silver
coin hut evidently considered that they |
we're too heavy for him 10 carry and he |
didn't diaturb their contents. OF the gold |
however, hs took q good amount, and then
proceeded to make good his escape. The |
road AZ this point runs directly alongside |
Oi high bluff which, In places, over.
hangs tho tracks, m Aking danger OF wrecks |
from collisions with houldeTs which oc.
Casionally fall from above upon the tracks |
very great, trains therefore slack up at
this point and ruu slowly until the dan.
gerous place is passed. This the engineer
oi train No. 8 did as usual, and thus OF.
lered the robber an easy msBns OF escape.
He first locked all but one door, stepped
out on the platform, locked the door from
tho outside and jumped of.
THE MESSENGERS FLIGHT.
The messenger, rockingham, in the
meantime could do nothing to release
himself, not being able even to call for
help. Near MinCks boulder had fallen
on the tracks, and the train was delayed
an hour before 1t could be removed.
The conductor tried the door OF
the express car, but found 1t locked, and
suppoaing the messenger TO be busy didn't
ask for admittanoe. At 81, Clair he again
tried the door and found II locked. He
listened for moment and heard the
messenger struggling TO free himself, and
making oil the noise possible by kicking
with his feet against the eide OF tho car.
Tho conductor suspected something
wrong aud burst the door open. hndiBg
Rockingham as above described. He was
) lquickly released, and told hiB
experience. The robber had got
q start Of fully two hours, and
1t was useless to run back to try and find
him. The train therefore proceeded on
its way and arrived In this city this morn.
ing at 7 o'clock on its return trip. Froth.
ingham Immediately Bought the Snperin-
tcndent oil the company, aud was Closeted
with him for sometime, at the end Of
which he commenced preparation Of his
official report, refusing to make auy state.
inent 10 outsiders regarding the robbery,
except that tho total loss would amount
to something over $4,000 The officers
OF the company have nothing 10 say Of the
affair.
| AN OFFICIALS STORY.
supt. DamSel Of the Express Company
gives the following as the result Of q legal
examination Of the messenger made at the
Office Of the company this morning, "Mr.
Rockingham says that Ss he was about 10
10 out on his run last night q man came 10
him with letter purportIng 10 be signed
by myself and Mr.. Barrett inBtructing
him 10 take tho bearer, Jim Cummlngs,
on bis run as far as Pierce City for instrtic.
tiong. rockingham took the stranger and