Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-04
BIG DOODLE.
An Adams Express Messenger
Overpowered in His Car,
Bound, Gagged and Made Fast to the Safe
by Clever Rohber, Who Coolly APP
propriates Nearly S5o,Oo and
Makes His Escape.

by Il Clever Rohber, Who Coolly APP
propriates Nearly $4,000 and
Makes His Escape.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26.-The messenger OF
the Adams Express Company who left
Union Depot at 1928 O'Clock last evening
in charge of the car on the west-bound
st. Louis & San Francisco train was
bound and robbed of $50, 900 at & point
on the road between Meramec station
and Mincke's Bluff. Shortly before the
train pulled out of the depot last night
two men were seen in the vicinity of the
express car, and later Il man. supposed to
be one of this couple, boarded the car,
and accOsting Messenger Fotheringham
presented a letter, purporting to be
signed by Route Agent Barrett,
instructing the messenger to
initiate the holder into the duties
of the position of messenger on last
nights trip. AT the regular time the
train pulled out OF the depot and the ex-
press car was closed as usual. Near st.
Clair, a station ffty-f1ve miles west of st.
Louis, the train was tagged by a couple
of negroes, who said they had discovered
a rock on the track. Some distance
further on large stone, which 1t was es
timated weighed several tons, was dis
covered between the rails, having appar-
emily been rolled down the declivity at
the side of the rails. When the train
pulled up, Conductor Sprinkle went for
ward, and as he passed the express car
tried the door, but could not arouse the
messenger.
A delay was caused while the train crew
removed the rock from the rail. 1t seemed
possible that this stone had fallen from
the ledge of one of the embankments at
the side of the Frisco track. Although
the work consumed an hour and thirty
minutes, no further effort was made to
call the express messenger, whose as
si3tance was not required in removing
the obstruction. When the train reache
ST. Clair cries were heard from the ex
press car, and the conductor went to the
door of the car and, calling Engineer
Chas. Hoag, pushed it open.
Messenger Fotherinsham was found
tied by the neck to the safe, with his
hands and feet bound It was then al
most one O'Clock. message announc-
ing that the Adams Express car had been
robbed was then sent to the St. Louis G
San Francisco train dispatcher at the
company's yards, Manchester road and
Choutcau avenue, this city. This infor-
nation was impaired to Private Watch
man McCairn, who Immediately tel
ephoned the Fifth Police District sta
ton, together with the Information
that a freight train would shortly be
due at the yards from the West. Ser
geant Woodlock, with Patrolmen Arrow,
Mccarthy, Walsh and McFadden. started
for the yards at once, and on reaching
the office Instructed Dispatcher Burns to
obi oin Lott lid cfnfa Of ha
berry from the messenger. The train
had, however, pulled out, and telegram
was accordingly sent to the next station,
where the train was stopped and the
statement secured.
Fotheringham stated that shortly after
eight O'Clock last night, at the Union
Depot, a man weighing about two hun
bred pounds, tall and well built, with Il
ford face and low forehead, large hand>
and feet and coarse voice applied at the
door of the car and at once handed in 81
letter purporting to be signed by Route
Agent Barrett and instructing him to
take out the bearer, an extra man, on
last nights trip. After the train had
started out, the man stated that his name
was Jim Cummings. Fothernglam
stated that he was busy with his usual
duties during the first few miles of the
trip At about half-past nine, at some
spot near Meramec station, "Cummings'
suddenly drew a revolver, and as resist
ance Was useless. in his estimation, he
submitted to be bound and tied 10 the
safe, after which Cummings helped him
self to packages of currency supposed tc
contain $4,000, most of which was con.
signed to Springfield, Mo. Fotheringham
could give no more accurate description
of Cummings than that above stated,
4
dark clothes. Fotheringham returned
10 this city this morning and was
at once taken in charge by Su.
perntendent Damsel of the Adams
Express Company, who had him closeted
in the express company's office at Twelfth
and Poplar streets all morning. Mr.. Dam
sci, when seen, stated that Messenger
Fotheringham could not be seen by any
body until he had first made a full state
ment to the express company. At 10 u.
m. Fotheringham was still slowed away
at the express office. and it was given out
that he was laboring upon his written
official statement.
The following is the official report Of
the general superintendent of the Frisco
road to the general manager of the road
the robbery:
express robbery on No. last night.
a letter TO him in Union depot signed by
Mr.. Barrett, route agent Adams Express
Company, ordering him to take an extra
man out in his car. He allowed the man
10 ride with him. Somewhere between
St. Louis and Pacific the messenger
claims that the man turned on him with
revolver and tied and gagged him and
rifed the safe and left the car near
Pacific. No. was delayed near
Min.ke one hour and thirty min
utes removing large rock
from the track, which had fallen from the
bluff. The conductor tried the door OF
the express Car while they were there,
but could raise no one. At Pacific the
express agent also tried the door, but
could not raise the messenger. At st.
Clair, tifty-lwo miles out, Sprinkle, the
heard noise in the car and
forced the door open, finding the mes
senger tied but not injured. Express
company officers have all been notified,
as we'll as the authorities ut points east
of Rolla. The messenger stated that he
lost over $4,000 in packages and c"-.
rency."