Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-05
BOLD ROBBERY.
An Express Messenger Bound,
Gagged, and $4,000
Stolen.
A Clcverly cOncO.tci s,he nc.

E at : :45 at night was robbed OF over $50.
I Vlp IN cash between 81. LOuis and Pacific,
, Mo. A man giving the name Of Cummings
boarded the tram az 81 Louis and
presented Clevcrly forged letter TO the
express messenger, Mr. FOtherngham The
letter purported 10 be from MIR Barrett
local agent stating that Cummings was
about 10 take run on the line aud ask
/ ing FOtheringham 20 give him points As
the stranger was "a quiet un lssuming
man fotherinSham was not at all sus-
piCiOus of him.
The two men busted themselves with
accounts until between St Louis and
facihc when FOthering CHAM said there was
nothing more for him 10 do. Cummings
then sat down IN a chair. FOtheringham
still busted himself over the accounts and
II Wa necessary for him TO go TO the safe
In 'rning he saw Cumming calmly sit
ting IN the chair with cooked revolver
I fotherlngham says Cumming, cOolly ap-
preached him aud said II he remained
! quiet an would be well, but if he made
/ any cutlery he would not an wcr for the
consequences Fotheringham said he had
nothing 20 do but submit and allowed
cummings to bind and gag him He was
then tied TO the safe and Cummings pro-
ceeded with the robbery.
Inc safe had been left open. and il took
/ but few minutes for the robber TO secure
! the bank notes and valuable, in the shape
/ of Jewelry, etc. He cut open the bag, con
tanning the silver coin, but he evidently
/ concluded that these were too heavy for
him 10 carry, and he did not disturb their
contents. or the gold however, he took
goodly amount and then proceeded TO
make good his escape The road at
TINS point runs directly ALONGSIDE
of high bluff which. in
places, oVerhangs the tracks, making the
danger OF wrecks from collision, with
boulders, which occasionally fall from
above upon the tracks, very great. Trains
therefore, slack up at this point and run
slowly until the dangerous place is passed.
ms the engineer OF train No. did as
usual and thus offered the robber an easy
means OF escape. He first locked all but
one door. stepped out on the platform.
locked the door from the outside and
jumped on. The messenger, Fothering-
nam, IN the meantime could do nothing to
relieve himself, not being able To call for
help. Near Mincke a boulder h6a fallen
on the tracks and the train was DELAYED an
hour before II could be removed The
conductor tried the door Of the eynress
car but found IL locked. and supposing the
messenger 10 be busy did not ask for ad-
mittance At 81. Clair he again tried the
door ot the express car but found il lock-
ed lie listened for minute and heard
the messenger struggling TO free himself
ana making all the noise possible nv
Kicking with his feet against the side OF
the car. The conductor suspected some
thing wrong and burst the door omen
finding Fotheringham as above described
lie Wa quickly released and told his ex-
Perlcnce The robher had got "A start of
iulN TWO hours and IL was useless u nm
back and Try TO find him
hen the train arrived in 81. Louis
l.otherlngham sought Superintendent
DamscI and made his official report. He
ADMITS that the total los, To the companv
would be over $4,000 II is a singular
Tact that he gave the name Of Jim Cum
mlngN, the only member of the Jesse
James gang VINO has not been accounted
Tor. lle j. described a. about u wears Of
lSTi SIX ,i.N. ieet tan weight about 200 pounds
ana wore dark clothe, with dark over
'oat. Fotheringham thinks he had ac-
'oinpllce~ as he seemed 10 talking TO soma
me ON the front platform
fothernch ham Is - years old and has
leeh employed by the COMPANY for four
ear, lie has an excellent record When
l-ked where Fotheringham was Mr.
)amsel said he had gone up town with
mother man and il i supposed that this
nun was an officer OF the law though this
uTHlSe would neither be affirmed or
euicd "a
Superintendent Damsel saws Fotber-
ngham made statement 10 him that as
- was anout TO go ont on hisrun strange
nam gave him "a letter purportino 70 la
lEned by the Superintendent and Mr.
'afret lnStructing him To take Jim Cum
llngs 10 fearce City for instructions.
otherlngham set him checking up. while
e was working Mt his own accounts win
j. coat of and his pistol sticking out az
l. POCKET lie was gripped from the rear
no ms pistol taken from him. He was then
I"Wh 10 the noor struggling desperately.
e was. however. overcome and bound
ana ana foot gag was nut in his
l"Hih ana ne was then tied TO the safe
ne stranger then riled the safe Al
eflche the train was tagged because OF
u obstruction and some one tried "a
ltef the express car. The stronger with
pointed revolver threatened 10 kin
otherngh1m II be made an outcry ~
acme station the rohber took his plundor
eh{ our on the platform and this was the
- f"thcfngham saw of him
w men The train reached st Clair be had
orked the g1g out Of his mouth and
lcd out for assistance. The train men
ara NM and tried 70 enterthe renr door
~ found IL locked and they then went
Inc front door, which had been loft
,eh. entered Che car and released him.
"tneiInenan was gagged with hand
fchlet ted ~ Knots. and hi, hands were
I'll WITH silk handkerchiefs and his foot
TN Strfp~ taken from vali.eS la fhe cor
was tied TO the handle Of the spfe
'ain~el says u is customary 10 send neS,
~ out with old ones for instrurtione
q Nu'h orders rs were pre- cnted would
issued either 10y himself or Mr.. Barrett.
I nam cannot name the amount
l'n but 1T = thought will exceed $50
Every effort is being made TO obtoin
iGe TO the robbcr The company and
.rcuNeS are proceeding on the theory of
Ineringham innocence. I'm al he has
ihed Tor the company for four YEAR.
Wo detectives tried to force Fothering
u INTO making "a confession