The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-01-13
ROBBING A POSTOFFICE.
How Four ThieYcs Served an ELI
nOis POStmaStef.

nOis POxtmaSter.
A Chicago special gives the following thrill
ling details of a daring robbery and suDse-
cuent chase after tho thieves:
Mount Forrest is suburban town thir-
teen miles from the city, and not soul was
stirring when four muffled men got or the
CHICAGO and Alton train there at o'clock
this morning They walked boldly up to
Postmaster VIM. |. Cronin's residence, which
adioins the postoiice and general mer-
chandse store, on the main street. Cautiously
entering Cronins barn they selected the
fastest Of thre, horses and harnessed it up to
the best buggy. Driving. out to the front OF
the postotfice they hitched the horse One
remained as guard, another secuted the
residence for an entrance and the
other two assembled the poles
near by and cut the Western Union wires,
which run through Cronins premises. The
telegraph office is in the front Of his store, and
among his other accomplishments ne Is him.
self an operator. A loose window was found
in the basement of the house, and removing
it three Of the men climbed into the building,
their forms disguised by heavy garments and
their faces concealed beneath black masks.
The fourth man watched the street.
On the ground floor Cronin and his clerk,
Adam Mohr, were sleeping. This door was
locked. The corresponding chamber on the
second floor was occupied by Cronlns sister,
an INVALID, and her nurse. The first lntlma.
tion Of the burglars presence that reacneu
Cronin's ears was the cinking OF skele-
ton key, which awakened him. AS ne arose
in bed, simultaneously reaching for his re-
yolver, the light of bulls-eye lantern was
turned full upon him and he was commanded
to throw up bis hands. Three pistols covered
him. Lighting lamp, one Of the trio sat at
the bed, with a SiX-shooter IN each hand,
while his two companions ransacked the
store, postoGice and entire lower hoor
They took $l5U in stamps, $500 in cash, and
diamonds and other valuables to the total
worth of 81, 500.
"Who's up-stairs?" asked the spokesman, as
they were about to retire.
"My invalid sister"
elias she any money or jewery"
"She has not. Don't disturb her, I'M.
plore YOU, gentlemen. The shock might kill
her."
"We'll take your word for it, was the re-
plv, 'women folks isn't our game anyhow"
The burglars took coil of clotheslne from
the store, bound Cronin and Mohr hand and
foot. gged them securely, went out the
front door, crowded into the buggy with the
sentinel and drove off on the Chicago pike.
At Brighton Park they abandoned the bug
CIV, and, turning the horse around In the
road, whipped him toward home. he
logged back the ten miles to his stable The
BURGLARS divided the spoils by the light or
their bulIscye and started to walk INTO tne
CITY BY way of Archer avenue.
Meanwhile Cronin wrlggled and twisted IN
his thongs until, about twenty minutes after
the thieves had departed, he released himself
and then Mohr. In their excitement the two
men rushed out to the barn only half t-dresSed,
mounted the remaining horses bareback and
posted off for the city by different ROADS:
Failing to overhaul the robbers at the end OF
a five-mie gallop, bright thought struck
Cronin. Pausing at the little Village
of Summit he burst into an unoccupled tele,
oranh office and raising Chicago, wired
| Chief of Police Ehersold the particulars ot
the burglary, after which lie continued on
his way to the city. 1t was not yet day
light From the outer stations police squads
we're tlep.oyel in all directions. AbouG
o'clock the detail which went from the Archer
station saw four men walking on the suDur-
ban extension of the avenue. Ihe ponce
fastened to confront them AMI the
marauders, divining that they were about
to he trapped. opene vicious pis.o! fire and
fled in different directions. The bluecoats
kent I'D a running fusillade, but three OF the
| burglars escaped in the darkness. line iourth;;
| William Kane, was wounded III TIE !cS anu
capturel. On his person was found the sloo
in stamps and Cronin's quarterly report
Why the burglar took this it is dl!lcuit TO
imagine, but without it his conviction Woule
have been impossible. He c"n'esSel every
. thing and gave such information as to
F, make certain the eventual capture OF
his companions. All the men implicated in in M the
robbery are notorious crooks and jail birds
Kane was only recently liberated from tho
penitentiary whore lie served five years for a
tram robbery. Cronin's endurance anu
bravery are the talk Of police and detective
circles. II he coul! have overtaken the ROB-
bers he would have undoubtedly fought them
as he took two pistols and a belt OF cartridges
from his store stock, determined to kill or be
killed ii he ever got within shooting range