Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-10-28
A BOLD
The Adams Express Company
Victimized in the Sum
of $4,000.
A Messenger 0verpowered and Bound BY
Nan Bearing Letters From Age nts
Of the Company.
The Robber Gives the Name of Jim Cum
mings, the Only U~naecounted for
Member of the James Gang.
Questionable Story of the Messsnss-A
Bowider on the Track-Consulting
h Professionalism of Money.

initiate the holder into the duties
of the position OF messenger or 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 6fty-five miles west of St.
Louis, the train vas tagged by a couple
of negroes, who said they had discovered
q rock on the track. Some distance
further on o large stone, which 1t vas es-
timated weighed several tons, was dis
covered between the rails, having appar-
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 his stone had fallen from
the ledge of one of the entertainments 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
sistance was not required in removing
the obstruction. When the train reached
st. Clair cries were heard from the ex-
press car, and the conductor went to the
door of the car and, calling Engineer
SudS. IlodS3p uoHCu ~ OPCus
Messenger rockingham was found
tied by the neck to the safe, with his
hands and feet bound. 1t was then al
most one O'Clock. A message
ing that the Adams Express car had been
robbed was then sent to the st. Louis &
San Francisco train dispatcher at the
%company's yards, Manchester road and
Chouteau 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
obtain q detailed statement of the rob-
berry from the messenger. The train
had, however, pulled out, and a telegram
was accordingly sent to the next station,
where the train was stopped and the
statement secured.
THE MKssENGERss STATEMENT.
rockingham stated that shortlya after
eight O'Clock last night. at the Union
Depot, a man weighing about W. hun-
bred pounds, tall and we'll built, with a
| i idNC duA NV AokChSudS AotES LII
and teet and a coarse voice applied at the
door of the car and at once handed in a
letter p%urporting 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. rockingham
stated that he was busy with his usual
duties during the first few miles of the
trip. At about half past nine, at som
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 to the
safe, after which Cummings helped him
self to packages of currency supposed tt
contain $50, 900, nos of which was con
signed to Springfield, Mo. Rockingham
could give no more accurate description
of Cummings than that above stated
with the addition that he wore
dark clothes. rockingham returned
to this city this morning and wal
at once taken in charge by Su
perintendent Damsel of the Adam.
Express Company, who had him closetet
in the express company's office at Twelfth
, and Poplar streets all morning. Mr.. Dam
sci, when seen, stated that Messenge
rockingham could not be seen by any
, | boub uAhi lV iidu NOV AkuAN q ui1 "a
ment TO the express company. At 10 q
! m. rockingham vas still slowed ava,
at the express office. and it was given GU
that he was laboring upon his writer
= official statement.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The following is the official report Q
the general superintendent of the 'Frisc
= road to the general manager of he roa
rancarpipn tho rpbharu.
express robbery on No. 8 last night
Messenger claims that a man presente-
, a letter to him in Union depot signed b
{ Mr.. Barrett, route agent Adams EXPIRES
+ Company, ordering him to take an eXtr
man out in his car. He allowed the ma
to ride with him. Somewhere betwee
St. Louis and Pacific the messenge
claims that the man turned on him with
8 revolver and tied and gagged him an
rifed the safe and left the car nea
Pacific. No. 8 was delayed nes
Mincke one hour and thirty mil
utes removing q large roc
"a from the track, which had fallen from tn
bluff. The conductor tried the door {
the express car while they were ther'
e but could raise no one. At Pacific tn
express agent also tried the door, br
o could not raise the messenger. At S
Clair, ifty-two miles out, Sprinkle, th
conductor, heard q noise in the car an
Is forced. the door open, finding the me
IT senger tied but not injured. EXPIRES
company officers have all been notifet
u as well as the authorities at points ca
of Rolla. The messenger stated that
, lost over $4,000 in packages and cur
- rency."
d 1t is stated on what Is considered GOO
authority hat the amount taken ws
about forty-six thousand dollars. A l
he tie more than four thousand dollars
silver was left in che car.
HI
The express company was very sic
about notifying the police of the 70
Or berry. No one called at police headqu,
IN tiers in regard to 1T until between twei
ne and one O'Clock to-day, when Super
tendent Damsei and Clarence Newcor
II of the Thiei Detective agency
70 rived at the Four Courts aud want
u 10 see Chief Huebler. That o.
al cial, however, had gone to d
- ner and the gentlemen left the buil
ing, returning again at 1880, when Il
ct entered the ChIefrs private ONCE n
lis NAMED cioseted with him and chtef
an Detectives O'Neil for nearly an hour.
coming out both Mr.. Damsei and
y Newcomb declared that they had learI
III nothing new IN the case. ID eX
.es amount stolen was not yet knewn. Ii
ed knew nothing Of the robbery exc
- what rockingham told them
whether they believed his story was
is question on which they would not CT
init themselves. Chief Huebler sta
nis that the officials had not formally asi
his assistance, bat had notified him I
y they might need his assistance. tt
ID had rehearsed to him the messenge
story aud told him that they were inv
tigating it to learn what truth there '
~, In it. No confession Of guilt
ad- been obtained from the messen.
however, and they were stiIl at work
q him. Frothingham was not under
ac- rest but was where he could not
away If he wanted to- From therems
ons of the chief 1t is evident that he place
confidence in the messengers story,
though he refuses to commit him
when asked the question directly, me
smiling and stating that he preferred
"a leave the matter in doubt to stating
nd he did not believe the messenger.
A GYM CUMMINGS"
,xi. There is no clue to ahe man, Jim c
:: mings, who was in the car with FRI
fngharn, and the police at three ocl
see had no Information 10 give about
ore rockingham was not to be found,