The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-27
BOLD EXPRESS ROBBERY.
TIE MESSENGER on A TRAIN
BOVND AND GAGGED.
The Thief COOlly Helps Himself to
$4,000 From the Safe
and Escapes.

seuger train No. 8 on the ST. Louis
and San Francisco rood, which left
this city at s rs last night. was robbed
Of over $4,000 in cash between hare
and Pacific, Mo. From later reports
il seems that after the train left here
q man, giving the name OF Cummings,
prese nted letters to the messenger pur-
porting to be signed by the express
officerP, stating that Cummings was
about to take run On the line and
asking Fotheringham to give him the
points. When near Merrimac the
stran ger overpowered the messenger,
gagged him and bound him to the
safe, after which he coolly rihed the
safe. He cut open the bags contain
ing silver, but took none. AT Merri-
mac the robber left the train. The
robbery was not discovered until they
reached MerTimac, When tho car was
broken open and Mel serger Fother-
ingham was found tied to The safe.
The robber ia imperiecily desert ed as
a tall, dark man, OF prepofeing appear
ance, dressed in black, with very large
hands and feet. 1t 10 q singular coin
cidence that he gave his name as } i'm
Cummings, the only member Of the
James gang who has never been ac-
counted for.
The Granger, who gave the name OF
Cummings to Folheringham, the mes.
senger, presented cleverly forged
letter, bearing a perfect facsimile q
the signature OF Barrett, the local
agent OF the express company at st.
Louis. The letter stated that Mr.. Bar
rett had decided to put an extra man
on the route, that the bearer was be,
and that Mr.. Fotheringham was di-
rected 10 teach him the details OF the
business. The stranger was allowed
10 enter the car, and took great inter-
eat in all the movements Of the mes
senger, apparently desiring to learn
quickly the ms and outs of the duties
which The latter stated he was ex.
pected to perform. Mr.. Fothering-
hams suspci were not at all
aroused, and the stranger impressed
him as a quiet and preposseslinR COM
psnion. The two men busted them
selves with the accounts, etc, ard all
went we'll until a point between st.
Louis aud Pacific, Mo-, WIS reached.
In the meantime the new assistant
was informed that there WIS nothing
more that he could do at that time, and
he seated himself in chair
waiting unit somo new du-
ties were assigned TO him,
Fotheringham was still engaged over
his accounts, with his back turned TO
Cummings. In the course Of time
Il became necessary for him to so to
the taie, and, turning to do so, saw
the stranger calmly sitting in his chair
with cooked revolver pointed at
Fotheringham's head. He cautiously
approached the dumbfounded mes
senger and told him il he remained
quiet and made no outcry or raised no
alarm his life would not be en-
dangered, but that If he acted other
wise he could not answer for the con-
sequences. Fotheringham had moth
ing to do but 10 submit, and, accord
ing to his statement, the robber
bound him hand and foot, pressed n
gag into his mouth, tied him TO the
safe aud proceeded with his work.
The safe had been left open, aud it
took but few minutes for the robber
TO secure the bank notes and valuables
in the shape OF jewelry, etc. He cut
open theAsags containing the silver
coin, but he evidently concluded that
these were too heavy for him to carry,
and he did not disturb their con-
tents. OF the gold, however, he took
o goodly amount, and then proceeded
10 make good his escape. The read at
this point runs directly alongside of II
nigh bluff, which, in places overhangs
the track, making the danger of wrecks
nom 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 passtd
THIS the engineer OF train No 3 did,
as usual, aud offered the robber an
easy means Of escape. He first locked
all bur one door, stepped out onto the
platform, locked the door from the
outside and jumped oil. The messen-
ger, FrotheTingham, in the meantime
could do nothing TO release himself,
mol heiug able eysn 10 call for Eelp.
Near MinCke q boulder had fallt n
upon the tracks, snd the train was de-
layed an hour b fore ii could he re-
moved. The conductor tried the door
Of the express Car but found it locked,
and supposing tho messenger to TO
busy, did nOt AJAX for admission. At
81. Ulair he again tried the door, and
agoin found 1t locked. He listened
for q minute and head the mes.
SCI ger struggling to free himself.
and making all the noise possible by
kicking with his feet against the side
Of he car. The conductor suspected
something wrong and burst the door
open, finding Fotheringham as above
deserted. He was quickly released
and told his experience. The robber
had got sIalt OF fully two hours and
It was useless TO run back and try and
lind him; the train therefore pro-
Ceeded on iis way and aIriv d in this
i'y this morning at O'Clock on it's
return trip. Fotherlnghsm immedi-
ately sought the superintendent OF the
company aud was clofeted with him
for me line, at the end OF which be
commenced a preparation Of his Off
Cial report, refusing to make any state
ment 10 outsiders regarding the rob-
berry, excepting that the total loss
would amount TO something owe $780,
GOO Mr. Fothoringh m rays the
T.hbr was about - yeayG old, six feet
ta'l, weight about 700 pounds, and
Dire sei IN dark clothes with 3 dark
ovsrc at He thinks the robber has
atConplces, az he seemed to be talk
Ing with some one On the lioLt
platform OF the car. Fotbeiingham,
The messenger, is about "A years old
and lives ia S.. Geneveve, Mo. He
bas been I'm the employ OF the Adams
Express Company for about four
yesrs. Superintendent Damsel, Of
the exptss company, says that
Fo.htrngham'a record has been Il
e bert When asked where Pother
inghNn was, Mr., DAmsel replied that
ne had gone up town with Mr. Bar
yet, tie route agent, rnd qnoihar
MN. From the manner in which he
ma 10 the statement it 80 prefumed
the "niher mau' was an officer OF the
law, though Mr.. DamBel would make
no stat meet co iitmatcry or contra
dictory Il this theory. Mr., Dsmsfl