The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
DEsPOILED OF HIS GREENBACKs.
Lawrence Furber, an Illinois Farmer, Robbed
Of Four Hundred Dollars.

CHICAGO. Aug. THE Inter Oceans st.
Louis special says: A robbery of a most sensa-
tional character was committed last night at
Pittsburg, situated at the foot of Cahokia bluffs
about nine miles from st. Louis. The victim
was Lawrence Furber, German farmer aged
forty-tw years. who owns one Of the prettiest
farms in the whole county. Furber lives in his
home with his wife, and has no children He is
an Industrious and thrifty farmer, and had man
aged to save considerable money, portion of
which he kept in his house, 1t was about
l o'clock this morning that Furber
arose for the purpose of taking a load
OF cabbage to the st. Louis market.
His wife had been apprised by him of his in
tention, and while he went to the stable to hitch
up his team she lit fire in the stove to prepare
him cup of coffee before his departure. Fur
ber having hitched up the team and partaken of
the beverage, started off for ST. Louis. He had
not proceeded more than three hundred yards
when four men sprang out of the road from be-
hind some shrubbery and two of them grabbed
the horses heads. while the other two placed re-
volvers at the frightened farmers temples, and
counseled him to be quiet. He obeyed, and one
of the robbers then drew rope from his pocket
with which he proceeded to bind the
farmers arms and feet together He was
also about to put gag in Furbers
mouth, but changed his mind and warned Furber,
however, that if he cried out for help he
would put bullet in his head. One of the men
at the horses heads then came back and, with
his assistance the other two then picked Furber
up in their arms and carried him back to the
house The other turned the team and drove
the wagon back. When some shrubbery, which
concealed the front of the house from view, was
passed, Furber perceived his wife standing at the
door and called to her in German. She looked
and seeing the three men with her husband in
between them and another leading the team
she ran into the house and taking wallet con-
tanning $40O from bureau drawer threw it
underneath a cupboard in the kitchen
Furber was brought into the house by
the highwaymen and laid on the bed
and the villains then seized Mrs. Furber, who is
close onto fifty years of age, and by means of
rope pinioned her arms and limbs and laid her
beside her husband. One of them brought in q
and his wife saw that there were three men in
the room, two of whom were masked. The third
man. who was the tallest of the three. wore no
mask. and both Fur5er and his wife think they
could identify him again. The fourth robber
they did not see, he having remained outside to
keep watch. The two men with masks had
revolvers in their hands, and placing the muzzle
to the heads of the frightened farmer and
ing place of their wealth. Both refused
to reveal. and one Of the rufians then seized
Mrs. Furber by the throat and threatened to
choke her to death unless she informed him
where the money was concealed. Furber tried
his best to loosen his arm and free his wife from
the ruffan's grasp, but his struggles were un-
availng and. although the robber left the i'm
prints of his fingers on Mrs. Furber's throat she
was firm and refused to tell where the treasure
was hid. The robbers then held short conference,
the result of which was that two of them start
ed to ransack the house in search of the treasure
while the third remained guard over the farmer
and his wife. The search lasted nearly
an hour and they finally drew forth from un-
derneath the cupboard, where Mrs Furber had
thrown it. the wallet, which contained portion
of the farmers savings. The money was mostly
in greenbacks, of various denominations, few
dollars being in silver coin. When they had Sc
cured the treasure, the two robbers joined their
companion, who was guarding the victims. The
three then made an examination of the manner
in which their victims were bound and satisfy
ing themselves that they would have ample time
to escape before either the farmer or his wife
would be able to loosen the bonds, they left
the house. On the road they were Joined by the
fourth robber, and they are supposed to have
taken road leading to st. Louis. After the de-
parrure of the robbers, Furber and his wife
worked hard to loosen their bonds, but 1t was
fully an hour before Mrs. Furber finally sue
ceed in getting one of her hands free She then
released her husband. Furber. on going to the
front door, was surprised to find that the rob-
bers had left his team, and, by the advice of his
wife, he Immediately drove to French Village
and sent telephone message at once to Sheriff
Ropiequet. This afternoon man named Con-
roy, who lives near the Furber place, was ar
rested, but there seems no good grounds for
holding him.