Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-30
Fsuous Express Rsbberies.
Iat Iouis Globe DE mocYat,I

Il
decide.
Fsuaous Express Rsbberies.
1876. Louis Globe DemocratI
The report yesterday OF the successful
| robbine OF the express-car on the Frisco
train was fruitful OF a great deal OF talk
about former robberies and the suspicion
| almost invariably cast upon the unlucky
i messengers, Since the days when the
James boys 6ourished in all their glory
| trsin.robberies have not been numerous,
but that at Coolidge, Kan, on the Santa Fe
| road the one on the Rock Island, in
| Northern Illinois. where Nichols was
| killed, selling bis hfe 80 dearly that when
| the car was entered sitter the crime II
/ was found 10 be despatched with blood
| on the floor, ceiling, and sides; the
| one on the Wabash, in Indians, which
| baffied the detectives, and now the present
| one will Hive IN the criminal annals OF the
| country side by side with the mosHdesperate
| In which the James boys figured. Mr.. Horace
| Rood, Of the American Express Company,
| speaking on the subject yesterday, said:
'.Express messengers, as general thing,
| are held in marked respect by eyea their
| superlors, and with something's OF reverence
| and awe by their interiors, clerks IN COM
| pany offices, ETC., and the ordinary public.
| In the 6rst place, they are carefully selected
| IS 10 habits OF life, etc, and are then placed
| Under heavy bond and subjected TO the
! most precise rules aud regulations. Then
| they are men who are constantly and mo-
mentarily expecting an assault, and, as
old messengers say, sleep so lightly
generally curled up on the safe containing
the yaluables entrusted to their care-that
the slightest noise. outside Of that OF the
running Of the train, fully awakens them;
aud, as remarked yesterday, they 4" are
men with a great deal OF honor Though
valor and pride better express the mean
ing intended-as they know they are EN-.
ployed as much TO be ready for a fight, and
a desperate encounter at moments notice,
as for anything else. Among themselves
the deepest disgrace is that they should
have been overcome or yielded their trea-
sures without at least mark or a wound
that would testify that his courage or
fidelity had not been at fault. This de-
fence is always possible, or should be, as
one OF the strictest rules laid down to be
followed by the messenger, and that is as
TO being armed.
REGULATIONS ABOUT ARMS.
Several OF the companies require their
messengers TO wear their revolvers in
the American be is required to strap his
revolver about his waist at the city Office
before he goes to his ear, and before he
takes charge OF his treasure. The rule to
this extreme is not, however, Endorsed by
al OF the companies. Many allow their
messengers 10 carry their revolvers In their
safes on going on and coming off run,
but all require the Numbering Of their
batteries when they are actually placed IN
position when they by any possibility may
be called upon TO Use them. This rule is,
however, very frequently disregarded, as the
revolver strapped TO the waist is very cum
bersome, and interieres with the messen.
gers movements and comfort when at
work. and hence the revolver is frequently
hung on the side Of the ear or laid on the
safe. The messengers strongest safeguard,
however, is the rule against admitting out.
siders TO The car, and some Of the compa-
mics Tigidly exclude even ,rainmen between
stations. In this connection is found
one Of the most peculiar features OF
the present robbery. EXpressmen say the
plan is one that has never been worked be-
fore, and, though beginners are never sent
out by letter, is entirely feasible, as a mes
senger could very readily be deceived
into taking man out on such a
letter as that with which FrotheriGg-
ham was presented, and he could as readily
be excused for mistaking even Il CLUMSY
forgery for genuine letter, as his chief 50
seldom addresses him directly in writing,
the usual course being through clerks.
Still, when men are handed over to meSsen-
gers to be shown the ropes, it is never by
letter, but always verbally, and by the OIL |
cial In charge OF the messengers. Letters |
are given to agents and Others 10 extend |
courtcsi6s, such as passes, &c, but never |
TO ride in ear. There Is, however, no |
rule on this subject; only law OF custom. |
REMARKABLE CASES.
One OF the most marked cases in which q |
was suspected was that OF n man |
named Kincaid, on the Wabash, a few |
Years ago. He was very generally regard |
cd as guilty, detectives who bad worked on |
the case sharing in the belief; but he had |
always been faithful, and as there was no
absolute proof against him nc was contin- |
ued in service, and is IN the employ Of the |
same company to-day, his innocence hay
ing been clearly proven by lucly but acci- |
dental developments, which were made |
later, when man named Holland attempt |
ed TO throw a woman over the bridge, thus
attracting police attention. The rooms Of |
the nan and woman were searched, |
'
irain-robber, but on general ,rIn.
ciplcs. The search, however, disclosed
money-wr..Trrers and eXpress-wrappers,
which gave the only clue obtained to
the robbery on account Of which Kincaid
had so long been under a cloud With all ex.
cept the officers Of the company, which con-
tinued him in its employ.
Another case OF a directly opposite char
acter was that Of the robbery which oc-
CURED near Peru. Ind, on September IS,
1898, the Pacific Express Company being
the victim. On the arrival OF the train at
Peru the doors Of the eXpress-and-bag-
gage car were found TO he secure
" fastened, and on an entrance
being effected, the express mcssen-
ger, Burt LOOMS, was discovered on the
floor bucked and gagged, and in an uncon-
seious condition. On revival he said that
seyeral disguised men had entered the car
al Roarne station. oNerpOwered and bound
him. opened the safe with the Keys taken
from bin, and then Effected their escape,
iakiug with them all the money (Sl,700)
that the safe contained. The case was put
in the hands Of Thomas Furong, who at
once suspected that the messenger himself
was one OF the robbers; but the express
officials derided any such idea. Furlong
dIpSitiitts EuNC UP, anu puiNutu OtutI
clews, wbich led TO nothing. Secretly, on his
own responsibility, he caused a close watch
TO be kept upon LOOMS, and four months
after the event LOOMS was brought to Fur.
longs room for the ostensib!e purpose Of
enGeayoring to identify man suspected OF
being one OF the robbers. Then LOOMS
was informed that sufficient evidence was
In the hands Of the Express Company TO
secure his own conviction, but ont OF con-
sideration for his family he would not
be prosecuted II he spoke out and
told the whole story, At this LOOMS
wilted, and confessed that he, in league
with two others, had robbed his own
ear. His confederates were old criminals,
| who had made a mere tool OF him, and
finally bad given him but $40 OF the plumber.
After long search both were captured,
and are now inmates OF the Indiana peri.
Tertiary. LOOMS was not prosecuted. as
| he was rather weak than criminal and had