The Portland daily press., 1886-10-27
BOLD ROBBERY.
over $4,000 Stolen From an Ad
ans Express Car.
The Messenger Bound and Gagged
by an Unknown Man.
The Robber Makes His Escape with
the Plumber.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26.-An Adams Express
car attached to passenger train No. 3, on the
st. Louis d San Francisco road which left
st. Louis at 8.25 last night, was robbed of
over $4,000 in cash between ST. Louis and
Pacific, Mo. From the meagre reports re-
eeiyed It Is learned that before the train left
st. Louis last night man, giving the name
of Cummings, presented letters to the ex-
press messenger, Mr.. rockingham, purport-
ing to be signed by the officers of the compa-
mp, stating that he-Cummings- about
to take run on the line, and asking Froth-
ingham to give him points. When near Mer
imac the stranger overpowered the messen-
ger, gagged him and bound him to the safe,
after which he fified the car He cut open
the bags containing the silver, but took none
of it. The robbery was not discovered until
the train reached Pacific, where the express
car was broken open and Messenger Froth-
ingham found tied to the safe. Express Off
cials are reticent, but admit that over $4,000
was taken. The robber gave the name of
jim Cummings. He is the only member of
the once celebrated James gang who has
never been accounted for.
[LATER.l
Superintendent Damsel of the express
company gives the following as the result Of
a long examination Of the messenger made at
the office of the company this mornings
Fotheringham was standing with his back
to the stranger, his coat off, and the handle
of his revolver sticking out of his pistol
pocket. About 10 or 10 miles out of the
union depot he was attacked from the rear.
The stranger gripped his neck with one
hand and grasped the revolver with the
other. Before FOtheringham realized what
was being done he was thrown to the floor
He struggled and fought but the stranger
0vercame him and bound him hand and
foot. Then he put gag in his mouth and
tied him to the safe. Having secured the
messenger he proceeded to 90 through the
safe and take all there was in it. At Mincke
some men working in lime quarries tagged
the train on account Of some obstruction on
the track. While it was standing still some
one tried to get into the express car but the
r0bber stood over Fotheringham with re-
yolyer and prevented him making any effort
to cry out. At or near Pacific station the
robber took his plunder and opening
on the platform. and closed the door
after him. What he did after that Frothing-
ham does no know He lay ON the floor Of
the car until the train reached st. Claire
when he was able to get the gag out of his
mouth and cry out for assistance. The train
men hearing him entered and released him.
rockingham says the robber was about six
feet high, "a years old, and weighed about
200 pounds. He had dark, straight hair, cut
close, a thin dark mustache, low forehead,
wore dark clothes and dark gray overcoat
he was gagged with handkerchief tied in
knots and forced into his mouth and bound
around his head. His hands were tied to-
gether behind his back with handkerchief
His legs were fastened with straps taken
from valises in the car, and with cords and a
heavy strap which was around the safe. He
was tied to the handle of the safe.
Damsel added, in reply to question, that
it is customary to send new men out on the
road with the messengers to receive instruc-
tion, and that such orders as Fotheringham
says were presented to him by the robber
would be issued either by Route Agent Bar
rett or himself. Damsel says he cannot yet
name the amount stolen, but as the run was
unusually heavy he thinks it will exceed
$4,000. Not much is known here of Fother-
ingham. Mr.. Fotheringham says he was
about to go out on his run last oight. A
man came to him with letter purporting to
be signed by myself and Mr.. Barrett in
structing him to take the bearer, Jim Cum
mings, on his run as far as Pierce City for
instructions. In accordance with these sup
posed instructions. Fotheringham took the
stranger and set him to work checking up.
Then he began his own work