Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-15
ROLAND. TRE RASCAL.
DetaiIs or che Detection OF the Brink
ley Safe Robber-A Slick Rogue and IA
Disappointed Sweetheart.

Detalie OF the Detection OF the Blink
ley Safe RObber-A Shck Rogue and IA
Disappointed Sweetheart.
From no ArkaAsas Gazette. Jan. 2.
Yesterday noon Frank Roland, the
Brin&ley safe robber, arrived from Gales
burg, H., in charge of officers, and was
lodged in Jail for safe keeping until to-
day, when he viii be taken back to the
scene of his exploit. He is an intelligent
and rather goOd-loOkng man, and from all
accounts daring and successful cracks
man. The Southern Express Company de-
serves great credit for so speedily captur-
lug the men who occasionally think il is a
fine thing to rob them. So active and eff
cient is the detective work of the COM
pany that criminals rarely escape. The
safe OF the company at Brinkley was
broken open at 4 O'Clock on the morning
OF Dec. Is. II was chiseled open, and the
tools were lett behind by the burglar.
They consisted of several ohisels and bits
and powder flask. Two gold watches
and $4,000 were stolen. of this s., 400
was currency, $500 in new silver dollars.
One watch was gents and the other
ladv's. The adroit thief left no clue. MIR.
Il. W. Agee, superintendent OF Trans
Mississippi division. at once set his de-
tectives to work.
The first news of the fugitive was re-
ceiyed from 6alesburg, ILL.,, where the
suspicious OF sheriff Strickey and two
deputies, sam Strickey and James Richly,
were aroused by the brilliant dash made
by Frank Roland, who turned out to be
the safe robber, and was nabbed by the
officers on a requisition from Arkansas.
Roland was tried at the Galesburg Cir
cult Court last November on charge of
burglary. and although the evidence
against him was strong, was acquitted.
After that he is said to have remarked:
"Pm too slick for the Sheriff OF this
county. / am going off to make a stake
and return to stay by them He is
in several safe rObberies after
that time, and some strong proof had
been collected against him. He
turned up IN Galesburg, Dec. 81,
and had evidently made his stake.
Several glistening diamonds adorned his
person and fingers. He deposited
quite a large sum at the First National
Bank, some Of it in bright silver dollars
which he said he got from New Orleans,
also saying he had been visiting there, at
Little Rock and Memphis. He gave $3.50
TO Forrest Cooke, ESQ, who defended MIN
in his former trial, and made love 20 a
young woman who became engaged TO
him. He gave her a beautiful lady'B gold
watch and chain and diamond ring. De
Gem Der 70 ne drew SJOO OF MS deposit ana
and bought a restaurant, stating that he
was going to convert it into cigar factory.
The upper rooms ne furnishedIsum ptuOus-
~ for his prospective bride, and had new
case put on his intended's watch, having
the monogram on his watch removed as
near as possible. He was being watched
very closely by the detectives and officers,
they having by this time heard OF the
BrInkley safe robbery, and being con-
WINGED that Roland was the criminal.
On Jan. Roland drew 500 more from
the bank. He went to the railroad depOt
and met two young women on an incom-
ing train. One OF them was his sweet
heart and he was to marry her the next
day. The officers decided TO arrest the
party and dId 30, much TO the astOnishment
Of Roland and the modification Of the
Young lady. The watches bore the same
mum ers as those taken from the safe at
Brnkley. About s 200 in money was re-
covered, three diamond rings. one dia-
mond scarf pin and the watches. The
restaurant and furniture was attached,
and altogether about $500 was Tecoy-
cred. A reporter was shown the prop
erty, and Mr.. Roland's taste IN dia-
mOnd's 10 must be confessed, IS very fine.
One brilliant especially is a beauty and
must nave cost $500.
Roland refuses 10 say anything, and has
not opened his head on the subject of the
robbery since he was arrested. The proof
against him, however, is conclusive, and
he is good for a good long term in the
penitentiary. The GalesOurg officials also
deserve great credit for the skill with
which the affair was managed at that end
If the line