The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-31
plNKgRToN's PRIZE.

Story of the Capture of the Express Rob
bers-"Jim Cummings" Proves to Be a
Chicago Coal-DeaIer Named Wittroek"
Identity of His Pals.
CHICAGO, Dec. 2S.-Mr. W. A. Pinkerton
gave yesterday detailed account of the
manner in which the case against slim
Cummings and his pals was worked up
by the detective agency of the Western d.
vision, of which he is the chief. OF the five
men now under arrest for the crime four
have borne the reputation of being reputa-
bic business men.
The news of the robbery had no sooner
reached ST. Louis and Chicago than Mr.. L.
C. Weir, manager Of the Adams Express
Company, placed the matter in the hands OF
the Pinkertons, who then secured
list of the employees, past and present, OF
the express company. Among those who
had been discharged was w. W Haight,
who had formerly been on the run between
Frisco Junction and Venito, on which the
robbery had been committed. 1t was also
learned that he had been acquainted with
Fotheringham. 1t was learned that
ne had resided in Chicago.
Among the men whom Haight had
worked for in Chicago were Fred Witt
rock, coal-dealer at III West Lake street,
and Thomas Weaver, the proprietor of
laundry at No 753 on the same street.
From these facts the detectives derived
their first clew. They learned that Witt
rock and Weaver had left Chicago on
the 18th of the month, saying
they were going to Kansas to look for land
and to hunt. They took with them two
sachels and two fowling-pieces. The de-
scription of Wittrock Tailed with that OF
the description of the robber furnished by
Messenger Fotheringham. Weaver re-
turned to Chicag on October %.
In the meantime Fotheringham was
making statements, in all of which he &c.
clared his innocence. He said the robber,
who had told him mis- name was "Ji Cum
mings," would exonerate him. Then came
the first of the celebrated Jim Cummings"
letters From the letter the detectives
gathered several clews. They knew that
Wittrock and Haight were acquainted;
that Haight had been messenger on the
run mentioned. The detectives Sc ured in
Chicago number of bills which Wittrock
had made out in his coal business and for
warded them TO st. Louis. Experts decided
that the Jim Cummings letters and the coal
bills were written by the same man. The
only difference was that the bills were
made out in a flowing hand while the letter
was in back-hand.
In the letter Cummings had told about
skiff which would be found up the Missis-
sippi river a few miles from ST. Charles
Following this seeming clue, the detectives
found the skitf as described, fully pro-
yisioned as if for fishing trip. They
also obtained good descriptions of the
men who had bought the skiff at st.
Charles on October II. One of the
persons was described in manner to cor
respond with the alleged robber, according
to Fotheringham's story, and also to sug-
gest Wittrock to the minds of those VINO
knew him in Chicago. The description of
the smaller man tailed with that Of
Weaver The most important cleW was
the fact that two guns were found in the
skiff. When the reports of the de-
tectives reached headquarters in Chicago
it was remembered that Weaver and Witt
rock left on the 18th, each carrying gun.
Weaver from this time on was Swallowed,
but no trace could be obtained OF Wittrock.
The package left in the express office apl
mentioned in Cummings letter was found
to consist of several rolls Of cheap street
ballads. On one was scrubbed, as if for
memorandum, '2l08 Chestnut street." In
quiry at that address in st. Louis revealed
that two men had rented room there on
the 18th. Each earned valise. The house
was kept by Mrs. Berry, and she, her son
and her daughter gave descriptions which
closely corresponded to those in the posses
sion Of the Pinkertons.
Mr.. Berry and his sister were then
brought to Chicago and identified Weaver
bod l,A4 Iai,.
in St Louis in company with the tall man.
1t was decided to let Weaver alone and
wait for Wittrock to show up
The lines were now growing closer, and
the work centered on Chicago. Wittrock's
house, 10 Lincoln street, had been shad-
owed for almost a month when, on last
Tuesday night, the Pinkerton man was as
tonished to see another shadow appear and
parade up and down before the house sew
eral times. A few minutes later tall man
slipped along the street and lodged into
the house.
The Pinkertons, feeling sure that Witt
rock was one of these men, rented room
near Wittrock's house.
At nine o'clock Friday night Kinney,
Wittrock's brother-in-law, came out of the
coal Office and went to Wittrock's house.
A few moments later he appeared with
Weaver and, after giving a signal, started
down the street. Ten minutes later the
big man, who was none other than Wit
, trock, came out. Robert Pinkerton sig
nailed his detectives that he recognized him
and that the men were to be arrested at
once. Kinney and Wittrock went into
Sparboro Bros saloon, near Madison and
Lincoln streets, Weaver having turned
back. The next moment Kinney also
started down the street Mr.. Pinkerton
and his detectives entered the saloon and
found Wittrock talking to man who
had been seen shadowing his house for
him. AS soon as Wittrock saw the
three officers enter he started to walk
out. P.nkerton stopped him ami Wit
trock started back as if to draw revolver.
The next moment two detectives sprang
forward with drawn revolvers and Wit
trock threw up his 10 nds. HIS friend, the
shadow, was also placed under arrest. In
Httrock's pockets were found two 44-cali-
Der revolvers. He had $40 on his person.
Half an hour later Kinney returned and
was promptly arrested.
A roll of 1000 in greenbacks was found
in Viewers pocket, and around his waist
was belt m lde Of four wooden stockings.
In each stocking was $1,000 in bills. The
prisoners were taken to Plnkerton's
agency on Fifth avenue. Wittroc ks
house was then searched and Mrs. Witt
rock placed under arrest After some diff
Guilty the officers obtained from her fan
mel SIX TT which was literally lined with
greenbacks. There was $500 in cash
and a valuable diamond Weaver's house
was also searched and 5000 was founi
done up in wrappers and buried in fru t.
jars under the house. There is still $40, 900
missing. Cock and Haight have been arrest
ed, and the Pinkertons say they have a sure
case against all the persons concerned.