Evening star., 1886-10-26
An EXPRESS CAR ROBBED Or
100000.
The Messenger Trtcked by means -
Forged Letters. OverPewered ana
ROnrA


The Messenger Tricked by Means q
Forged Letters. OverpewereA ana
Bound.
ST. LoUrs. Oct 26.-The Adams express car
attached 10 passenger train No. 3, on the ST
Louis and San Francisco railroad, which LETT
this city at SOS last night. was robbed OF over
$4,000 In cash between here and Pacific Mo.
from meagre reports it seems that before the
lain LEFT this city man giving the name or
Cummings presented letters 10 the express
Messenger, Mr.. Fotheringham. purporting to be
signed by the officers OF the company. stating
mar Cummings was about 10 take run on
lne nne, and asking Fotheringham 60 give him
the points. When near Mernac the stranger
overpowered the messenger. gagged him and
pound him TO the safe. after which he coolly
rified the car. lie cut open the bags containing
silver, but took none OF IL. At Mermac the rob-
Der LETT the tram. The robbery not discoy.
cred until the train reached Pacific, when the
Fotheringham found tied TO the safe Express
oinclals are reticent but admit that over
100000 was taken. The robber is imperfectly
aescrioea as tall, dark man OF prepossessing
appearance, dressed In black, with very large
hsnos and ieet. IL is q singular coincidence
thst ne gave the name of Jim Cummings, the
only member of the once celebrated Jainea'
gang. who has never been accounted for.
Ine stranger who gave the name OF Cum.
mlngs 10 totherlngham. the messenger, pre-
sented 20 him "A cleverly forged letter bearing q
fac smiie OF the signature OF Mr.. BARRETT the
local agent OF Tue express company at 81. Louis.
The letter stated that Mr.. Barrett had decided
10 put an extra man on the route: that the
bearer was he, and that Fotherinsh ham was
directed 10 teach him the details Of the busi-
ness. The stranger was allowed To enter the
car, and took great interest in all OF the move
ments OF the messenger, apparently desiring To
learn quickly the ins and outs OF the duties
which The letter stated he was expected 10 per-
form. Mr.. Fotheringham's suspicious were NOT
at all aroused, and the stranger impressed him
as quiet and prepossessing companion. The
two men busted themselves with the accounts,
etc, and all went well until point between 81
Louis ana Pacific, Mo-. was reached.
THE RoBBER DOES his WORK.
In the meantime the new assistant was In.
formed that there was nothing more that he
could do at that time, and he seated himself I'm
a chair. waiting until some new duties should
be assigned to him 60 perform. Fotheringnam
was still busily engaged over his accounts. with
his back turned 10 Cummings. In the course OF
time IL became necessary for MIN To go TO the
safe, aud. turning 10 do So saw the stranger
calmly sitting in his chair with a cooked re-
voIver leveed at his (Fotherlngham's - head.
Cummings cautiously approached the dumb
founded messenger and told him IL he remained
quiet and made no outcry or raised no alarm
his life would not be endangered; but that IL he
acted otherwise he could not answer for the
consequences. FotherIngham had nothing To
do but submit, and according 10 his statement
the robber bound him hand and foot, pressed n
gag into his mouth. tied him To the safe SO that
he could not move ana proceeded with his
work. The safe had been left open and IL TOOK
but a few minutes TOR the robber To secure the
bank notes aud valuables, In the shape OF jew
elry, etc. He cut open the bags containing the
silver coin, but he evidently concluded thas
these were too heavy for him 20 carry, and lac
did not disturb the contents. 0fthe gold, how.
ever be took goodly amount, and then pro
ceeded 10 make good his escape.
HOW THE RoBBER ESCAPED.
Tie road at this point runs directly along.
side OF a high bluff. which In places overhangs
the tracks, making the danger OF wrecks from
collision with boulders which occasionally fall
from above on the tracks very great Trains
therefore slack up at this point and run slowly
until the dangerous place Is passed. This the
ems ineer of the train No. 3 did as usual, and
thus offered the robber an easy means OF escape
He Il rst locked all but one door, stepped out on
the p,a.iorm. locked the door from the outside
and Jumped off. The messenger Fothering
ham in the meantime could do nothing TO re
lease himself, not being able even 10 call toi
help Near Miucke a boulder had fallen upoI
the track. and the train was delayed an houl
before it could be removed. The conductor
tried the door of the express car but found II
locked, and supposing the messenger 10 Dc
ne again tried the door and again found II
locked.
THE HELPLESS MESSENGER DISCOVERED.
He listened Tor a minute and heard the mes
seuger struggling to tree himself and makinI
al! the noise possible by kicking with his Tee
against tlre side OF the car. The conductor sus
pected something wrong ana burst The 200
omen findins. Fotheringham as above described
He was quickly released and told his expe
rience The robber had got "A start of iully tw
hours and IL was useless TO run back TO Try .
find him. The train then proceeded on Its way
and arrived in this city this morning at
y'clock on its return trip Fotheringhaiu imms
,Uately sought the superintendent OF the coII
10 ANY and was cioseted with him ior some tifnt
az the end OF which he commenced q prepare
tic n of his official report, refusing 10 make an
sta cement to outsiders regarding the robbery
exc not that the total loss would amount
som. thing over $4,000. The officers OF tn
comp WY have nothing 10 say OF the AFFAIR.