New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-11-03
GREAT EXPRESS ROBBERY.

n Il . + Il -
4 One Man. single-Handed, Robs an Express Mes.
senger on Train in Missouri, Capturing $780,
OOO-One Of the Most Skillfal Exploits In tho
Annals Of Crime.
The Adams express car attached to pas
eenger train No 3, on the ST. Louis & San
Francisco road, which left St. Louis at
1928 Monday night, the 25th inst, was
robbed Of over $4,000 in cash between
vt. Louis and Pacific, Mo- Before the
train LETT st. Louis o man giving the name
OF Cummings presented to the express mes
eenger, MIR. Fotheringham a cleverly forged
letter bearing perfect fac-simile OF the sig
nature OF Barrett, the local agent OF
Tae express company at st. Louis.
The letter stated that Mr. Barrett
ead decided to put an extra man on
The route, that the bearer vas he, and that
Mr.. Fotheringham was directed to teach
him the details OF the business. The stran-
ger was allowed to enter the car and took
great interest in all of the movements OF
the messenger, apparently desiring to learn
the letter stated he was expected to per-
form.
Supt. Damsel gives the following as the
result OF long examination of the mes
senger, made at the office OF the company:
Mr.. Fotheringham says that as he was
about to go out on his run last night
q man came to him with II letter purport-
Ing to be signed by myself and Mr.. Barrett,
1nstructing him to take the bearer,
Jim Cummings, on his run as far as
Fierce City, for Instructions. In accord
ance with the supposed Instructions,
fotherlngham took the stranger and set
him to work checking up. Then he began
his own work. Fotheringham was standing
with his back to the stranger his coat Oil
and the handle OF his revolver sticking out
OF the pistol-pocket, when about ten or fiji
teen miles out OF the union depot, he was
attacked from the rear. The stranger
gripped his neck with, one hand and
grasped his revolver with the other.
Ing done, he was thrown to the floor. He
struggled and fought, but the stranger
evercame him and bound him hand and
foot Then he put a gag in his mouth and
tied him to the sale. Having secured the
messenger, he proceeded to go through the
safe and take sull there was in it. Sever
al pouches OF silver he cut open,
but LETT them when he found what
they contained. At Mincke some men
the train on account OF an obstruction on
the track. While it was standing still some
one tried to get into the express car. but
the robber stood over Fotheringham with
"a loaded revolver and prevented his MAX
ing any effort to cry out. At about Pacif-
ic station, the robber took his plumber,
and opening the front door OF the car went
out on the platform and closed the door.
What he did after that Fotheringham
does not know. He lay on the floor OF the
car until the car reached ST. Clair, when
he was able to get the gag out OF his mouth
and cry ont for assistance. The train
men, hearing him, endeayored to get in the
back door, and finding it locked went
around to the front door, which the robber
had left open. They released him. Foth-
eringham says the robber was about six
feet high, twenry-four years OF age,
weighed about two hundred pounds.
He had dark, straight hair, cut close,
a thin, dark mustache, a low forehead,
wore dark clothes and q dark gray over
coat. The messenger was gagged with hand
kerchie IS tied in knots forced in his mouth
and bound around his head. His hands
were tied together behind his back with 6.
silk handkerchief. His legs were fastened
with straps taken from valises in the car,
cords and heavy strap which WAS around
the safe. He was tied to handle OF the safe.
It is customary to send new men out on the
road with messengers to receive instruc-
tions, and such orders as Fotheringham
says were presented to him by the robber
would be issued either by Route Agent Bar
rett or himself. Fotheringham te]esraphed
in to the company's general manager that
he had been robbed, and he (Mr. DamseD
was notified OF the fact about hali-past
one o'clock this morning. Mr.. Damsel says
he can not yet name the amount stolen,
but as the run was unusually heavy, he
thinks it will exceed $4,000.