The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-10-28
"A CLEVER GAME.
A Thief in the Guise of an EmpIOys
of Adams Express Company
Binds and Gags the Messenger and
Gets Away With $4,000.
Several Passengers Injured by an In
sane Negro.
A Prosperous Ranchman Killed by a
Barkeeper.
- An Express Robbery


ST, LOUIS, Mo, Oct. 26.-The Adams
express car attached TO passenger train
No. on the st. Louis 8 San Francisco
road which left this city at S;25 last night
was robbed OF over $50, 900 in cash between
here and Pacific, Missouri. From msagre
reports it seems that as the tram left this
city a man giving the name Of Cummings
presented letters to the express me sseDgeT.
Mr. Fotheri0eham, purporting to be signed
by officers of the company. stating that
Cummings was about TO take q
run on the line and a king FoiherInghsm
to give HIM points. When near Merimac
the stranger oVeIp0wered the messenger,
gagged, bound him to the safe, latter which
he cody Tfled the car and cut open DsRs
containing silver but took none OF It. At
Merimac the robber lett the train. The
robbery was not discovered until the train
reached Pacific when the express car was
broken open and Messenger FOtherlDgham
found tied to the safe. The express of
cials are rsticent, but admit that over $780,
600 was taken. The robber is imperfect
ly described as q tall dark man of prepos-
sessing appearance, dressed IN black, with
very large hands and feet. 1t is a singu-
lar coincidence that he gave the name of
Jim Cummings, the only member of the
once celebrated James gang who has never
been accounted for.
Tue Stranger who gave the name of
Cummings toFotheEibgham, the mt ssenger
presented to him a cleverly forged letter
bearing perfect fac simIle Of the sigaa
tuTe of Mr.. Barrett, local sgent of the
Express Company al ST. Louis. The let
ter stated that it had been decided TO put
an extra man Old the rouLe and that the
bearer was tae man aud stated that FoihcE-
iDghsm was directed TO teach him the de
tails OF the business. The stranger WAS
allowed to enter the car and took great 10
terest III all the movements Of the mes
senger, apparently discovering quickly
the ms ana outs Of the duties which the
letter stated he was expected TO perform.
FOtherinRham's suspicious were not
at all aroused and the stranger impressed
HIM as quiet, progressing
companion. The Two men busted them
selves with accounts, etc, and all went
we'll until a point between ST. Louis and
Pacific, Mo, was reached. In the mean
time the new assistant was informed that
the re was nothing more that he could learn
at that time, and he seated himself in q
chair, waiting till some new duties should
be assigned him. FOtheriDgham was still
busiIg engaged over the accounts, with
his back turned TO Cummings. In the
course of time il became necessary II
him to get to the safe, and turning to do
so, saw The stranger sitting there, a cooked
revolver ieveIed at his (Fotheringham's
head. Cummings cautiously approached
the dumfoundered messenger, and told
him if he remained quiet and made nc
outcry and raised no alarm, his life would
not be end Augered, bat il ne acted other
Wise he could not answer for the con-
sequences. Fuiheriugbam had nothing
to do but submit, and according 20 HI.
statement tue Iobber bound him hand anC
| foot, pressed a gag into his mouth, lee
| him to the safe, so that he could no
move, and then proceeded with his work
| The safe having been left open, II took bu
| a f. W minutes u secure the bank note
| and other valuables in the shape of jewel
~, etc. He cut open the bags containing
silver coip, but concluded those were too
| heavy and did not disturb their contents
Or gold however he took a goodly amour
and then proceeds 10 make good his escap
The road at this point runs directly alonI
the side of high bluff, which IN place
oveThengs the tracks making the danger o
| wrecks and collisions with boldeTs, which
occasionally fall from aoUVe on the tracks
very great and trSius therefor
SLACK up at this point and run slowly unit
the dang srous place is passed This tn
engineer of train No 3 did as usual, an
ille OH6TeO the EDDDeT SEey modbS Vi Ct
cape. He first locked all bntone door an
stepped out on me platfoi IN, jerked th
door shut from the outside ard Jumpe
of Messenger FotheTiDgham, in tn
meantime, could do nothing TO releas
himself, not being able TO call 10
help. Near Minoke a large bOulde
had fallen upon the track, and the trai
was delayed an hour before 1t could
removed The conductor tried the doc
of the express car, but found it locked. an
supposing the messenger TO ne busy, dt
not ask for admittance. At st Clair b
again tried the door, and again found
locked. Listening for q minute, he hear
the messenger struggling to free him
self, and making all the noise posi-
BILE by kicking. with his feet against th
side of the car. The conductor suspecte
something was wrong, burst the door ope
and finding F0theringham as above de
scrIbed. He was quickly released an
told his experience. The robber had &C
start OF full two hours and it was useles