Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-18
THE EXPRESS ROBBERY.
Detective Efforts Gradually Throw.
ing Light On the Mystery.

L
ing Light On the Mystery.
A Wabash Engineers Evidence Which
Taken Alone, Gives the Case Bad Look
for Messenger Fotheringham-
Present State of the Case.
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 10-The first informa
ton about the Frisco express robber
other than that given by Messenger Foth
eringham himself, is contained in state
ment made to the grand jury by Engineer
Heffernan, of the Wabash road, who run:
from st. Louis to Moberly, where he has
family.
Mr.. Heffernan stated that on the night o.
the robbery he was oiling his engine a.
Union depot when the Frisco train pulled
across his track and stopped so tina,
Fotheringham's express car was only
sixty feet away from him. The
electric light shone full on the scene and
he could see the messenger working with
his helper, a stout Irish porter. Heffer
mans attention was, however, incidentally
directed to the actions of a young man
about five feet ten, rather stout, with q
reddish face and apparently about thirty
years old. This party walked down the
when he stopped. He was carrying a
vaise, which he put down on the platform.
He walked around in nervous
way, clasping and unclasping his hands
as it exceedingly anxious. The en-
gineer's attention was directed to him not
only because his actions were very pecu-
liar, but also because he was so far away
from and ahead of the passenger coaches.
HeHernan noticed that the man in his
nervous meanderings up and down the
platform never lost sight of the valise. He
Wore a dark suit, sack coat and no over
coat, a low, dark-brown derby hat was
well pulled down over his forehead All
these details were noted as he passed back
and forth under the light.
Now comes the sensational part of Hef-
fernan's tale: II was just about to start
my train, and had, in fact, rung the bell
when saw that the Frisco engine was
just across my path, as both tracks cross
there at an angle of about forty degrees.
There was nothing for me to do but
wait until the Frisco had pulled
out. I then had plenty of
time to take in my surroundings. Among
other things 1 noticed Fotheringham's
helper leave the car and go back to the
express Office. Still the messengers door
remained open. 1 made last inspection
of my engine with a torch, and while do
ing so the young man left his valise and
the electric light, and walking up to me
turning his face away asked:
"'What train is this?''
"'This is the Wabash 1 replied
"'Which is the Frisco express cara" he
again asked quickly.
"There it is, over there and I pointed
toward the car. AS I did so flared nv
torch up toward his face to get sight of
his features, but he turned away before l
could get the light on him and returned to
his valise. AS he reached it the Frisco
rang her starting bell The stranger
looked quickly around him and, grabbing
his grip as the train began to move, walked
quickly toward the head of the Frisco train.
He passed the baggage car, and, on reach
ing the open door of the express car, threw
his valise in, stretched up one hand and
arm to somebody in the car and then dis
appeared as if pulled in. In fact, I don't
see how he could have got into the car as l
saw him do it unless somebody had caught
him by the hand and helped him in. AS
soon as my track was clear 1 pulled .out
and thought no more of it till the robbery
came to Light
Heffernan was closely questioned as ts
the distinctness with which he saw the
man, and asserted that he saw him per-
fectly, as he was only twenty feet from
him and in the full glare of the electric
light. He was asked as to whether any
note was presented by the stranger
when he reached the express car.
TO this Heffernan replied en-
phatically: "He couldn't possibly
have done it. He didn't wait at the door
IF the car second and didn't say anything
TO anybody. He just threw in his valise
4 l.
The train was moving and he couldn't have
waited until note was read, anyway"
The opinion Heffernan formed of the
nan was that he wasn't railroad man
md was more like gambler
Thomas Dwyer is the Adams Express
Company's helper who was seen by Engi-
leer Heffernan working with Fothering-
lam, as stated above. The helpers duty is
% assist in transferring the express mat
er from the Office to the car. He is sup
posed to stay with the car, and the mes
enger arranging the packages until the
rain pulls out. The custom of messen-
,ers is to close the door as soon as the ex-
,ress matter is received. DWyer appeared !
before the grand jury after the engineer
md oorroborated his story about the car
loor being open. He said he left Fother- !
nghaSn alone few minutes before tia i
rain left. |
FoTHERINGHAM's TALKS IN JAIL.
Jail life does not appear to worry Ex. !
ress Messenger David s. Fotheringham
n the least. He takes very kindly to his
lew quarters and seems to care very little
bout being deprived Of his liberty. H9
alks in a manner that rather impresses
ne that he is innocent, notwithstanding
he circumstantial evidence against him,
nd he does not appear to have the least
oubt about coming out of the matter al
light. He says: II know I am innocent.
nd that they can never find any thing
gainst me, so why should I worry. A
hort stay in Jail is not going to hurt me
ny. I can stand it,
the PRESENT STATE OF THE CASE.
The real facts of the robbery are as much
nveloped in darkness now as on the day
yhen Fotheringham first made his state
lent to a reporter. The theory of the rob-
cry which was hit upon by the mass of
eople who studied the case was that the
Messenger had conspired to rob the car
nd had been assisted in the
obbery by one or two friends. 1t
ecaue as popular to spring that
leory as original upon party
acquaintance as it was to
lysteriously hint that Preller would ap-
ear alive and in the flesh ut Maxwells
.ial
A Bonus to BondhoIders.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10-Secretary Man
ing to-day issued notice that interest |