The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-11-05
GREAT r n ROBBERY.


One Man, Single-Handed, Robs On Express Me-.
senger ON q Train In Missouri, Capturing 40.
OOO-One Of the Most Skillful Exploits IN n.
Annals Of Crime.
The Adams express car attached to mas.
senger train No. 3, on the st. Louis d San
Francisco road, which left st. Louis III
1925 Monday night, the 25th inst. was
robbed Of over $4,000 in cash betweer
st. Louis and Pacific, Mo. Before tia
train left st. Louis a man giving the name
Of Cummings presented to the express mes.
Benger, Mr.. Fotheringham, a c~leverly forged
letter bearing a perfect fac-simile OF the Sic.
nature OF Barrett, the local agent 81
the express company at st. Louis
The letter stated that Mr.. Barrett
had decided to put an extra man an
the route, that the bearer was he, and that
Mr.. Fotheringham was directed to teach
him the details ofthe business. The stran.S
ger was allowed to enter the car and took
great interest in all of the movements ~
the messenger, apparently desiring olearn
quickly the ms and outs OF theduties which
the letter stated he was expected to per-
form.
Supt. Damsel gives the following as the
result OF q long examination OF the mes.
Benger, made at the office OF the company.
VA n ObAN 49, oAJ Oh6S on AE MHH
about to 60 out on his run last night.
O. man came to him with q letter purport.
ing to be signed by myself and Mr.. Barrett.
instructing him to take thu bearer
Jim Cummings, on his run as far as
Pierce City, for Instructions. In accord
ance with the supposed instructions,
Fotheringham took the stranger and set
him to work checking up. Then he began
his own work. Fotheringllam was standing
with his back to the stranger, his coat of
and the handle OF his revolver sticking out
Of the pistol-pocket, when about ten or IF
teen miles out of the union depot, he was
attacked from the rear. The stranger
Eripped his neck with one hand and
grasped his revolver with the other.
Before Fotheringham realized what was be-
ing done, he was thrown to the floor. He
struggled and fought, but the stranger
overcame him and bound him hand and
loot. Then he put a gag in his mouth and
tied him to the sale. Having secured the
messenger, he proceeded to 60 through the
sale and take all there was in it. Sever
al pouches OF silver he cut open,
but left them when he found what
they contained. At Mincke some men
working in a lime kiln tagged
the train on account OF an obstruction on
the track. While it wal 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
md crv ont FOR assistance. The train
men, hearing him, e~ndeavored to get in the
back door, and finding it locked went
around to the frontdoor, which the robber
had left open. They released him. Foth-
eringham says the robber was about six
feet high, twenty.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 a dark gray over
coat. The messenger was gagged with hand
| kerchie,s tied in knots forced In his mouth
and bound around his head. His n
were tied together behind his back with q
silk handkerchief. His legs were fastened
with straps taken from valises in the car,
cords and heavy strap which was arounG
the safe. He was tied TO handle oil the sale.
1t is customary to send new men out on the
road with messengers to receive lnstruc-
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 telegraphed
in to the company's general manager thae
he had been robbed, and he (Mr. DamseI
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, ns
thinks it will exceed $40, 600.
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