Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04

Thousands OF Dollars stolen Two
Years Ago.

] 4,
States Express by the Union National
Bank OF Cincinnati 20 the Van Wert
/ National Bank of Ohio. When the
package reached its destination at van
Vert il was opened and found to be
bogus. being stuffed with paper and cot
! ton batting. Il was evident that the CIV
OoO had been stolen by some one. An IN
yestjeation ensued under the direction
Of SUPERINTENDENT Calvin Cone. oil the
express company, and parties whom
he emploved, The result being that they
came 70 the conclusion that the package
had been put up in the shape IN which IL !.
was found at the bank in Cincinnati
On that theory payment was resisted Oly
the express company, against when
/ snit for the amount was brought IN inc
! United States Court at Toledo. ana the
case was tried during the winter Vi
| 1867. The company was Dea'eh'
4 Judgment against it WAS entered, ana tne
money paid. Here the matter rested
until little over a year ago, when u was
referred to Colonel John Byrne. OF TINS
city. who had in the mean time been ap-
pointed general detective agent Oh the
| express company.
The Colonel went to Ohio, looked over
the ground, saw everybody through
whose hands the package had passed on
its tourney, and became convinced thst
the genuine package had been stolen at
I Greenville. Ohio. and the bogus one sub
stituted by a man named John Z. MUIR
phy. who at the time Of the robbery was
employed as a driver by the United
| States Express agent at Greenville. lie
| left the employ Of the company IN July,
| 1887. nnder somewhat suspicious
circumstances. and after demand
ing a large increase in salary, which
! he knew the company would not pay.
After leaving he made no effort TO
/ get work. although lie was rot known 70
| have any means. On the LIST OF august,
| 1897, he left Greenylllo and went 10
| Dakota, giving out that he was going TO
take ND a land-caim. From D&kota ne
went 10 Southern Kansas, and stopped
at place called Mead Centre. Hero he
remained some time, and arranged 70
| locate, after which he returned to Green
vile for his family, consisting Of his
wife and two children. On the 3ist OF
October, 1887, he left GreenvIlle
with his family. Murphy was next
heard of at ArtesIan City, ia
Mead county, about eight miles
from Mead Centre. where he was CT
caeod in running a country store. Colo
mel Bvrne about two months ago learned
that ms suspect" was making expendl-
lures in his new home that wero alto
cether unwarranted by his known fnan
cIal condition. The Colonel made fur
Their investigations and found he was
paving for everything he purchased IN
spot cash. Colonel Byrue again pro
ceeded 10 Greenvilie and filed ailldavlt'
on which requisiiion was obtained
from the Governor OF Ohio to the Gov
ernor Of Kansas on which the latte'
gave him "a warrant for the arrest Of
Murphy.
At noon q week ago to-day he arrived
nj Mead Centre, and obtained the 49,
sstance Of tho sheriff Of the county an
lawyer They then started for Arte
sian City. eight miles distant, and there
found Murphy, who was arrested by tn'
sheriff on the Governors warrant The
prisoner was questioned os to hli
finances. and he sad be had about g
with hiu when he came 10 Kansas, wnlcf
he hai saved mp from bis earnings
When asked about his real and persona
property purchased SINCE his ar
rival in Kansas hc enumerated amounts
which figured up 81. $50 or 81 900. Whc!
asked how much money he then had, hC
replied So or 5j', bat se9rch o. Nm
person revenled Si35, including % SIM
mH When asked where be got It, M re
Piled Mt Greenyile, o., tut did not re
member when. When questioned as q
how ho could pay cash to such o large
amount whom he had only $500. he ap
pearcd considerably puzzled. In orde
To avoid hQjc0s cOrpUa proceedings
Colonel Byrne requested the sheriff t
iron the prisoner catch the first and ON,
train Of the day, and take him to Hutch
inson. $50 miles east. end there hold Inn
until he G}vrne) was heard from.
The sheriff Immediately departe'
with Murphy, and Colonel Byrne thel
commenced 10 search the house, the r.
snlt being an amazing discovery. H.
came across centre table, on top o
which were q Number of picture-iramcs
albums. &c. lie removed them and nj
tempted to lift tho table when the tol
came of. He then discovered thai on
Of the legs OF the table was hollow, an'
thrusting his arm down TO the elbow iel
something. lie drew it forth, md Il
his establishment as well rs his gratlfca
ton. it proved 70 he a package contain
ing 81. so Of the stolen money, $40
Of which was in 500 bills. Murphy
wife, who was a spectator Of the dis
covery, exclaimed
MY God, he's guilty "
The Colonel started for the railroa'
station. where he wired the sheriff on tn
train that he had found the stole
money. The sheriff showed the dispateI
70 Murphy. who then weakened an
admitted his guilt. On the fOilowin
day the Colonel arrived ut Hutchinson
and the prisoner was delivered to bim
On friday he, in turn, delivered Nun
phv to the sheriff at Greenyiile, Ohio
Next morning be was arraigned, waive
examination, and WIS committed 70
. trial. On the iFliu coming LIS
Murphy, who by this time had becom
penitcnt said that the money packing
went by the Greenville station, where
should have been transferred, and wa
sent back and remained over night
When the package went 10y be conceive
the idea of taking it. In the aftcrnoo
Il came back from Union City AMI Wa
received by him. He took II and dc
livered it to the agent. That nightit r.
NAMED in the vault. During that night
having resolved to carry ont the scheme
he prepared in the Office and at bis hous
the contents found in the package vine
! il reached Van Vert in the mOrnlne
during transfer hour, after he bad re
ceivcd the package to transfer to tn
messenger be raised one OF the END
of the seals with his penkni
opened the end OF the wrapper
took ont the currency, and d.
serted the material prepared. II an
not quite ill up, so he used cotton bat
ting at the edges TO preserve the snap.
tie then heated some green WAX an
pressed II back. and also heated the out
or portions OF the seal with match an