Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-04-26
A FARMER GAGGED AND ROBBED
HE AND HIS WIFE BOUND AND GAGGED

HE AND HIS WIFE BOUND AND GAGGED
TRAIN HANDS INTIMIDATED BY THE
ROBBEIs-A DANGEROUS GANG.
Wheeling IntelIigencer. Monday.
\ robbery was perpetrated Saturday
evening in the country not far from West
Alexander, Pa, and about fourteen miles
East of Wheeling, which in its details re-
calls the memorable Workenauer robbery,
and that of Elijah Marling and others fol-
lowing. 1t has been apparent for a long
time that majority of the robberies com
mitted in this vicinity were the work of
one gang The similar brutal methods
employed, the likeness in the descriptions
of the parties engaged in the work. and
other circumstances connected with each
robbery, point Enthusiastically to this con-
cluSiOn. The robbery of the WOrkenauer
family, in Manchester, on Christmas eve.
1881 by masked men who broke into the
house and after struggle Overpowered
the old man, his wife and young son, was
the first of series, apparently still run
ming, several of them in this city, one in
the country few miles from town. one
at Portland, up the river. and others in
the country over in Ohio.
THE LATEST OF THIS SERIES
was the robbery of Christ Miller. farmer
living about two miles from West Alex
ander. Saturday night. Three men enter
ed his house, while fourth kept watch
outside The house was not yet closed
for the night, it being between and s
O'Clock. and the men had no difficulty in
getting in. They covered Mr. Miller and
his wife with revolvers, gagged and bound
him and tied her to bed post. and then
proceeded leisurely to ranSack the house.
They found in one place $3.50, and in an
other S35-making $2oo in all, which they
stole. They also carried off a rifle and
shot gun. probably not because of their
value, but to prevent their being of use if
Miller should get loose quickly after their
departure, The guns could be of no use
to the men, as their possession would not
only cucumber them, but betray them to
everybody who heard of the robbery
They were, doubtless. thrown away as
soon as the men were at safe distance
from the house. Some other small arti-
cles were taken and the men left shortly
after o'clock, leaving Mr.. and Mrs. Mil
Ter bound and gagged as described.
The family managed to get loose and
raise the alarm
\ telegram was sent here little before
II o'clock Saturday night, detailing the
robbery, and asking the police to search
all incoming trains here, as the robbers
were believed to be Wheeling crooks, and
were known to have come in this direc-
ton. Four OF five members of the city
police force went to the Baltimore and
Ohio depot, yards, and other points where
it would be possible for crook to alight.
at all the night trains, but no trace could
be found of the men. The police also Wis
tied the baunts of the well known crooks
who make their headquarters here, but
without results
Yesterday two Washington county Off
cialS came here in reference to the case.
and remained here over night. but it is
not probable that their visit had or will
have any result. Further than general
description of the parties who composed
the gang, which tailed with that of every
similar exploit on record in the vicinity
In the past four yours, there is no clue to
work FROM and if the gang is ever brought
to justice it will probably be as a result
of their own growing boldness. Their
reckleSSneSS has been several times illus
trated lately, and never more strongly
than in this case. The masks they used
to take the precaution to wear have been
discarded
HIGH HANDED CONDUCT.
Yesterday morning, at an early hour.
three men, doubtless these robbers, board
ed the second section of Baltimore and
Ohio freight train No SO, and behaved in
an utterly reckless manner. Just where
they got on is not known. The train con-
sisted of seven heavily loaded cars. Itl
stopped at the East end of the West Alex |
ander tunnel short time, and then ran
to the station, where stop was
made to receive orders and to take water. |
As the train started down grade between |
West Alexander and Pint Mills. the front |
brakeman went back to set the brakes on |
the cars. He climbed over the first car. |
gOndola heavily loaded with coal. and was
about to grasp the brake wheel, when he |
was confronted by three rough looking
but fairly well dressed men. who asked |
him:
What do you want here, you --?p
. | want to set this brake" he replied.
The men, who were riding on the pro-
iecting end of the car floor, evidently i'm
aglned the idea was to stop the train.
I" \ OH do Mt set no - brake," said
one of them.
i1u0 iuNC uollC HOllllllE W you. ana
| We got to set the brake, to hold us going
down this grade"
All three of the men drew revolvers and
covered the brakeman, Saying "Gitl"
He got, and seeing the middle brake
man coming told him to go back. tGo.-
The former then told the engineer what
was up, and the train was backed to West
There search of the train
was made and officers arDlIsed hut tho
men had disappeared.
The conductor told his story here, and
from the description given by the brake
man it is evident that they were the same
men who robbed Miller. 1t is supposed
that they jumped of the train just as it
eft the treStle on which it was when the
engineer began to back, that they laid in
-he ditch beside the road until the train
passed, and then escaped under cover of
darkness.