New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-19


nigh impossible, even il two or three people were
engaged in the operation, besides which, the rob-
bers would be certain 10 be detected either By the
guard or by the railway servants who are SID
toned at intervals along the line Perhaps the
manufacturer handed the money through the
window TO somebody in the next compartment;
looked out and speedily convinced myself that
this also was practically impossible. The distance
between the windows was far too great 10 enable
two people 10 pass the metal from hand TO hand,
while the vibration Of the train, strong current
OF air, and the principles OF leverage would nave
made IL exceedingly difficult, il not quite impos-
slhle, 10 convey such a weight OF metal from one
window 70 the other by attaching, II to the ends
OF sticks or rods OF some sort. Moreover, even
II such an operation were possible, " Wonh TAKE
long time to effect, more time than was
available, and would be certain 10 be detected
either by the guard or the sinalmen whom we
were constantly passing. Could the thief have
dropped the booty TO some confederate VINO was
waiting at certain spot on the line 70 receive
~ dismissed this hypothesis at once Tor reasons on
matter moments consideration: No, the only
rational, the only possible, explanation Of the
tie box while / was asleep between Rugby and
Stafford. Al Stafford he was Joined by one or
more confederates, OF whom Hill was probably
one. and yet perhaps not, for the guard would
recognize him. At oil events, the confederates
came into the com partmpnt at Stafford. The box
was rifed, and the substitution made between
Stafford and Crewe, and at Grove the thieves LETT
the train. The only consolation had was that
the guard would he certain to have noticed them.
and would be able 10 give such a description of
them AS might lead 20 their apprehension.
Punctualy AZ fifteen minutes past we steamed
into Marlborough Junction. looked ont of the
window for IN" guard, who camc 10 me directly
the train stopped,
You have had u sound sleep, sir,' he said
pleasantly.
Guard ! said come in here nt once"
bcckoninp him into the carriage as | spoke.
Who got into this compartment at Staford?'
! asked
", afr Tho Cy1vpr no
man who got in at Rugby left NJ Stafford. |
locked the door Immediately he got out, and
nobody hes been in the compartment since. That
Good God" I exclaimed, then how did they
get in here? The strong-6oX has been robbed
Robbed, SIR he cried. looking AT me- with
blank amnzcmcnt
Yes, robbed" continued I have been
drugUcd, and whilst was asleep ?2, O00l has been
taken out Of that box, and Jumps OF iron and
lead put in It's place
moments pause and speaking as il he were dazcd.
" The gentleman who f. AZ Rugby got out again
nj Stafford. | ms close 10 him as / am To YOU
when he left m" friin. He had no luggngc of any
kind with him, not even a hand bag or u rug. and
that he could not have taken the money away with
him am perfectly certain. The box was all right
then seeing that you were asleep, examined H.
and saw that il was quite safe. locked The door
aS soon Us had done so, md from that time until
now the door has not been opened OF that am
quite sure
Them said |. the robbery must have been
between Rugby and Stafford. The man
who got in Mt Rugby must either have handed the
money through the window 20 somebody In an
other compartment, or somebody must have crcpt
n ing the fOothoarh while the train was in motion,
and thus have brought the weights that ar In that
box, and taken away the gold and notes A.
That is an utter impossihility, was Tho
prompt reply. &" III get into the next Compart-
ment, and you'll see that we cant join hands
He did 50 each stretched our arms as far as
we could out Of our windows, but the tips Of our
fingers did not come within two feet OF each other
NO, SIR snid the guard, = that is not the way
IL was done and rs 20 any one creeping along the
OF o tHin that is travelling at from
forty Ia sixty miles m hour, II is very rHsy 10
talk about but another thing 90 do: but 70 carry
Of sOvereigns N that way-oh, II Is
utterly impossible Besides We passed station
or a signalnan every few seconds. and they'd be
certain TO have seen. oh, sir. you must be making
a mistake
{" No. said goomily. =" il is no mistake. In
some way or other the stronghold hns been oprned
and pundrred | must 20 ut once 20 tho manager
Df the Bank of Marlborough. Can YOU come with
me -
No, sir have to take the train to It's ter
minus, which j. our ncAt station. We get there
u 1 -. But there is "A return train az o'clock.
which reaches here at 80. ! can be with you
II little before <. In the meantime must tel
the stRtonmaster what has happened
DO So replied hut IN the meantime make
sSgrratcd stories may get about, people may think
that the Bank Of Marlborough has hccn robbed.
and that might do the bank harm AZ present.
guard " but here is gentleman from the bank,
think"
A vounc man. accompanied by q porter with q
truck and policeman, was standing on the plat
form looking inQuirngly at our carriage.
From the Lombard Street Bank - he said, nd
dressing me as got ont of nv compartment.
Yes ! replied: can ! Sp"ak "a yUu for n
moment ." I tool, him aside and told him IN -
lew words what had happened.
Good Cod he exclaimed. No one who has
'omc by this train ought 10 have been allowed -
th. tat there's EtHtlOuIuIStPr
the train must hc searched
Only two pcopl" had left The train AZ Mnd3or-
.csprctablc. OF the search which ensured ncrVi
,nly say that II established ~ certainty that the
money had not com" 50 far. In" Two c"mInr'- |
ncnts next 10 mine were empty, AMI only five pco |
de remained in the train, about no one OF whom |
here could he any doubt.
Accordingly, We had the still heavy but now |
worthless box put on truck, and started with y
o the bank.
The Rank Of Marlborough is q private tnstitu- |
ion, tho principal partner ~ which was ~ pd |
Gentleman NAMED Church. who was waiting IN ms
lrcSsiug gown 20 receive Ms.
II was not until the box had been s0lcmnly |
Wheeled into the strong-room, aud the porter had |
EFT, that vcntured 20 tell Mr. Church Of the rob
,cry
"A dreadful accident has happened, sir said |
lcrvOuSly, ms | handed him the letter OF advice |
rom London.
when ?" he Ncnimrd with rs much animation rs |
lis nature seemed 20 permit. lie was tall, lanky
nan, with what have heard described as nrch- |
nent cOuntenance, and iron-gray hair.
Not quite an accident, sir, In that sonsc,' |
cped speaking with some confusion IN my cN- |
itament Oh sir, what | mean is that the box |
as been robbed md the 22,000l stolen from II |
uring the journey from London
" The box robbed :" hc repeated calmly, rs ~ he
we're relieved TO hear that II was only money and
ut life that WAS lost Well. that Is hardly IN |
ccidcnt," he continued after u moments pause
A prcconcerted matter, should call II. Let MS
ear about it, please How WAS the robbery
ncctcd p
These we're his words. nearly nS can rrm"m-
pr them lie was perfectly polite and sclI-pos-
,ssrd and vet, | thought, there was something
" an undercurrent of sarcasm or lucrclnllty, IN
il voice and manner.
/ told my story as fully and clearly as possible.
-hcn finished he merely said
Well It's very annoying. and | can't under
iand il M all. However, II concerns your people