Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-13
MONTANA COAL MERCHANTS
How They Have Been Getting Away
With the Northern Pacific.

past Two years been rObbing In,
Northern Pacific Railroad Of thou
sandsof dollars worth of goods ar,
about TO be brought to justice
Since Thiel's detectives have taken
charge of the case a great many
robberies have been brought Ia
light and within the past two
weeks the most gigantic steal, as
well as the bOldest, ever attempted
on the road, was finally brought to
light, and three or four secret arrests
made. Though the railroad COM
pany has endeavored to keep the
matter quiet, the very holiness Of
the transaction is apparent to the
} ublic
Coal merchants OF Helena, Mont,
are the guilty parties this time, anu
on number Of them viii the crime
Ice fastened etiectuaLy, and with
the result that several may serve
terms in the penitentiary for steal
ing coal by the carload and hauling
II distance of 100 miles from the
company's mine without paying
freight. It Is the most gigantic
railroad robbery ever known in the
United States.
The Northern Pacific railroad
owns and operates the Timber Line
mines, about 10 miles north Of
Helena, Mont, and rs they have the
largest rs well rs the best mines in
the locality the company is enabled
to charge much higher price for
fuel; besides collecting their own
rate for the haul, their tracks being
practically the only line Of road
through that portion Of the
country. The coal and wood
dealers of Helena complained
bitterly, but there was no help for it.
Two years ago, however, the price
Of coal from the Timber Line mines
was lowered 10y n number Of merch-
ants to n point where it was almost
impossible 10 see where the local
dealers made a profit, unless they
gave short weight practice which
they insisted they never INDUCED
in, Away pursuing a straightfcr-
ward and legitimate business course
and making their profits in the in
creased sales.
The detective who worked the
cIse and brought about n settlement
between merchants for stealing
freight, was also detailed TO the coal
matter. The registered amount Of
coal taken out Of the mines was not
sent over the cOmpany's line. judg-
ing from the number Of miners re-
quired to DO the work. The detec-
tive spent three months in the
mines, and never 10 his knowledge
was there any attempt at larceny.
Arrangements were made finally,
whereby the detectives were to Oh
tain the number Of cars each engine
pull ed from the mines. The night the
list was handed to him he watched
carefully and noted that While
the train was being made up an ex-
ira car, which was standing on a
side track was taken on the train
ahead Of the cabOose, aud the train
moved toward Helena. The rail-
rOld officials at that point were COM
municated with and the cars were I
checked 10y a detective. To the
surprise Of all concerned the number /
OF the flat car the detective had sent 1
in did not arrive in the yard. That 4
morning the engineer doubled the /
road and the identical car was re-
turned-empty.
Where it went and how il was re- /
turned was n mystery. On the next /
trip the car was checked in every /
town along the read by "spotter,"
and again it failed TO put in an APP
peaTance at Helena. Ii could not /
have been left on the tracks or on \ 1
switch, which were both afterwards
carefully guarded, and the car was
seen at every point, but not nj 1
Helena-its evident destination.
Finally the case was worked by
strategy. 4 detective, who played
the role ola tramp, was sent to Boze.
man, and from there walked to the
mine, and climbed on the load Of
coal on the car on the side track.
The regular down train came along.
stopped and hacked up for the flat
ear, hooked on TO the cabOose and
to Helena As before. the
car was checked at every point, and
a man was on il, bound to STAY
there until il reached its destination.
n the yards of Helena n brakeman
the fiat from the train
and the caboOse from the stolen
car of coal. The conductor ap-
Piled the brakes on the clboose
and it soon dropped in the rear.
while the train went ahead Of the
iiat. The detective then sat up aud
the proceedings. A switch
nan threw the switch and the flat
ar turned of on side track along
side a coal chute. AS soon rs il
PASSED, the switch was thrown 10 the
main track and the clbOOse ran up
o the train, which had stopped for
/ crossing. 1t was coupled on and
he train proceeded to the freight
lepot, minus the stolen coal car.
The flat in the meantime ran n
distance of about 600 feet, when n
lark form was seen setting the
rake, the car stopping along side a
.hute, when the detective slipped
o the ground, and from the shadow
4 a distant car noticed a force of
everal men empty the coal into the
hute. Then the car was showed
Up the track until it was about 100
Get from the main track. When !
he same engine started on the re- !
urn trip TO double the road, the j
abOose was again lOosened and the ,
at car pushed on the main track
nd the switch thrown into position.
he train, though il had not stopped,
-as going slow, slow enough to per-
hit counling, and the car was taken
ack 10 the mines. c
The story seemed incredible. That 1
switchman, brakeman, engineer
nd conductor would enter such 4 @
old combination seemed prepOster-
US. The men who unlOaded the T
pal were employees Of the coal deal {
~ A suggestion Of the detectives q
as adopted, AMI when the same
ain reached the yard a few nights
tier another engineer was sent hack e
4 charge Of il, and the empty car r
as left in the yards beside the. coal e
lute. Not = word was said, and =
le following night, " hen the reg ;
lar train crew went out, the myste- =
gfr- COR .s-al faf-as. ..-ffg.