The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
A TRAIN ROBBsRY IN THE COS.
The Loss of $4,000 In Gold on the
Central IN War Times.

The LOSS of $4,000 In Gold on the
Central In War Times.
Friday rights train robbery recalls a
robbery on the Central back in 1862 or 1868,
when the Merchants and Planters Bank Of
Savannah lost $4,000 in gold between
Savannah and Macon.
The robbery was one Of the most remark
able that over occurred, chiefly because of
the mysterious Disappearance of the money
and the fact that no CLOVIS were ever dis
covered as 10 who the robbers were or how
che robbery was accomplished.
There were many surmises a-d several
parties were suspected but no evidence Of
any value was ever discovered regarding II.
This remarkable robbery was called to
mInd by some of the older residents yester-
day during the discussion Of the bold attack
on Express Messenger Coulter night before
last.
A SAVANNAH BANKS LOSS.
The Merchants' and Planters Bank at
that time was doing an immense business in
| Savannah, aud had large deposits of gold
and currency. Hiram Roberts, since dead i,
was president, and NJ. A. Barrie. q we'll
known resident of this city, now living on
Liberty street. near Habershan, was
| cashier of the bank. The bank also had a
depository in Macon for the safe keeping of
its deposits during the disturbed state Of
affairs in the country then.
Some time 10 1862 or 1868 the officers Of
tho bank, becoming frightened at runners
Of the movements Of the federal army in
this direction, sent large amount of its
gold to Macon, amounting to about $780,
600.
The real or reported danger CT the city's
capture passing away, aud The gold being
needed in Savannah, it was decided some
time after to bring 1t back.
PACKED IN KEGS.
Instead of sending the money by express,
as could have been done, it was packed in
iegs and boxes and loaded into freight
car, which was locked. A man was sent
along on the trRiu with the money TO keep
a watch upon the car At every station
where the train stopped ne would get out
and take a walk around the car TO see that
everything was ell right.
How the robbery was accomplished was
never known, but when the car arrived in
Savannah and the packages were trans
ferred to the bank $4,000 in gold was dis
covered missing.
Inquiry was made and search was insti-
tuted at onc5, but neither the ma inner
OF the robbery, nor the identity of
the robbers was ever discovered.
One theory was that the money was taken
from the depot at Macon before the car
left tho city. Another, and tue one to
which more general credence was given,
was that wheu the train stopped In East
Macon, after crossing the river as was the
rule, some person gained access to the car
and threw overheard the kegs containing
the money.
THE ROBBERS NEVER CAUGHT.
Whatever became of the robbers or the
money was never known. There was be-
lief In Macon for long time that the
money was buried in an old cemetery there,
but none of it was ever discovered. An
other belief was that the money was carried
to Florida and shipped to some safe point
from there. Anyway, nothing was ever
heard of it.
The Merchants and Planters' Bank went
down with most of the other banks in the
south at the close of the war. Just bafore
the capture of Savannah the president,
Hiram Roberts, took all the specie on hand
and left with it for Augusta. He bid it
some where in Washington county, where it
was captured by the federals.
The story was most remarkably different
in this case, however, from those usually
told. The federal party was commanded
oy honest officers who after destroying all
the confederate bonds and other securities
10 be found returned the specie to the bank
at Savannah.
Mr.. Barrie said last night that he re-
its return very we'll, because the
money was packed in a common dry goods
box and the dollars were dropping out OF the
cracks