The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-15

when it stopped at the depot and hurried
into the Norfolk and Western train,
which was in waiting for the West
The smaller of the two men was clean
shaven, wore a dark SLOUGH hat, and
had piercing, dark brown eyes. 1t was
Detective Baldwin. of the Norfolk and
Western railroad, and tho other,a heavy
set fellow, we'll dressed and good look
ing, was John Mehan, his prisoner.
Baldwin guarded his man with an eagle
eye, but left his hands free from mana
cles.
Hardly person in Roanoke would
have known either. They were appar-
emily strangers, for Baldwin had
wrought change in his face by shaw
ing OIL his heavy moustache that made
him unknown to his intimate friends
When tho train arrived at Christians
burg Mehan was lodged in jail, and his
captor returned TO Roanoke
John Mehan is the last of ganp of
four train robbers whom Detective Bald
win has run 10 bay and lodged safely
in jail
The other three were James ROYAL,
Sam Smith and Sandy Neal. Their
operations were conducted at Radford
principally, but finally extended along
other parts of the line.
Mehan was in possession of a set of
sealing irons and gave the detective no
little trouble to ferret out the mystery.
Box cars were robbed Of goods and re-
sealed in good order, and despite all
efforts to capture the guilty parties the
deprcdationS went on.
M III
which eliminated in breaking ND the
practice.
Sam Smith stole 4 bottle of beer at
Radford and carried it TO his home lie
was caught in the act and the dctcc-
tive being SO informed, suspected him
at once as being implicated in the car
robbery
Getting 4 trusty negro, he sent him to
Mrs. Smith, with instructions as com
ing from her husband, that h had been
captured. and to get all the stolen goods
in the closet and turn them over to the
negro, who would hide them, as the
house was about to be searched.
The negro did as instructed, acting in
very excited manner. Mrs. Smith
was not long in bundling up a good lot
over to the negro.
"
and took charge of them. lie then ar
rested Smith, who confessed the whole
robbery, duplicating Mehan, Royal and
Neal. Roy;l was conductor for the
company and was arrested that night
and Neal the next day. These arrests
were made on April and 10.
In tho meantime Mehan had como to
Roanoke, leaving Radford March 20.
lie remained here several days, and
procured pass to 1Iagerstown. For
some reason he returned to Radford nd,
seeing the drift of affairs, purchased
ticket to llagerstown. He was sharp
enough not to use the pass which had
been giycn him by the Norfolk and Yves
tern. lie was ten days the start of De
tectiye baldwin, who remained in Roam
oke several days, having been informed
that Mehan was out in the country ped
had eluded him by going back to Rad
ford, baldwin started on the trail.
1t is easy to track a railroad man
when you once know how. Baldwin
knew. lie found that Mehan applied
for position as yardmaster at nearly
every place whore he stopped. Thus he
tracked him to Philadelphia, thence to
New York and on to Buffalo. Here
Mehan remained day and then skipped
to Canada, but the yardmasters along
his route were keeping Baldwin posted,
and soon he appeared in Chicago.
Then baldwin knew he would get his
man, for Mehan's wife lived in Min
nesota. lie was located at Austin and
in few days Baldwin was there.
Here he found that Mehan and h :,
wife were in Dubuque, Iowa. He had
already procured requisition to bring
Mehan from Minnesota, and it now
looked as though he would have to get
one from the Governor of Iowa also
The detective learned, however, that
Mehan lived at Lansing, few miles
north of Austin, and was sure he and
his wife would soon return.
In few days Mrs. Mehan stopped in
Austin on her way to Lansing She
saio her husband would remain in
Dubuque, as he had gone into business
there.
Mrs. Mehan had a little child with
her. This innocent little being was to
be the instrument of its fathers capture
baldwin at once saw a chance to lure
Mehan out Of Iowa. lie sent bogus
telegram to Mehan saying come at once
the child had been badly hurt. In a
few hours a reply came signed by
Mehan that he would be in on the night
train.
Then Baldwin shaved of his NOUS
tache, and boarding a freight train went
to meet his game. Arriving in a small
town in Iowa where a change of cars
was necessary, he found Mehan regis
trared at hotel waiting for the train
Mehan was telling several gentlemen
about receiving tho telegram. Pretty
soon tho train was ready to start and