Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-27
TONS OF GRIT
Ofthe Simon Pure Kind Shown
BY the Late John I4oey.
FACED DANGER OF ALL KINDS,
Thrilling Experience Of Himself and Six Dc.
ieciIves Armed with Winchesiers Await
Ing The fobbers-A Tip From
Squealer Saves Their Lives.

No man living or dead had more pure
romance Ia his life than ex-President
John HOey, Of the American Express
company who died few days ngo
From the day that AS Il poor lad be
arrived IN New York from his humble
home In Ireland until the day Of his
death. when he had become one OF the
most famous men In American history,
bis life was crowded with Interesting
events
lie was more than brave, as physical
courage goes. He was absolutely fcar-
less. As the head Of great express
company that was constantly exposed
70 the depredntions Of the most Desperate
class of criminals, he was often brought
into situations Of great danger
And in score Of instances where he
Ind the most trying test Of his grit, he
was always as determined and defiant
~ q lion Bot two tales are told Of him
that read like the tale Of Richard Occur
dc Leon and
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TIMES.
About twenty yensg ngo one Of the most
trusted drivers In the employ Of the
Adams Express company was q Young
Englishmnn, liu0rty by name. He had
charge Of one Of the many wagons, and
his night run was TO Jersey City and
back To The office. generally bringing In
small snfc Of money and tnliing a
receipt for Il, afterwards going homr TO
bed. One day IlOOrCg was reported sick,
aud was excused. q man named Sweeney
taking his place on the wagon. Tie two
were in colluHion, for the next morning
about I Sweeney brought In the safe M
usual got his receipt and drove on. lie
had delivered an empty sufc, which he
hnd secured Ia advance and carried
AWAY the other safe, which contained
SBI,O 900, concealed under u blanket
Hoorey Joined him on u ferry.hDat, where
they broke open the safe, took the CON
tents aud threw 1t overheard under cover
OF the night,
Suspicion fell on IloOrey aud Sweeney,
but they were allowed TO 20 nbuut their
work us usual. but under constant SUR
Npillnurc. ii0OreY was found 10 he lead
TX q fast life ON the Bnwcry and spend.
ing money freely, lie was arrested, but
declared bis innocence aud engaged A.
Oakey Hall to defend him, mying him
5000 Of the stolen money MS "a fee
Sweeney. however squrulvd nud turned
states evidence Huprpv was triod, con
Sietcd and sentenced to five years IN
state prison
Hoorey went to Sing Sing Ia serve his
I've Years, While there he wrote several
threatening letters to Mr. llOcy, saying
he would
SHOOT HIM ON SIGHT
As soon ns he "a out,
Time rolled On. aud about four years
later. IN October. 1876. ns Mr. uOcy and
the late Hugh Hastings were walking mp
Liberty street In New York, from the
dorsey central ferry. Mr. lucy snw
Hoorey Standing at the door of u bar
rOom corner.
My God. Hughr' he exclaimed, "therc
y Hoorcy out Of jail, and walking
straight M to Hoorey he, said
80 you are out ut jul. are you, aud
you are going to shoot me ON sightY
Hourey snntched on his cap, and, hold
Ing Il In his hand faltcred out 80 help
me, God, MIR. Hooy. ! wouldn't touch Il
lnir of your head. Only give me chance
10 become nn honest man
All right; | won't disturb YOU" said
Mr.. Hocy, aud walked On.
Hoorcy then went To hoard with
Mrs Brady IN the metropolis, and while
knocking around made the acquaintance
OF one Broderick, who WIS night
watclman mt the Adams Express COM
pnny's offices, No 80 Broadway Brod-
erick knew nothing OF IloOcys past
history and was soon In the tolls Of that
apeoious young rascal. who far from re-
forming, had determined upon a tremen-
dons coup and finally consented TO enter
into nothing less than plot to rob the
vaults Of the company Brodcrick lis
tened, and then fell But mother Hoo
icy nor Broderick knew how 20
CRACK A SAFE.
or open vault. Some professional tnl.
ent would have TO be- called IN. HoOrpy
remembered that while in state prison
he had been recommended by pal to a
certain Jim Brady, u professional bank
robber Of great skin and reputation. lie
hunted Brady NJ and unioldrd his plans,
AZ first Brady WIS suspicious of IA tran
but after shadowing lluurey himself, he
became convinced that the fellow was
honestly dishonest aud entered into the
scheme con nmOrc. lie must have Nt
least three pals for such dillicut aud
desperate job az TO force the vault of
the Adams Express company, 50 he got
together precious gang of scoundrols
and snte robbers named Bill McpMitt.
Fiddle uoodcy and Little Dick Moore,
lnree passmasters - the art Of safe
As each one Of tLcm was MS wen
Known 10 the police as the superintendent
their plans had been laid With tho Ut.
most caution. They Ait upon the novel
rchemc OF meeting ~ Hnrrignn's the.
alter at mutinees Gnc one of gang
would buy SIX seats, always Ia the last
row Of Tie orchestra, and wliilr the rest
OF the audience was ronring with laugh.
Ter over the antics OF the Mullgnn
guards, these six sCounlrols (for Brod-
erick and Hoorey yore alwnys OF the
pariyl mapped out one OF the oloyerest
Hchemos ever devised.
From Hoorey the gang rot good
idea Of the movements Of hig sums of
money 10 and from the express COM
pany'E vaults. They knew that the
largest amounts were kept over SUNDAY
n tho safes In the great vault under
the sidewalk. They Rhrwdly surniacd
that about Christmas the largest sums
af ynulH has irWUuif nf All