The Progress., 1892-12-10


lively turned to look on that side of the
car saw the man and the safe on tbs
ground. He was unconscious, but not
dead. he lived three or four days after
being taken to the hospital, but nothing
was found on his person by which he
could be identified After that all ex
press cars were armored on the inside
with sheet iron or boiler plate, while a
chain and paddock secured the safe to
the floor.
One of the easiest, smoothest takers
ever met was a professional crook known
as "The Professor" He was about forty
years of age, good looking, aristocratic
in face and dress, and so gentle in his
ways that you would have deemed il
impossible for him to raise his hand
against any man on earth. l made his
acquaintance in New York. He claimed
to be travelling for a piano house in
which he had large financial interest.
He was not married, and as we stopped
at the same hotels in New York and
Buffalo we soon got to be pretty thick
friends. He gave his name as Charles
NJ. Davis, and he always carried the
cards, circulars, etc., of the piano house
he named.
He came and went on my train dozen
times before he entered the baggage car
There was a rule against allowing out
siders in the car, but it was never lived
up to. People would come in to consult
the baggage man about trunks which
had been damaged or lost, and men
bringing the mail bags would come in
to stow them away, and under one excuse
or another some one was always break.
ing over the rule. Davis entered the car
one day to make inquiries, and after he
had finished we had cigar and a chat.
This performance was repeated the next
week, and no one found any fault. His
third visit was made in the evening, OF
rather about 10 o'clock at night. In go
ing east we had run from 10 to half
past II without any important stop.
There was never any express to take on
or put off, and very seldom any bag
gage. Both the baggage man and my
self took advantage of this interval to
"cat nap."
On certain October night had $2S, 900
in the safe on its way to New York.
had not seen Davis for week when he
came into the car that night just before
10 o'clock. He handed the baggage man
a flask of whisky that he might take a
nip, and then sat down for chat with
me. The liquor was drugged, and in ten
minutes my companion was sound asleep.
| had refused to touch it, but accepted
cigar. 1t was about ten minutes past
10, and we were chatting away as pleas
antly as two men ever did, when Davis
seized me by the throat. l ad-
NIT that l had been taken in by his
sleek ways, and it is only fair
Offset that l tell you was phenomenally
strong for one Of my build and was gen.
orally credited with plenty of sand"
His sudden assault toppled me off my
stool, and next instant he was kneeling
On my chest and had both hands on my
throat. He didn't utter a word. He
said afterward he didn't intend to kill
me, but to cone so near to it that could
give him no trouble. If you never had a
pair Of strong hands at your throat you
can't imagine the feeling. | acted en-
Lirely through instinct when got grip
On his arms, and exerted all my strength |
TO break his clutch and throw him off. i |
realized nothing until found myself on
Top of him. The car appeared to be On
ire, and my tongue was out, and could |
not draw it back. The first thing / |
clearly saw was knife in Davis hand.
grabbed for his wrist, but before could |
seize it he cut me on the shoulder. The |
pain made me furious, and when got |
lold of his wrist twisted his arm until |
broke it. Then got him by the throat
With my left hand and battered him with
ny right. and no doubt / should have
Iilled him had not the conductor hap
'ened in to smoke pipe. broke Davis
aw and his nose, and two blacker eyes
we're never seen ON Bowery tough after
! free fight. 1t was good half hour be-
ore we could tell whether he was alive
II dead, and it was ten days before he
ould be arraigned for examination in
Sew York. 1t came out ON his trial that
'e was a slick one from the west, and
hat he had been working my train for
months. The dose he gave the baggage
ian kept that official asleep until day
lght, and his scheme was to drug me as
veil. When l refused the liquor he re-
orted to more desperate measures. As
% had knife and could have used it
efore the struggle, felt bound to be-
eve his statement that he did not intend
murder. He had been waiting to make
big haul, and he knew to within $500
the amount in the safe that night.
low he could have ascertained is more
han l can explain, but there are men in
ne express Offices all over the country
oday whose greatest fault is that they
ak too much. Some trusted employee
lay even have been in collusion with
i'm, although Davis claimed to be work
lg entirely alone
For two years had the best of luck
! getting through, and after the first
ear was given the best run on the road.
had come to flatter myself that was
70 sharp for the sharpest kind of a