The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-07

~ was III u lhilluN''ho-h"'' 49, "
mind 10 think that the robbers had out.
witted him and that he had not stood
by his first decision oil mind. lie Is
also an old timer, and been IN many
tight places and he told me that for
reckless display Of nerve the james
gang were not in the same class with
this latter dav class OF highwaymen. |
called it cuteness because they got
away with their spoil No matter how
hard We worked aud how many clues we
run down, the robbers were at Chicago
ahead OF US, and your judgment will tell
You how safe they were there with the
thousands OF crooks to keep them com
pany. My chief is looking for them
yet, but my private opinion is that they
have returned to their western haunts,
and will DO heard from again in similar
scenes and are only awaiting the proper
time.
at was whilew We were working on the
Indiana robbery that the Indignation
Mountain hold up occurred. at hrst
We thought it was the same gang, put
one days work on the case told US mat
We had crowd Of bunglers to deal
with this time aud few days later our
surmise proved correct, rs we arrested
the man that had the mouey ana Tor
his release secured possession OF the
stolen treasure and the arrest oil ms
companions. The work OF tho tram
robbers in Indiana no doubt put the
idea in the Michigan mems minds mat
they were good highwaymen too, but
they lacked a good leader and were
minus the dash OF the western men.
The smaller hold ups l believe were
committed by single members oil the
first band simply for the excitement
connected with it and TO keep their
hands in. They have lots OF money, as
result OF their successful raids, and 1t
will take them some time to spend 1t,
but mark my words they will be at
their old tricks again before Christmas
day passes over our heads"
"What is your idea about resistance
being offered the robbers by the mes
sengers and trainmen?" inquired the
reporter "Do they take tue right
course in dealing with these desper'
adoesW
INA CASE or HoLD'uP.
"Yes and no. When it comes to a
case OF manhood they are right,
but considered from common sense
point Of view they are wrong. What is
the use OF resisting when mau has
the drop on you? All nonsense, | say.
Now, in'that robbery down near Waco,
Texas, the messenger resisted. What
did ne get? Why, q system full OF lead.
He didn't save the treasure. He didn't
do himself any service, and the good
opinion OF the company is nothing to Il
dead man. say it is all right to give
up when agun ia at your head. There's
nothing else TO do. Shoot your high
wayman as he runs, ii you can, but look
out for your hide. You will never get
another. When robbers are so desper-
ate as to make an attack on train load
cd with passengers OF all descriptions,
they are desperate enough to do any
thing. was in hold up some fl
teen years ago on the Rock Island road,
that was beforeI became a special OH.
Ger, and don't want to be in another.
The James boys engineered that raid,
and want to say that the barrel OF the
six.shooter that | ga2ed into looked
bigger than Joint OF stovepipe. Some
OF US had been Boosting the night before
emergency but we didn't do it. We
attempted to crawl under seats and
through windows, and many forgot TO
hide their watches and money. Oh, ii
was easy enough for the people in the
east here to bray, but the man who re-
fuses to acknowledge the potency oil the
drop the other fellow has on him is a
bigger fool than ] am.
circumstances alter cases. OF course.
Take the case Of my friend Jack Brew
ster. He was cierkIng at night for the
Wells Fargo Company out in Silver
City, Colo, in the early days OF that
city. The Office was situated on the
first floor OF the biggest hotel III town
and was one OF considerable importance,
80 it was the center OF a large min
ing district. The miners brought Il
good deal OF gold in from the mountains
and it was their practice to deposit it
with the express company over night
for the town was crowded with a rough
element and robbeFies and even mur-
ders were OF frequent occurrence. The
express company had large safe in the
office and this frequently held as high
as S25,00O.8 As deposits were made
every ten or fifteen minutes during the
time prior to midnight it was easy for
the robbers to know that the express
company kept this money on hand and
TO guard against this attack Jack always
went armed and was bad man to tackle
as he is sure shot and full OF grit. The
little Office which enclosed the safe and
desk was separated from the general
office by a high railing and the small
gate between the two was secured By a
spring lock, difficult to open unless one
understood it.
ONE LIVELY INCIDENT.
zone dark and rainy night Jack was
sitting alone in the office some time be-
tween | and o'clock, when a couple OF
Mexicans entered the room and came
up TO the desk. They said they would
like Jack to take care oil ther money
and they proceeded 10 count out nearly
thousand dollars in gold coin. As
Jack turned to open the sale before
counting the money after the Mexlcans,
and Just as he was about to swing back
tho iron door he heard sharp, whiz-
zing sound and pa something struck
him a tremendous blow in the back.
lie instantly raised up and whirled
about to face the Mexicans, and as he
dId so large knife Ieit from his back to
the floor lie thought ior a second he
had been fatally wounded, and, deter
ming to revenge himself upon his as
sassins, he quickly drew his trusty rev.
Oliver and fired at the men, who had
been unable to open the gate and were