New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-16
ROBBED OF $4,000.
A RAILROAD OFFICIAL IN CHICAGO SAND.
RAGGED.
THE TREASURER OF THE INDIANA. ILLINOIS
AND IOWA RAILROAD KNOCKED INSENSI-
prr, M, popprpc ~ HIS OFFICE.

BILE BY ROBBERS IN his OFFICE.
Chicago Nov ,5-John A. Drake, treasurer OF
the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railroad Company
sandbagged and robbed Of s2l,OOo In the ONCE
OF the company on the ninth floor OF lhe MUMMY
Building at o'clock to-day. Drake had the money
in a little hand-satche, and was preparing 10 go
out on the road to pay the employees He had just
placed the cash in the valise. and was ABOUT 10
leave the Office when two men stole up pehnd
him and feled him to the floor by several hard
blows on the head. The treasurer was knocked
nsensble. and could move finger IN de-
fence the thieves tore the satchei from
his nand and rushed out of the Office. slammng
the door as they went They rode down IN an eie-
vator unconcernedly and made their escape
The money taken represented the semi-monthiy
payroll OF the company. Mr. Drake intehoeu W
take the 7:30 o'clock train on the Nickel Piate
for Knox, Ind, the Eastern terminus OF the ihree
Ts" from which point he has been In the habit
Of working TO the Western terminus at Streator'
H., with his pay-car. 1t had been the custom OF
the company to pay its employees in checks payable
to bearer at the banks on the line. and afterward
change was made to part checks and part cash.
But 1t was suspected that dummies were on the
payroll, and change to paying In currency leu
to the discovery Of two dummy employees. Inc
custom Of paying only in cash had been IN vogue
about two months. and this fact must have been
well known to the robbers. They were also lamihar
with the treasurer's movements at the time ne
started out of Chicago on his pay trip. he ure"
the amount Of the payroll from the Illinois trust
and Savings Bank yesterday afternoon, and mace
up the 900 In envelopes for distribution to each
empoye These envelopes were placed In the safe
for the night and nothing was disturbed wheh
Mr.. Drake came to the office little before
o'clock He walked up the nine fights OF STAIRS
as the elevators not running and had ar
ranged with r. P. Shouts. general manager OF
the road, who is a son-in-law of President Drake.
TO meet him below. The two officials intended
going together on the pay trip, but Mr. ohou's
went alone and the first explanation he received
as to his brother-in-law's absence was teegram
notifying him of the robbery.
Mr. Drake says he had just put the money
packages in a handbag and was stepping from the
vault when he was seized with vise-ike grip
sideways round the body, and while his arms were
pinioned by robber. the second robper dealt
him stunning blow over the right temple Win
a slungshot AS he staggered the robber who held
him released his grip and struck the victim In
the face twice with his fist. At the same time the
robber with the slungshot hit Drake again over
the forehead. Telling him to the floor unconscious
The robbers then abstracted the package OF money,
and placing the satchel on a chair just outside
the vault walked downstairs without being met
by any one. Nothing has been seen Of them since,
and the police have no clew which promises any,
thing Drake left the Office door unlocked when he
entered and the key the outside, which Chief
Inspector Shea thinks was very careless act 10
saw the least Recovering consciousness, the treas
urer crawed to the Office door. which Is next to
the one in which the vault is built, and sat on the
floor in a dazed condition against a partition. Mall
Carrier Charles Daily was dropping letters through
he door half an hour afterward and heard moan
from the inside. Opening the door, he discovered
Mr. Drake and alarmed the janitors and elevator
men The victim did not think he had been uncon-
scious but could not remember seeing the robbers
snatch the money from his bag. and could only
faintly describe tho who had used tho slung-
shot He waited in the oflfe until his clerk came,
and at o'clock went Police Headquarters, where
he told the story to Inspector Shea. Then he went
to the Plaza Hotel. where he lives. Word was sent
to his father. who lives at Centreville, Iowa, and
a reward will be offered.
The clerks were put to work at once making out
bank checks to duplicate the payroll and the COM
pany will not be embarrassed by the robbery.
Drake undoubtedly hit with some weapon,
said Inspector Shea "as there is dscoloration of
his forehead. and he also hit In the nose. II
his story is true the job was not done by profess
sionals. but by men intimately acquainted with
the company'5 custom about paying its men,"
Mr.. Drake informed the Central Station soon
as possible. and by o'clock every detective that
Inspector Shea could spare put to work on the
case 1t was the most daring robbery that has
occurred in Chicago in many years. happening.
it did. in one of the best-known office buildings
in the city, right in the heart of the business dis
trict The early hour selected by the thieves Is
all that prevented their immediate capture.
Mr.. Drake has been with the Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa Railroad since it was organized. He
the property.