Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-16
ROBBED OF THOUSANDS.
Treasurer Drake, of the Three 7.
Road, Assaulted in His Office.
THIEVES GET AWAY WITH $4,000.
The Robbery Occurred in the
Heart Of the Business District
of Chicago in the Rookery
Building-No Definite Clew to
the Daring Thieves.

CHICAGO, November 15.-J. o. Drake,
Treasurer OF the Indiana, Illinois and
Iowa railway, was assaulted in his
office in the Rookery building to-day,
and robbed of many thousands OF dol
lars, which he had packed in vaise
preparatory to going out upon the road
TO pay employees. A mail carrier in
passing Mr.. brakes Office heard groans
within, and upon entering found the
official lying upon the floor bruised and
in a semi-conscious condition.
''I've been robbed by two men," said
Mr.. Drake feebly, and the open safe,
overturned valise and scattered papers
confirmed his statement. Mr.. Drake
had evidently received rough treatment.
Big wets on his head bore evidence Of
savage blows. He had little to say, but
the sum of $4,000 was mentioned as
missing and it was soon understood that
the robbers had made away with that
amount
The Central station detectives were
notified and Inspector Shea's men put
to work on the case.
Occurring as 1T did in the Rookery
one of the largest and best known office
buildings OF Chicago, situated in the
heart of the business district. The
robbery caused intense excitement.
Business was almost at standstill in
the neighborhood during the DAY, and
employers and clerks were equally eX-
cited over the sensational theft.
The office Of the Indiana, Illinois and
Iowa Railroad Company is in charge of
Sidney S. Whitehead, General Agent
for Chicago. p. II. Drake, President OF
the road, has been out Of the city sew
eral days, and his son, John A. Drake,
the treasurer, only arrived here yes
terday. IT has been the custom Of the
treasurer 10 pay the employees of the
road in checks. Had the custom
been continued the startling rob-
berry would not have been
attempted in all probability,
but within the past week the officials OF
the company decided to pay the men in
currency. 1t is thought proable the
robbers learned that this months pay
would go out in currency from a circu-
lar which was issued the first Of the
month announcing that wages would
thereafter be paid in cash instead Of
checks. These circulars were distributed
all along the railroad among the en-
poyes, and one of them could very
easily have fallen into the hands of one
of the thieves. The company pays It's
men twice a month, on the 1st and the
18th, and it was to make the last No
vember payment that Treasurer Drake
was starting out to do when the rob-
bers attacked him and stole the $50, 900
which was intended for the railroad
men. The news of the robbery created
a hustle at the Central Station, the
like Of which has not been seen since
Assassin PrendergaSt was brought there
after shooting Mayor Harrison.
The police overhauled many suspects,
and tonight it was reported that de-
tectives had arrested two men at de-
pot who refused 10 give an account OF
themselves, aud that they were locked
up at the Central Station. None of the
officers would admit that an arrest had
been made.