The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-24
TRAIN-ROBBING SPOILS.
Often Very Small, with Pun
ishment Almost Certain.
DEATH FREQUENTLY The PENALTY
Noted Instances Where Capture
Has Followed the Crime.

In spite of the Uncertainty as to the
| Booty and the Almost Certain Chance OF
Deteetiop-Jim berry. Long Immunity
from, Arrest md His Death-The Pryor
Greek Robbery-Nyittrock's Robbery OF n
welis-FarRo Safe-iIiS Lnioy meut or the
Plumber Cut short-Capitai Punishment
Suggested as Remedy tor the Evil
Train robbng 10 not profitable pursuit. It
has been practised in the Southwest steadily
since 1873 and within the past two or three
years railroads In every part OF the country
have suffered attacks Of this character There
was scarcely q week last year la which rob-
berry was not reported. The greater porto
OF these were south and west OF the Missouri
River. Texas came In for n lions share of
this newest and just now the most threatening
form Of crime with which we have to contend
But In spite OF popular belief that train rob-
bers are successful in getting large sums OF
money without being caught 1t Is true that
small stealings are the rule and that the
chance OF escape is about one In 100 cases.
This statement Is not advanced without sup
port. The records OF the express companies.
the authorities and tho railroads are behind
it. Even in the early robberies. when the tele-
graph system OF tho country was not to be
compared with that OF today. there were no
escapes worth mentioning. The weakness Of
one OF the robbers usually resulted In a con-
fesson. Loose tongues also caused arrests and
the recovery OF much stolen money.
Mr.. L. A. Fuller. superintendent Of tho Pa
cinc Express Company. with headquarters at
st. Louis. has been an expressman. from tho
rank OF messengers to his present position.
since 1859. He has record OF nearly all OF
the train robberies that have taken place in
the United States within the past twenty years
Before 1875 few such robberies were attem pit
ed but Mr.. Fuller narrated a few days ago the
story OF how. In 1855. there occurred one OF
the most daring pieces OF wholesale thievery
OF which the express companies Of the coun-
try have knowledge.
At that time the land Office at Dubuque. Ia.
was doing a fiourishing business 1t was nee
essary every few months to mako heavy ship
ments OF gold to the Sub-Treasury Mt New
York. In the year mentioned two boxes. each
containing $25. 900 IN gold coin. wore taken to
Chicago. and. Just across the lake from that
city put upon what is now the Michigan Cen
trail Railroad. in charge Of the American Ex-
press Company. In due time the boxes
arrived at New York. but when they
were opened 1t was discovered that
they contained only bullets The case
was in every way mysterious. The shrewdest
detectives Of the time were putto work on it.
but they developed nothing. The only clue
attainabe pointed to theory that the boxes
were opened somewhere between Chicago and
Detroit. for between those cities tho messen-
ger. Sam White. slept on the night that tho
treasure was carried. Theauhoritiee and the
railroad and express companies at once put
watch on White. The messenger attended to
his duties with care for months. but
at a time when the shadow, was about
to be withdrawn. no suddenly and
without apparent cause resigned. The detec-
tives continued to keep an eye on the messen-
ger, He went to New York. and there he lived
modestly for several months. embarking In no
business. From that city he moved IN 1856 to
Lawrence. Mass. where ne established a livery
stable The detectives learned without diff
OF he ha oH n %
stolen money The eX-messenger, was soon
placed under arrest. lie confessed. implicat-
spent their lives in the Michigan penitentiary
It afterward deyeloped that the money had
room in which White associate slept.
One of the most notable OF the train robberies
In Ee S wAS e In wSen Bas
Bass. Jim Berry, Bill Heiridge., Jack Davis. and
a man named Collins held up the Union Pacific
the express car At that time the Union Pacific
road was running its own express. Tho money
was ordinary overland business; and was not
run" At a point called Big Springs
peed ths ere% to 's stand
the ground while other monitors OF the
party robbed the safe and the passengers
ohaiA ring, or jewel in sight was put into a
great bag that one Of the men carried. As
commanded the train crew 10 proceed. and the
five men rode OF with their splendid booty.
Many months On were bet IN bringing
the money was recovered. and all the men but
Collins. whose identity or existence was never
law. The men were single handed aud hui
man the express and railroad compa MES OF
weak flesh, and and the flesh I ylcldcd. A''
tnS With
on their revolvers. Bass escaped into Texas.
and for several years led gang OF dcspera-
Territory. lie was killed in Las Vegas n. NJ.
by cowboys who were after him. Berry's death
and is n story by itself This robber was no
common man. He had lived in Audrain county.
c had cs
tie interests out mewhero near the trail
town town Of oEaIalla; in Nebraska where he went t
some in the town Of 'r Moxiso the soant1
best people were among them-knowing that
he was fresh from tho Big Spring country.
Brr @s s al
Ing his explanations always with the remark,
But they'll catch the rascals sure"
freely than was his wont. but no ono thought
II unusual after a good cattle season. One
day. however. Farmer Berry got drunk. 1t was
an unhappy day Tor him. for he gave $50 gold
pieces r away to his friends and was ot4sr,
story, got out. Berry was remembered
Big Springs. and in few days the
officers were after him, a friend OF Berry told
him &c got out. Tho robber left Mexico. riding
south to Cal away county. lie first stopped at
his home. where he supplied his wife with some
JeWelry and a liberal allowance OF money. Be-
fore he had been away from his house three
hours the Sheriff, aud party called there for
ever sat IN a saddle. erect. broad shonlderei.
frank. open faced, u manly man. was the onl-
Ger. lie knew Berry. ann had been his friend.
yet he knew his duty first.
Night came on soon after the Shorin party
left Berry's house. 1t was thought best to
camp not far away. for II was bel that the
train robher might venture back. The posse
slept on the ground about halt n m 10 from the
farm house. Glasscock lay down in a blanket
In the centre of II clump Of hazel bushes lie
was the first t? DO astir on the following morn
Ing. 1t was In the summer and day broke
CnrlY Tho Sharlff Wnlkel around the hazel