Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-11
MADE A FULL CONFESSION.
Ops of the Postoffice Robbers Tells All
About the Gang, and How and Nhere
at Operated.

About the Gang, and How and Where
at Operated.
Sreeia! telegram to ths REGISTER.
PARKERsBURe, w. Va, November 10.
Captain Mehen, Deputy United States
Marshal, who has been working up the
robberies at st. Mary's, Sistersville,
Friendly, &C., made big haul last
night. Yesterday, as reported in the
REGISTER, Frank Bailey, Jim Pyles and
Alex. Brewer, three suspects, were ar
rested. Pyles was given preliminary
trial before United States Commissioner
Tavenner, in this city, and commit
ted. Brewer gave recognizance. Bailey,
who is young fellow and son
of jim Bailey, of Peasants county, re-
Gently convicted in the United States
Court, and sent to the pen for fraud,
forgery and figuring in a pension case,
ct first refused to say anything, but
finally broke down and confessed. lie
admitted being member OF the gang,
which consists OF from thirty to forty
men and women, with headquarters las
mentioned) at or near Fort Sidney"
Ohio. He said that he mad been forced
into it with pistol at his
head, but that, TO use a vul-
gar but forcible expression, is
CANNON. Young Bailey gave the
name of his partner in crime, and told
where some of the stolen property could
be found. Following these clews Capt.
Mehen, with posse Of four men traced
a storeboat down the river and found 1t
last evening at Letart, tied to the bank
with three other boats close by. One OF
the boats answered the description OF the
one in which man named
Shambliu, q member OF the gang would
be found. The officers not only found
E. l.. Shambln on board, but also Ed.
Bailey, another of the gang, both Of
whom were arrested. The Captain then
began a search of the boat, but not till
after a close search did he ind the place
OF concealment, which was sec
ton of the boat bulkheaded off
and fastened up. When he broke open
the secreted room or space the officer
found il filed with clothing Of all sorts,
iewelry, hardware, &c, great deal Of
which still bore the tags OF the mer-
chants from whom it had been stolen.
Right here may be mentioned a few
of the places robbed, which were stores
at Friendly and SIstersvile ?. 0. and
station at Hays Station, st. Mary's P. q.
and stores, Hutchinson's store and P. o.
at Cochranvlle, o., Bliss IL Co.'s store
and postofice near Newport, Ohio, cars
on the o. r. r. aud b. & o. r. r. and
many other places not now appropriate
10 mention. However, it is slyly be-
lieved the same gang robbed the c. IL
0. depot and stores in a dozen other
localities along the Ohio.
When the officers had COM
pleted their search Of Shamb-
Inns boat they put guard
in charge to hold the boat and to arrest
any other members Of the gang who
might put in an appearance. Especial
lookout was kept for the alleged chief
Of the robbers, John Broh, who had
somehow gotten ahead OF the pursuit
and had escaped in a skiff and was be-
lieved TO be in hiding in the neighbor-
hood.
Broh had been travelling about as an
| alleged q. s. detective and is said to DE
a dangerous man. He is, 1t is said,
also in possession OF considerable
money, gold watches and other valu-
ables stolen from one or other OF the
places mentioned.
However, the officers havSthe descrip.
tions and names of many of the gang,
with warrants sworn out for them and
will probably get some of them to-day.
Capt. Mehen brought E. e. Sham
| bin and Ed. Bailey TO this city last
! night aud jailed them, and then left IL
further pursuit Of the gang.
The Marshars Office this morning
looks more like a "hand me down
clothing concern than United State:
Office.
Several gold watches, guns, and other
valuables stolen have been found in the
| possession of parties to whom they
were sold by the thieves.
The prisoners will be turned over tC
| the United States authorities in West
Virginia as fast as captured, and wher
the government is through with then
on this side, which will not be for sew
eral years in all probability, the Ohio
Marshals and State authorities will gel
them.
The breaking up Of this gang, the ar
rest of many of its members and the re
covery Of so many goods is a splendid
piece OF work on the part Of Captain
Mehen, aud before he gets through Thu
notorious nest of thieves, which ha'
been robbing for years stores, post
Offices and travellers, will have been en-
tirely broken up, much TO the relief o.
every merchant and business man from
! Suufsh-t TO Guyan.