The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-22

treasurer Of the Indiana, Illinois q Iowa
railroad. was assaulted in his Office to-
day, and robbed OF $4,000 which he had
packed in valise, preparatory to going
out upon the road to pay the employees.
\ mail-carrier in passing NIr. 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 feebiy. and the open safe,
overturned valise and scattered papers
confirmed his statement. Mr.. Drake had
evidently received rough treatment. Big
welts on his head bore evidence of saw
age blows. He had but little to say.
but the sum Of $40, 900 was mentioned as
missing, and it was soon understood
that the robbers had made away with
that amount. Soon the news of the rob
berry had spread through the big office
building and all kinds of wild tales
were circulated.
The central station detectives were
notified and Inspector Shea's men put
TO work on the case. The assaulted
treasurer was able to get on his feet
The employees were very reticent and
did not want TO say much. although ad-
mitting that a robbery had occurred.
a Mysterious AfIaIr.
The assault occurred about o'clock.
when there were but few people in the
building. No one about the place re-
members Of having seen suspicious char
acters, and dense mystery surrounds the
affair. which is one Of the boldest rob
berries that has occurred in Chicago for
years.
The result of a long conference be-
tween the officials of the road and In
spector Shea threw but little light on
the matter. The detectives have but
little to work on and just at present are
cropping i'm the dark.
Mr.. Drake came down early this
morning" said Inspector Shea, "to Sc
cure money TO pay off along the line.
He took $4,000 from the safe. intending
to leave on the 1880 train. He was fol-
lowed into the office by two ordinary
looking. smooth-faced men and struck
down. and the $4,000 taken. He was
struck on each temple. and his head
bears the marks OF the blows"
''Have you any clew to work on?"
''U-m we'll IL shows that people who
committed the robbery were well ac-
quainted with Mr. brakes movements
and knew the day he would leave with
money 20 pay of.
Creates Much Excitement.
Occurring, as it did, in the Rookery
one of the largest and best known build
ings of Chicago, situated in the heart
of the business district. the robbery
caused intense excitement. Business was
almost at a standstill in the neighbor-
hood during the day and employers and
clerks were equally excited over the
sensational theft.
The office of the Indiana, Illinois &
Iowa railroad company is in charge Of
Sidney S. Whitehead, general agent for
Chicago. i. M. Drake, president Of the
road, has been out Of the city several
DAYS. and his son, John Drake, the
treasurer, only arrived here yesterday.
It has been the custom of the treasurer
to pay the employees of the road I'm
checks. Had the custom been continued
the startling robbery wouldn't have been
attempted at all in all probability but
within the past week the officials of the
company decided TO pay the men in cur
rency.
1t is thought probable the robbers
learned that this months pay would go
out In currency from q circular which
was issued the first of the month an
nouncing that wages would thereafter be
paid in cash instead of checks. These
circulars were distributed all along the
railroad among the employees and one
of them could very easily have fallen into
the hands of one Of the thieves. The
company pays its men twice a month,
on the 1st and the 18th. and IL was TO
make the last November payment that
Treasurer Drake was starting out TO
do when the robbers attacked him and
stole the $4,000 which was intended for
the railroad men.
The news of the robbery created a hus-
tie 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 detectives had ar
rested two men at a depot who refused
to give an account Of themselves and
that they were locked up at the Cen
tral station. None of the officers would
admit that an arrest had been made.