The state herald., 1893-02-03
ARREST OF TRAINMEN.
The Santa 70 Company Sends a Largo
Cd Number OF It's Mon to jail for
nobblnv Cars.

| hODblng cars.
Reports from In Junta, Trinidad and Rator
state that large numbers OF Santa Fe train
men were arrested at those points on the eth
At La Junta Sheriff Hickman arrested En-
glneers James Smith, Robert Stout and o. b
Reed, Fireman William Delaney, Conductor
j. ID. Myers and Brakeman W, j. Moorcheat
ms they arrived ut the end Of their runs, early
Friday morning.
| AT Trinidad Sheriff Crcgcr has Conductor
Z. G. Crotty, for whom a new warrant hat
been served, and Brakeman p. ID. Agerter ant
w. c. Brown In custody.
At Ration Sheriff McQuiston has Brakeman
+. ID. Landon and ex-Conductor L. Austlon
the latter ut present engaged in the Liquor
business, held us n witness and possible par
| ticipant In the alleged theving, while war
rants to held some others were to arrive that
| night
As the laws OF New Mexico are not suitable
| for such punishment ms the company wishc.
TO have dealt out to their employees. all sucl
cases as can will be prosecuted In Colorado,
and for this reason such men as were at Ration
last night were allowed 10 go out on theft
runs that they might be placed under arrest
In Colorado.
1t is charged that there has been an organ.
lied gang who have been operating along the
line ut different points and systcmatllly rob
bling the road. The company have had de-
tectlves at work for some time. The bubble
bursted when the first arrests were made by
Sheriff Potter and his deputies, working un
der the supervision of H. j. Franklin, claln
agent Of the Atchison, Topeka IL Santa Fe,
and w. s. Swain, superintendent OF the Thicl
detective service, who have had detectives al
along the system. 1t Is claimed that there
are about 100 men implicated from La JuntG
| south. IL is reported that the stealing
amounts to 100000 during the last year, somt
100000 OF this being taken in the last month
II the stories OF railroad people can be be-
lieved they have unearthcd the largest and
most systematic OF all car thieving evei
known. Their success goadcd them to take
steps positively dangerous In ordinary pur'
suits. II is asserted that trains would be
| stopped between stations, cars broken open
goods loaded In wagons and removed TO thclr
hiding places. The ears would then be re-
sealed In such n manner as to defy detection
ms TO what part of the road the goods had
been removed. One time they were defeated
In taking out piano only because their force
was not sufficient 10 move other goods be-
tween 1t and the car door. silks, dres.
goods, furnishings for both men and women,
carpets, lace curtains cigars, groceries and
liquor alike were taken to swell their larders.
The evidence against them Is said TO be
strong and conclusive Two boxes Of stolen
goods were recovered Friday. 1t is claimed a
brakeman named Garner had taken these to
a ranch some two miles south OF town and
buried them in n manure pile. Garner is re-
ported to have confessed TO a companion who
In turn Informed the officers
The prisoners wired to Judge Furman Of
Denver, asking him to defend them. A pre-
llminary hearing will probably be held at La
,Iun,a Tuesday.
II is reported that two sewing machines
were found at one house and two rolls Of car
pet ut another and some groceries at another.
Among the number said To be implicated are
some operators, agents and their wives, also
car-sealcrs. Fences were established at La
Junia, Trinidad. Ration aud other points.
Several houses along the line were completely
everything imaginable, from knives and forks
and chairs TO baby carriages, sewing ma
chimes, pianos, chamber suits, lace curtains,
silk curtains, Japanese draperlcs, silks and
satiDs, wooden goods, suits Of clothes, etc.
Some OF the men, officers claim were wearing
suits made from stolen goods when they were
arrested, and their wives were wearing some
stolen silks and pushes Messrs Franklin
and Swain keep their mouths closed as tight
as oysters, and decline to rive any informa-
iion. MS II Is impossible to get full particu-
lars, but rich and startling developments are
forthcoming.
The conspiracy covered the entire branch
from Ration, New Mexico, to La Jdnta and
employees In all branches OF the service were
involved In II.
General Manager Robinson Of the AtchIson,
Topeka * Santa fc railroad was interviewed
concerning the story Of gigantic system Of
robbery on the New Mexico division of the
road. The matter was frat brought To his at.
tentIon 10y the excessive number Of claims for
lost freight. An investigation Of these claims
led 10 the suspicion Of conspiracy among
the employees To rob the company. This sus.
piclon was promptly confirmed when the
detectives got 10 work. The latter had been
a, work so well that the company expected to
arrest aud convict no less than forty men on
the charges Of robbery and receiving stolen
property.