The Lamar register., 1893-02-04
ARREST OF TRAlnmEn.
Tho Santa re Company Sends = Large
Number OF Its Men to jail for
Eobblng Cars.


Eobbing Cars.
Reports from La Junta, Trinidad and Ration
state that large numbers of Santa Fe train
men were arrested at those points on the 27th.
At La Junta Sheriff Hickman arrested En-
gireers James Smith, Robert Stout and o. B.
Reed, Fireman William Delaney. Conductor
]. d. Myers and Brakeman W. j. Moorehead
as they arrived at the end of their ru ns, early
Friday morning.
AT Trinidad Sheriff Creiger has Conductor
E. c. Crotty, for whom new warrant had
been served, and Brakeman p. d. Agerter and
w. Q. Brown in custody.
At Ration Sheriff McQuiston has Brakeman
?. ID. Landon and ex-Conductor L. Austlon,
the latter at present engaged In the liquor
business, held a witness and possible par
tlcipant in the alleged thieving, while war
rants TO hold some others were TO arrive that
night
As the laws Of New Mexico are not suitable
for such punishment as the company wishes
70 have dealt out to their employees, all such
Gases as can Will be prosecuted In Colorado,
Md for this reason such men as were at Ration
last night were allowed to go out ON their
runs that they might be placed under arrest
in Colorado
| II is charged that there has been an organ
! ized gang who have been operating along the
| line ut different points and systematilly rob-
bing the road The company have had de-
tectives at work for some time. The bubble
| bursted when the first arrests were made bJ
Sheriff Potter and his deputies, working un-
1 der the supervision of II. J. Franklin, claim
/ agent of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe,
and W. 5. Swain, superintendent of the Thiel
\ detective service, who have had detectives all
/ along the system. It Is claimed that there
are about l50 men implicated from La Junta
south. II is reported that the stealing
arlounts to 100000 during the last year,some
| 1000 OF this being taken In the last month
! II the stories of railroad people can be be-
lIeyed they have unearthed the largest and
most systematic of all car thlevipg ever
known. Their success goaded them TO take
steps positively dangerous in ordinary pur-
suits 1t is asserted that trains would be
stopped between stations, cars broken open,
goods loaded in wagons and removed to their
hiding places The cars would thea be re-
sealed in such manner as to defy detection
as to what part of the road the goods had
been removed One time they were defeated
in taking out plano only because their force
was not sufficient TO move other goods be-
tween It and the car door. silks, dress
good, 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 we're recovered Friday. 1t is claimed q
brakeman named Garner had taken these tc
a ranch eome two miles south of town and
buried them in manure pile. Garner Is re-
! ported to have confessed to companion wht
In turn Informed the officers.
The prisoners wired to Judge FurTan o
Denver, asking him to defend them. A pre-
lirninary hearing will probably be held at Ii
JuutA Tuesday.
II is reported that two sewing machine
were found at ono house and two rolls OF car
pet at another and some groceries at another
Amoae, the number said to be implicated ar
some operators, agents and their wives, ais
, ear-sealers. Fences were established at l.
Junta, Trinidad, Ration and other points
! Several houses along the line were completed
furnished The alleged stealing includes almo-
everything imaginable, from knives and fork
and chairs to baby carriages, sewing ms
, chimes. pianos, chamber suits, lace curtain;
, SIX curtains, Japanese drapcries, silks an
satins, wooden goods, suits Of clothes, etc
; Some of the men, officers claim, were wearin
suits made from stolen goods when they wer
, | arrested. ard their wives were wearing som
stolen silks and plushes. Messrs- Frankli
, and Swain keep their mouths closed as tigi
: as oysters, and decline to give any inform;
: tlon, as it Is impossible to get full particI
lars but rich and startling Developments Al
Forthcoming.
The conspiracy covered the entire branc
! from Ration, New Mexico, to La Junta an
/. employees in all branches Of the service wei
/ involved in 1t.
: General Manager Robinson OF the AtehisoT
: Topeka .S Santa Fe railroad was intervicwe
concerning the story of gigantic system {
robbery on the New Mexico division OF IL
! road The matter was first brought to his q
: tentlon by the excessive number Of claims fC
lost freIsat. An Investigation Of these eiaiu
led to the suspicion q conspiracy anon
the emplorcs to rob the company. This su
: piclon was promptly confirmed when Il
Detectives so; to work The latter had bee
at work so seu that the company expected
arrest and con7lct no less than forty men o
tile charges sf robbery and receiving stole
properly.
, Kansas Eepusiicans Discouraged.
~ dispatch from Topeka SAYS: The Ee9ub
llcans having lost the senatorial plum, strnt
a good chance 0! losing also all opportunity