Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
DETECTIVES STORY.
He Had an Assistant who Could Not Resist
Temptation.


washington Starr
"Do you know that the 'hold-up' OF
train in Virginia recalls to my mind a
similar occurrence that took place when
/ was a young man in the business up
near Pittsburg at station named Green's
burgh?" said u well-known railroad de-
tective. 1.-THE details are very similar
The train was successfully held up; the
express-car robbed of a good round sum,
and the robbers made break for Pitts
burg after crossing the Conemaugh river
near which the robbery occurred. / re-
ceived the details OF the robbery In Pitts
burg from my superior officer a snort
time after II occurred. and something told
me they would use the Conemaugh TO
cover up their tracks.
81 had an assistant at the time who
lived on the outskirts of Allegheny City,
at one of those little summer places.
There was a telegraph office at the place.
and I at once telegraphed him to be on
the lookout for the men. and that l
would see him in the morning. AT the
same time i took another route so as to
cover as much ground as possible. The
details OF my assistants movements that
night l gathered from him two years
later in the Cook county jail, Chicago.
at seems that he was In the telegraph
office when my message was received,
and In a few minutes was on his way
toward the river. 1t was pitch dark, but
he kept on until he reached point in
the road that led through a considerable
stretch Of woodland. He then stopped TO
take his bearings, when he heard wagon
coming up the road at furious rate OF
speed. He left the road and sought
refuge behind a good-sized tree. The
wagon came up, and passed on, but only
about a dozen yards away. He made out
the forms of five men as the wagon went
by. and he was In the act OF following
them, when the wagon stopped. Again he
darted back into the woods and saw the
robbers, for so they proved "a be. lug out
a good-sized box and drag II into the
woods. Hastily digging a hole they
buried the box, and after marking seve-
raj surrounding trees hurried back TO the
wagon, and continued their rapid driving
toward the city.
envy assistant after assuring himself
that the men were all out OF the way
hastily dug that box and loaded HIM
self with currency. On reaching nome
he found he had something like y1,Voo
and the temptation was too strong Tor
him. He decided to keep II. He lived In
shrewd enough not to use any OF the
money. Then he left for Chicago, and
shortly afterwards bought quite u farm
In Southern Illinois About the same
time 1 arrested man for breaking into
a freight-car.
"This fellow was far gone with con-
sumption and took him to the hospital.
There he confessed TO me that ne was a
member OF the gang that had hello up ,he
EXPRESS messenger year and half be-
fore and the result OF the burying or the
sreasure In the woods. I went on the
road and found the telegraph operator,
who told me Of the quick delivery OF the
message I had sent. ] put two and two
together and decided to follow up my as
s,stsnt After considerable trouble To-
Gated him and decoyed him into Chicago;
! Then put him under arrest and bluned
Mn, into n confession. I recovered $1,000.
md the president Of the company. John
/ Hoey, gave me percentage that amount
| ed to $2.5oo."