Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-24
THE TRAIN ROBBERS.
In a dispatch from Richmond in y

that Detective Hinde said I'VE have
wrung from Searcey the admission
that he was connected with the robbery
and he left for the scene of the hold up
last night in the custody of the officers.
He will point out to them the place
where the pouch has been concealed by
the bandits"
Searcey made a full confession yes
terday to Capt. Robert A. Pinkerton
and the other officers who accompanied
him on the drive through Virginia.
Late yesterday evening Searcey pilot
ed the officers to a lonely spot in the
woods near Calvertom, where be and
Morganfeld had buried a quantity of
their stolen money and bonds: In this
party were Mr.. Pinkerton, Common,
wealth Attorney White, ofStatford: and
City Sergeant Burlington, of Fredericks,
burg.
1t was stated yesterday that Detec-
tive Pinkerton and his party spent
Monday night in the shanty of the
bridge tender at the Aqua creek draw
bridge, but this was wrong. 1t was the
original intention to carry out this
programme, but Mr.. Pinkerton chang
ed bis plans and instead of driving to
the bridge tenders shanty halted at
the residence of Mr.. Hugh Adie, ex-
sheriff of Stafford county, where the
party spent the night.
Searcey's confession is now In the
hands of the authorities, and will be
made public in detail when he is tried
next month.
Searcey claimed in his confession
that he had never before been arrested
and had certainly never robbed a train.
He said he had known Morgantield for
some time in the South and West and
met him in Washington before the rob-
berry. Morganield suggested the rob-
berry and it was some time before Scar
cey would agree to it. He finally con-
sented and they went south to Fred
ericksburg. There were but two men
concerned in the ro~bbery-Morganfeld
and Searcey. They hung around Fred
ericksburg for several days, staying
most of the time in the woods down to-
ward Bernaril's farm, several times 60
ing into Fredericksburg. On Friday
afternoon they left Fredericksburg and
walked up the railroad to Brooks sta
tons. At Brooks they waited for the
train and bid behind a a that was
standing heal a pickle factory.
When the train stopped atBrooks they
jumped behind the tender and so rode
over to ii c scene of the robbery. After
the fireman and engineer had been put
on the embankment Morganield fixed
the dynamite to the car door. He used
half q stick of dynamite with a cap and
a fuse in the end of it. M~organield
alone went in the car, while Searcey
remained outside and teirorized the
trainmen and passengers. They got oil
the engine at Arkendale ressing and
came up that road until they reached q
road that led down to Aqua creek at
Horizons landing. Here finding the
creek in front of them they retrated
their steps to the main road and started
across the country to Calverton. Near
Calverton they buried in the woods
some of the booty they had taken from
the express car.
Searcey told where they had buried
the stolen goods and agreed to go with
the officers and show the place, which
he felt certain he could identify.
When the party left Mr.. Adde'S house
yesterday morning they proceeded at
once to Horizons landing, thence on to
old Aqua Run, Stafford Store, and
finally to Calverton, on the line of the
| Midland Railroad. The journey was q
roundabout one, and occupied the en-.
tire day.
After reaching Calverton the party
started down to old Aqua village and
through the gates, but Searcey failed
to recognize the road there, and so the
road to Garrisonville was taken. Once
about dark the party got off the road
and went a mile before discovering they
were wrong.
1t was a long drive over the Stafford
roads, which Searcey failed to identify
as any of the roads that he bad trav,
eled. At the forks of the road, just be-
fore getting to ~Bristersburg, Searcey
thought that he recognized the road
going to Catlett's as the n he trav-
eled, but after some consultation it was
decided to take the road to C%alverton.
About one mile before reaching Cal
verton Searcey recognized some of the
landmarks and vas positive he passed
through that section after he had hid
| den the express pouch. A rest was
taken at Calverton, and then the drive
to Catlett's and back over the road to
Stafford Store began. This was the
road that Searcey had insisted on taking
in the morning about four miles from
Catlett's. Searcey recognized the spot
where he and Morganield left the road.
A run crosses the road there, and on
the left is a body Of pines about a quar-
ter of a mile from the road, and in
these pines at dawn the day after the
robbery Searcev and Morganfeld bad
opened the packages, taken out the
money and put everything else back in
the pouch, which they hid.
The horses were, unhitched, all par
ties got out and the march to the woods
began. Searcey, handcuffed to Detec-
tive Pinkerton, led the way. Crossing
the old bed of the branch, Searcey led
the search up along fence side through
the woods by cattle paths, infinitely de-
scribing the place where the bag had
been buried.
After a long search ex-Sheriff Adie
called that he had found the spot, and
all fastened to him. He was standing
near the roots of q downtown pine,
and by him were soon gathered the
whole party. There, under the roots
of this tree, was the missing pouch. 1t
was slightly discolored by the damp
ness, but was otherwise intact.
The march back began. Searcey
seemed as much pleased at the recov-
cry of the sack as the rest of the party.