Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-24
TRAIN-ROBBERS RAMPANT.
Anxious Express Omcials Discuss the In
traordinary situation.
CNew York Herald)

The Epidemic OF train-robblng that lately
seems to have spread all over the land
has aroused the officials Of the various
express companies to the necessity or
united action in order TO protect their In
tercsts.
A meeting of the presidents Of the ex-
press companies was held on Monday az
ternoon in this city. There were present
Colonel NJ. j. O'Brien. of the Southern;
T. c. Platt, Of the United States; l.. {.
Weir. Of the Adams: j. G. Fargo, of the
American. and T.. NJ. Morseman. OF the
Pacific Express Company
1t is understood that the subject Of the
recent train-robberias was brought up at
the meeting. and that measures were
taken to urge the passage Of the bill now
pending before Congress relating TO these
matters.
The bill referred 10 was introduced by
Represe ntatfve Caldwell. Of Ohio. in sep
tember Of last year. II designates. among
other things. the degree Of punishment
that shall be inflicted upon persons rob
bing or otherwise "holding-up' interstate
trains. The last two sections Of the bill
are as follows.
That any person or persons VINO un-
lawfully and maliciously throws. or causes
upon or 10 strike against a railroad train
or an engine, tender car or truck. with
intent 10 rob or injure a person or proper
ty on such train engine. car. or truck
engaged in interstate commerce shtl J..
up0n conviction, be imprisoned at hard
labor not less than one year nor more
than twenty years.
THAT the Circuit and District courts ot
the United States are hereby invested
frri elicfign 4f all
causes or crimes arising under any OF the
provisions Of this act
THE ONLY SOLUTION
F.F. Flagg, a director Of the American
Express Company, said yesterday after
noon:
Il believe that national legislation IS
the best and only solution Of this vexed
question. II would enable US 10 obtain
the services Of Federal officers in hunting
down train robbers. II interstate express
matter and interstate passengers were
under the same protection as the United
States mails these robberies would cease.
in certain parts Of the country local
officials are slow to act where through
train is robbed. The town or county hesl-
tates when il comes to standing the bur
den and expense Of a trial. ana then, too.
the Jury I'm such cases is often drawn
from among the neighbOrs of the robbers,
and acqulttal is the general result"
Colonel NJ. J. O'Bren. president OF the
Southern Express Company. called my
attention to an article published last week
in a magazine devoted to the interests
Of the express business. The views there
i'm EXPRESSED We're he declared. In line
with his own sentiments. They were as
follows:
THE time has come when the railroad
and express companies of tho country
should call upon the National Government
for support in order TO apprehend these
Infamous thieves and highway robbers.
who not only seek 10 plunder valuable
treasures contained in express-cars but
do not hesitate to wreck trains. jeopardiz-
ing thereby the lives Of the people.
There is no necessity OF eXpending
private resources in hunting down thieves
or robbers who are I'm this way inter
fering with the express business or ordi-
nary railroad business. because 1t all
comes under the category Of interstate
commerce. and whenever any one
interferes with Interstate commerce he
comes within control OF the National
Government. and should be hunted down
and prosecuted at the governments eX-
pense.
"The reason why he should be tried in
the United States courts is simply this
that if he were tried In the local courts
he might possess that peculiar friendly
influence on the Judge and jury which
would. in many cases. give him an ac-
quittal But when a man is tried in the
United States courts he must suffer the
penalty. Therefore. let all crimes IN thc
way OF robbnS or wrccking trains be
tried and punished In the United States
courts"
WORSE THAN EVER BEFORE.
Theodore +. Wood. treasurer and a di-
rector Of the United States Express Com
pany, said:
Il have been in the express business
nearly thirty years. and | have never
seen the time when there were as many
train robberies as there have been lately.
The express companies Nave been put to
a greatly-increased expense thereby in
the matter OF employing extra guards
and otherwise providing against such oc-
currences. If this sort OF thing keeps up
it will tend TO make rates on express
money packages so high as to become
prohibtory to the average shipper"
James Eggleston. director of the
Adams Express Company, said he hoped
the bill introduced by Mr.. Caldwell would
be passed by the next Congress.
"Our company he added. Invariably
sends out an extra armed guard with
every large money shipment. We are
also putting safes into our express-cars
that even dynamite will fail TO open.
The other companies are. | believe, doing
the same"
The Pacific Express Company, accord
ing TO President Morsman, has issued In
structions TO the cOmpany's agents TO
receive no money packages for shipment
through Indian Territory.
Mr. MorsmaD is quoted as saying yes
terday that such a state of terrorism ex-
lists in Indian Tel ritory from the lawiess
bands of robbers infesting that part OK
the country that neither life nor pro-
perty is safe in that region.