The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-11-03
The Express Robbers in Jail.
Full Confession Made
by One Of Them
ANOTHER ARREST MADE
Well Laid Schemes of Plunder and
Robbery Laid Bare to the
Officers of Justice.

i
been kept quiet, although few were know
ing to the steps being taken, and the
| TIMEs-M of last Thursday
gave information of the discovery of the
sIstent with the ends of justice. The ar
rests were expected for some days pre-
viouslY; but matters were not fully matured.
| On Saturday District Attorney Jayne was
| telephoned for, and came down on the
afternoon train. The facts ascertained were
laid before him and warrants of arrest were
immediately issued for Frank Klein and
Otis Savage for the crime. These were
served by Sheriff Driver, and the prIsont RS
were taken to the Umatilla House and
lodged in separate rooms, where they were
subjected to cross examination by the
district attorney, aided by Mr.. S. Simmons,
one of the P,,rtland detectives and
Sheriff Driver. The boys stood the ordeal
admirably well that evening and nothing
was gained frem them. The next morning
the examination was again continued, and
about noon Frank Kiien broke completely
down and made full confession, detaIlin &
the circumstances in connection with this
connected.
The manner in which the key was pro-
cured to the door of the express office was
given in detail. During the food, when
the buildings in the submerged district were
left open. Klein rode down in boat one
hight. took off the lock. fitted the key and
then replaced it. This he kept in his po.
session for any emergency. He is a skilful
locksmith, and this work was directly in
his line.
Amidst tears and sobs he told the offic-
ers how he and Otis Savage had
watched the train arrive at the
Umatilla house that night from Court street.
had then passed through the alley to Wash
ington street. had then secreted themselves
under work bench until the express wagon
arrived ard the treasure box had been de-
posted on the inside. Their work was
then quickly done. Using The jack bar,
which had been properly shaped for the
purpose the lock was pried off. The
staples were first tried, but these could not
be moved, as they were riveted on the inside.
Taking as much specie as they could con-
yeniently carry they proceeded to the corner
of the alley, where the tags from one of the
sacks was torn off and dropped at the end
of the stone building. Returning from this
point care was taken to walk hack on the
rocks SO as to leave no returning footprints.
They then bent their way down the street,
across Front, and to the beach by the side
of the old Waldron building. and in the rear
of the Cosmopolitan, where they rested for
time. They then toJk their loads of gold
and silver and threw them under the build
ing occupied by the China wash house They
remained there until Monday night, when
one sack was barred under the old building
that had fallen below the sidewalk by
reason OF the food, another under the China
house, and $1,000 in gold was taken by
Klein Tuesday night and buried in the
been in their possession for over year,
and the robbery had been planned for that
length of time.
On further questioning Klein arknow-
edged that they had been connected with
Hawthorne and Rowe in the different dep
relations committed in this city, and one
point of the jackbar had been shaped SO. as
20 open doors without leaving any inden-
ure. 1t was stolen from the machine shops |
i long time ago. About two years ago /
,lan was being matured for robbiDg The /
lalles National bank. This was to be ac-
by securing MIR. Fred Bronson,
mo, ,-by torture to force him to give the
combination to the vault. Another scheme,
learly matsred, was to blow up the passen.
er train at point about five miles west Of
he city where the track makes long
urve. The explosives were procured and
was IN readiness; but, in a con-
erence of thegang, Hawthorne and Rowe
bjected, because such scheme would nee.
ssarily cause the sacrifice of human lives,
nd they did not wish to kill anyone un-
ecessarily. Klein AID Savage called them
owards, and quarrel ensued. Since that
ime there had been no good feeling be.
ween the members of the band, and Klein
nd Savage had pursued their own way.
Ifter the failure of this attempt Klein and
avage spent several weeks in the Yakima
alley. looking for an opportunity to hold
Ip a Northern Pacific train. They met
With DO adventures" in that locality, and
eturned to their old haunts.
About two months ago the postofice was
obbed, and Klein acknowledged that he
nd Savage had entered by back window
nd secured about $3S In coin. They ex- +
ected large receipt of registered matter
nat night; but the heavy sack that was ex.
scted to contain coin was filled with Con-
records. The bank at Heppner
as an object of attack, and this was en-
'uste1 to Hawthorne and Rowe; bat the
rest of these parties by the officers frus-
ated the robbery.
During all these confessions Savage main.
lined the most stoical indifference, and
i'd that he new nothing abou any of the
,bberiss or schemes IN which he had been
nplIcated. In conversation with q person
no was present at the time the confession
as made, a reporter of this paper was told
lat Savage had the strongest 'psrye' OF
" man he had ever met. The surging of
e blood through the views of hls neck :,
as the only indication that he gave of ex-
tement; but there was a wick ed gleam in |.
. eye that bodied no good to,Klein il they +
er met hereafter. ly
As soon as the confession was through, !
,eriff Driver and Mr.. Beckwith went to !
lcoyer the hidden treasure. They pro. .
red pick and shovel and proceeded to I
e spot near the Cosmopolitan, where the
500 IN gold and the sack containing $500
silver were unearthed and taken to the
press office. They then went to Klein's J
use and digging in the yard, which had v
Gently bsen covered bya thick layer of I,
anure, they brought to the surface the J
900 specie sack, of which there were $500 o
ssing. Soon the news spread through
E city like wild fire, aud the grea test ex- G.
cement prevailed. People thronged the k
.aafn in all directiona and rho disclosures q,