The herald., 1894-10-16
ANOTHER EXPRESS ROBBERY
Thieves Make a Big Haul at
The Dalles, Ore.
A Pacific Express Treasure Box
PlunGered.
The Robbers Got Away with s14. 200.
Dstsctives stnl Hanting for
Ciues to The sscra-
msnto Robbers.
By the Associated Press.


TIE DALLEs, Ore, Oct. 15.-The Pacific
Express compsny's Office here was
robbed of $4,000 early yesterday morn
ing. The money was shipped from
Portland on the regular Oregon Railway
and Navigation overland train, which
arrived here at IL pm. For some time
the banks here have been obliged to OBJ
tain large amounts OF silver from Port
land to pay the fishermen and farm
hands. The robbers evidently knew
this fact and arranged their plans ac-
cordingly.
Agent F. N. Hill, after hauling the
strong box from the train to the Office,
went home and did not return until
shortly after midnight. When he re-
turned he found the contents of the box
gone, with the exception OF $1,000 in sill
yer.
The authorities were notified at once,
but the matter was kept secret. Detec-
tives are here from Portland watching
every avenue of escape. The most
plausible theory advanced is that the
robbers sscreted themselves in the back
room OF the express office and waited for
the agent to leave tine building, as no
doors or locks were forced open. They
must have known that the express
messenger who sleeps in the office was
away attending to the horse at stable
near by.
The robbers being unable to carry all
the silver, left $1,000 of the silver con-
signed to French & Co.
The First National bank OF Portland
sent 5000 in gold, consigned to The
Dallss National bank. II seemed the
silver proved too hrzvy for the robbers
and they abandoned the idea Of trying
to get away with the entire 'swag."
The county fair has been in session
for week psst, which attracted large
number OF gamblers and toughs to this
city.
MIR. Beckwith, agent at Portland, is
hsre, and this afternoon stated that he
and Detective Simmons of Portland
were working on several clues, but up
to late hour no arrests had been made.
F. G. Gentsch, the general superin-
tendent OF the Pacific Express company
ct Salt Lake, has been notified of the
robbery, and ia on his way here. He is
expected to arrive at The Dalles to-
morrow.
City Messenger Chsrles Tibbett,
whose duty it is to meet the night trains
and keep watch In the Office at night,
was attending ball, and f. N. Hill,
the company's agent, met the east
bound train No. from Portland and
received the treasure box. He then, in
company with City Watchman Gibbons
drove to the Office, deposited the box in
sids the rear door and about IL 80 p. m.
left for the postoffice to deliver the mail
which came in on the same train.
City Marshal Balkeney rode back to
lhe express Office with the agent, where
)hey met M. A. Moody, cashier OF the
Dalles National bank, waiting to receive
his money and place it in
the banks vaults. This three
men entered the office, and seeing that
something was wrong with the box,
which resulted in finding only $1,000 in
Silver in the treasure box. The lid Of
the box had been broken open with An
instrument made from q steel drill with
one crooked and sharpened end, which
they found on the floor near by. The
robber had tried to pry the staple from
it's position, but failing, had taken the
lever off the paddock. Aside from this
tool and few tracks in the street, there
is no clue whatever that can be traced,
30 far az is known at present. That
only one or two men participated in the
robbery Is evident from the fact that the
bulky silver was thrown aside and the
gold stolen, weighing considerably over
100 pounds,