The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-15
NO CLEW YET FOUND
DETECTIVES AT SEA REGARDING
THE VIRGINIA TRAIN ROBBERY.
Washington Police at Work on the
Case-The Rewards Not a Suffi-
cient Incentive.

WASHINGTON, Oct. H.-Not the shadow
of tangible clew to the identity of the
men who accomplished the remarkable feat
of train brigandage in Virginia Friday
night has yet come to light. The little
town OF Quantico, which consists of half
dozen houses, almost isolated from civiliza-
ton, is overrun with detectives to-day
officers from New York, Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Washington. There are almost
as many theories afloat as there are de-
tectives but the only points on which the
theories are practically harmonious are
that the robbery was a carefully planned
work, executed by experienced profession
ais, and that the men are probably far dis
tant from their field OF operations before
this time Most parties agree that boat
played part in the escape, but no strange
crafts were seen on the Potomac that
night, SO far as can be learned. The theory
that the men crossed to the Maryland
shore is being weakened on second thought
by the fact that there were no trains by
which they could have escaped within rea-
sonable reach at night. Every rod of
ground between the river and the scene OF
the robbery has been threshed over, with
the result that the remains Of a camp fire,
with a bag bearing the label of Wash
ington bakery was discovered in the woods
The Washington police boat dropped down
the Potomac this morning, with Inspector
Holllngberger and two detectives-on board
At the mouth of Aquia creek the tdetec-
tives were put ashore and made a thor
ough exploration of both banks OF the Po-
tomac for a long distance. They returned
this afternoon, but refused to make any
statement TO whether their efforts re-
suited in any clew. Tonight they are en-
ployed about the city making investiga-
suspicious characters who have stopped IN
town recently.
that two of his detectives have left the
city, working on a clew which the hope
will yield results, although he is not par
ticularly sanguine and believes that the
guilty parties are far away. The man
rested on suspicion last night will merely
be arraigned in the police court on a
against him, and he probably has not the
intellect of a train robDer. While the juris-
diction of the Washington officers is
bounded by the ten miles square of the
District of Columbia, they would not hesitate
to make arrests If they found the men out
side OF the city. Their, only duty in the
case, however, is TO find whether the rob-
berry was planned here or whether any one
is in hiding in the District. Their profess
sional senses are aroused, however, SO they
are looking into outside territory. The re-
wards offered Tor the apprehension Of the
bandits are considered small, in view of the
importance OF the case and the amount of
money said to have been taken. They are
but a fraction OF the rewards held out for
the discovery of the robbers who held up
the California train Thursday and made
away with a much smaller amount than
that secured by the Virginia gang
The express officials, accompanied by mes
senger Crutchfield. from whom the express
funds were stolen, returned here at II
o'clock tonight. The detective who had
gone down the line with them earlier in
the day did not return. They will remain
in the neighborhood of Quantico. Horses
have been provided with which the officers
roads and into Maryland The express Of
ficials were very reticent, saying there were
no new developments. superintendent Moss,
of the Adams Express said he had re-
ceived additional information. Another
official who was with the detective down
the line said no arrests had been made
and there was not as yet even a trail.
Messenger Crutchfield declined to talk of
the robbery.