Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-31
PLAYING \ BOLD CAME An Attempt to Steal Box of
 Silver Containing ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS The Ruse to Gain Stake Fails and as Re- suit J. w. Strong Now Languishes in
 Jail.

One of the most daring robberies ever known here was attempted about mid night last night by two strangers, one of whom now occupies a cell in the city prison.
 T1e Southern Express company had several boxes of silver money, each con taining about 5000, to ship northward over the Louisville and Nashville rail road. It was to go by No. train, due to leave here at 12:09 a. m, and prepara- tory to putting 1t on the train the night force of the express office had loaded It on a truck and rolled it under the shed. A moment after they stopped they mo- ticed two men under the shed walking leiSurely about, one of whom carried his overcoat on his arm. The mercury was down below the freezing point, and the fact that the man did not wear his over coat, but carried it on his arm, attracted the attention of the express men and the employees about the depot, and caused them to watch the strangers.
 After strolling about for few minutes one of the men left, going out to TWen- tieth street and engaging carriage, which he had driven to the ladies' en- trance to the depot on Morris avenue. When this one had about had time to reach the ladies' entrance the one who remained under the shed strolled leisure ly towards the truck containing the
  tunity, as he thought, he dropped his overcoat over one of the boxes, covering 1t entirely. After a moments waiting he picked his coat up, and with 1t the box and started to walk away.
 J. c. Harris and w. c. Sulzer of the ex- press companys night force and the col ored porter, William Nicholson, had been watching him and as soon as he started away they gave pursuit. The would-be robber seeing them follow attempted to run, and in so doing fell, dropping the box, which was recovered by the express men. Regaining his feet he ran through the ladies entrance and into Morris ave nue, where he was caught by Police Offi- cer Brown, who was on duty at the depot
 To the officers the man gave his name as J. w. Strong, first claiming to be wholesale merchant from Nashville. Later he told the officers his home was in Gallatin, Tenn, and that he was a painter by trade.
 On searching him the officers found only 25 cents in cash and a parcel check from the union depot restaurant. On examining the baggage only few soiled clothes were found. No papers, letters or other things by which he could be identified could be found, either on Strong or in his valise
 The man who was seen under the shed with him had driven away when Strong was arrested and had not been found at o'clock this morning.
 While on the way to the city jail Strong pleaded hard with the officer to let him ego offering to make it all right with the latter. He said he had family, whom he didn't want to disgrace.
 He had been drinking, and was slightly under the influence of liquor. To the of ficer he denied attempting to take the money.
 Strong is about 50 years old, and has a very neat appearance.
 Diamond Robberies.
 The State Herald a few days ago con- taned the story of several robberies that had been committed on outgoing passenger trains. Conductor Patterson of the Southern noticed a man on his train one night, who conducted himself rather suspiciously, and it is said that Strong fits the description Captain Patterson gave of that man.