The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-14
Conspiracy to Rob an Ex-
press Co. Of $3OO,OOO.
How Gen. Dennis Blocked the
Game for a Fortune.
Where One ObiectOr Is Powerful.
Facts About Population.

Few men are better known in this city
ana throughout the State than General
Charles X. Dennis. His long connection
with the military affairs OF the common
wealth, as we'll as his prominence in other
ways has served 10 make his name tami-
lar even where he is not known person
ally. As the Gossiper saw the General
passing down Weybosset street this
morning and noted that his step was as
elastic, and his carriage as soldlerly as
ever he was moved 10 wonder how many
citizens are aware that 2o years ago
this month General Dennis played
prominent part in foiling one OF the
most gigantic schemes for the robbery of
an express company ever conceived IN
this or any other city in the land. The
case is very interesting one and fur-
nishes a signal illustration OF the truth
of the familiar sayi ing that, 1.-The best
laid plans o. mice and men gang aft
sgley."
Major James C. Engley was a very promi-
nent figure in Providence during he war,
not because he was a battle-scarred vet
eran himself but because ne was engag-
ed in making veteran of Others at so
much per head. That is 10 say, he was
recruiting officer With the close OF the
war Engleys employment came TO an
end, of course, and by some means he Sc
cured control OF the Howland Express,
then plying between this city and Bos-
ton. Early in 1867 the Merchants Union
Express Company absorbed Howlsud's
Express, and after the consolidation
Engley was permitted TO retain desk
room in the office and to bear the normal
title OF local agent of the Merchants
Union, although the real responsible
local manager was General Dennis. This
was n rather unusual and by no means
bnsiness-like arrangement, but 1t was
probably forced upon the Merchants
Union by Engley. However, the latter
had nothing but the empty title and the
privilege OF loafing in the compsny's s
Office, which, by the way, was located at
Turks Head. He had nothing whatever
10 do with the business of the company,
and was not permitted TO have access to
the safe. though ne did get into IT, as
subsequent events proved, by surreptlous-
ly securing a set OF false keys.
Having the means OF opening the safe,
rs he thought unknown TO anyone else, II
occurred TO Engley that he held the
power of enriching himself at the ex-
pense of the express company, and that
too, without running much risk OF pun
ishment or even of suspicion. This idea,
once conceived was worked out with re-
marka Bile rapidity, but the major could
not carry out the scheme alone. lie must
have assistance, so he sought as con-
federate an old friend, G. A. Dean of
Boston. To him Engley unfolded his
scheme for securing fortune. Ii was a
very clever one, and had everything
worked according to program 1t might
have proved successful. In brief the
major proposed TO have sent TO this city
from New York the sum of $780, 600. The
money was TO come by the Merchants
Union Company, and il was planned 10
have il arrive here late in the day, so
that il would have TO be kept in the ex-
press company's safe over night. Once
in the safe the major could select favor
able time to enter the office unnoticed,
open the safe with his false keys and
walk off with the Doodle. AS a safeguard
against suspicion Engley planned TO give
q party on the night OF the arrival of the
money. To this he invited many we'll
known and reputable citizens. His idea
was to slip away from his guests just long
enough to enable him to abstract the
money and then to join them again be-
fore his absence was noticed. Thus should
suspicion point TO him he would have a
safe defence in the evidence oi the at
tendants at his party.