The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-22
SEARCEY THE R0BBER
BROUGHT TO PRISON BY C0ND UC-
T0R BIHDSONG. WHOM NE HELD UP.
lie Tells About His Acquaintance With
Morgapfleid, Whose Real Name Is
sposss-Fsints His Record Black.

II revenge is really as sweet as The
autquatod adsgc represents 81, Captain
Birdsong, OF tho Richmond. Frederic~s-
barg and Potomac road must have been
the proprietor OF a colossal sugar refinery
yesterday morning. nguratiycly speaking.
Captain Birdsong has been running be.
tween this city and Quaniico ever since
that sleepy little settlement that nostles
on the banks OF the Potomac reached
the dignity Of village in the census
reports lie knows all the knights Of
tho cripsack. looks after the comfort OF
all tho ladies' going North 10 select spring
bonnets. and has punched enough tlckcls
20 cover the route over which his tram
slips along lie wears glasses, but never
ovorlooks all the little details that keep
q careful conductor on the road until ms
locks grow silvery. He's As genial as
Colonel John Bell Bigger. jolly as a bowl
Of Jelly I'm January, and knows every man.
woman. and child between this city ana
his terminal station. They call nm
"Cap." along the route
Captain Birdsong has collected any
amour, OF experience during ms olhcidl
connections with the road Mashouts
nhead. hot-bOxes. and shattered schedules
nre as familiar 10 him as the 'jasgeu
tilerlm with a wild mania 70 pun the
hell-rope now and then. But ne never
loses his equilibrium. once ne iet az
though he had rather be congressman
than a conductor. That was the memoia,
bio night when two dcsperadocs oDlecteu
10 the su Doth way his train was slipping
along fov.arls its destination. They were
Nessrs. Morganncld and Scarccy VINO
thrust their revOlvcrs I'm the faces or GER
rain members OF the crew, rihed tho eN-
cross safe. and terrorizcd everybody on
board The Captain didn't ENJOY tne
vrocecding with any great fehsh anu
matters looked trife serious. lie KEPT
a cool head. however. ana never once
,,ouebf Of deserving the fort IL never
occurred 20 him al that time that DAY
would come when he would get ms re-
venso. But IT aid.
ANOTHER coIScIDrNcT.
The details OF Captain Birdsong's recent
nlcasure-trip. some two weeks ago, ~h'n
he brought down from Fredericksburg
one Norgannod, alias Morgan. who Is
now serving his term for holding up the
train at AQUA creek last fali' are id-
miliar 10 the readers Of The t1mes. nat
Tho man who planned the plot ana as
sisted In its execution should nave o@eh
brought down by the very conductor ne
held mn. when there are so many othei
conducfors on the road, was commented
,pon as a striking coincidence. lhat was
III balf the programme, however, for
,chon tho southbOund r., + & y. train
rolled into the station at FREDERICKSBURG
Yesterday morning about sunrise, VINO
should greet Captain Brdsong but Charles
i Scarcev. the other notorious train-rob-
Der who met the genial Captain the hrst
time under totally different cifcuih-
stances. and who came down 10 spend
eight years in prison for his desperate
ronduct at Aqua creek.
Searcev was i'm a good humor. lie look
cd A little philosophical. but wasn't IN
the least depressed. and chatted away
pleasantly enough as he thought OF the
brand-new suit of clothes ana indlVidual
fob awaiting him at the other end OF
the line. lie was locked 10 the arm OF
Sheriff Kennedy. Of Stafford county, who
was accompanied by his deputy. The
trip was made without any striking
events except the curiosity displayed on
the part of everybody aboard who as
certainod the identity Of the prisoner. lie
IS not a bad-loOking man. Tall and mus
cular. with a symmetrical Inquire Keen
gray eyes, straight nose, firm mouth win
prominent lines, that indicate determine
lion. a high. bold forehead. and rather
light hair Searcey is a rather manly
looking fellow. There is nothing desperate
suggested by his countenance, though
there is an easy-going GOODNESS about the
face His mouth and eyes indicate sre@'
strength of villa sort Of daring spirit,
once aroused. hard 10 suppress.
THE SAME PORTER, TOO.
Strange as IL may seem, the same por-
ter who was scared out OF his wis on
the night the robbery was committed
came down with Searcey. lie felt deal
OF pleasure on the trip, and smiled bland
" when he gazed upon the countenance
OF the desperate robber, and recognized
the fellow who blurted out beneath ms
mask. Hand over, ii you value !O"i
life"
Engineer Gallagher, who was ordered
IN an authoritative tone to shut her on,
was not in charge OF the locomotive.
IIe was one of the members or the crew
who missed the treat. Searcey and
Captain BrSsong had a chat about the
robbery, the conductor insisting that
there we're more than two men present
when the train was held up.
When Sheriff Kennedy reached the peni-
tcntiary. there was buzz among the
convicts. who eyed the new arrival with
rs much interest as though he had been
the leader OF the strike az Pocahontas.
That was about $50 o'clock. 1t was
too cloudy TO have the prisoners picture
taken. so that part of the programme was
postponed. Capt Birdsong had put in
request for one of Searcey's photos. The
prisoner registered on a card, in firm
business hand. &c. j. Scarcey," and re
marked TO Superintendent Lynn that he
need not be afraid he would give any
trouble. for he expected 10 behave him
self and obey all rules: whereupon Major
Lynn informed him that was the wisest
plan under the circumstances. He VIII
be put I'm the shoe-shop to-day, where
an opportunity VIII be given him 10
become an expert cutter during his term
Of eight years. lie was assigned TO
cell on the ground-iloor. and rugged out
I'm a new suit Searcey had shaved off
his mustache and whiskers. He scoop
"a" the BARRIERS at the penitentiary In
this respect. They removed his locks,
however.
When the prisoner was conducted
through the big iron gates. Morganheld
was standing on the porch In front OF
the hospital. Morganncd has been I'M
able 10 walk without crutches since his
arrival. and has been under treatment.
When he saw Searcey, he frowned and
looked angry. He will not have an
opportunity. however. TO put into execu-
ton his threat that he would "do up"
thf junior member of thS firm.
sFARcY HAS A WORD.
y Through the courtesy OF Superintendent
Lynn. l saw Searcey In his cell yesterday
afternoon. Assistant Superintendent White
conducted me 10 tho cell. The prisoner