Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-02-14
Il BOLD ROBBDRY.
The Safe in the Depot Open
ed and RHfed Of its
Contents,


into fever of excitement by the
that thieves had broken
into the depot and robbed the safe
of its contents the night before.
The depot and its contents were
in charge of Mr.. J. S. Gather, who
for several months past has been
very efficiently filling the dual po-
sition of railroad and express agent.
At the close of business Thursday
evening he placed the money and
valuable packages on hand in the
safe, as was his usual custom, shut
and locked the depot building and
went home. The next morning on
his arrival at the depot there being
no express matter to go he did not
at once 60 into the ticket Office
where the safe sits, but went at
once 10 the freight room and began
to prepare his freight for the train,
which was to closely follow the pas
senger that morning. He worked
in the freight room until the arrival
of the passenger train, and after he
had attended to it lie went into the
Office 10 report 1t out. AS quick as
he stepped inside the office he not
iced paid express money order
and one or two sir all checks lying
on the floor. He Immediately In
vestigated and found that the safe
was standing shut but the combi.
nation had been worked and the
safe had been rihed of its contents
The thief, or thieves made a hau'
of $249.9S, Of which $II4.Io wa:
Well-Fargo money, 500. SO belonged
to the railroad company, and the
balance of SIS belonged to Jane:
Gather, CHIEF clerk at the Agency
and was the proceeds of a govern
ment check which he sent out t
get cashed.
The robbers evidently first triet
to effect an entrance through win
dow, as there were marks on the
sill which would indicate this
Failing in this they opened thu
door with a skeleton key. Th'
outer door to the depot was fastened
with an ordinary lock, such as al
most any key would turn. Afte,
gaining an entrance the thieve.
worked the combination of the saft
and appropriated all its cash con
tents. "A couple Of small checks
were left, the thieves being tot
shrewd to take them, knowing tha
they might lead to detection. Th,
money taken was in gold, pape
and silver. After securing tn,
booty the robbers left, locking tn
depot door behind them.
AS soon as the agent discovered
the robbery he wired the news t
the railroad and express companie
and Friday evening Supt. Clark, o
the o. P, and Route agent Mercer
of Wells Fargo, came over and in
vestigated the matter, but returned
next morning without obtaining
any clues that would lead to tn
detection of the thieves. ?"
So far there is nothing publicl,
known that would point to anyon
as the guilty party. There are a
many different theories advanced
almost as there are persons tina
speak Of it. The most general be
lief is that the robbery was com
mitted by some one who had dis
covered the combination to the sal
in some manner, or some adept
business did the job. The safe
a small iron affair and would be a
easy prey for person used to the
kind of work.
The express company has stant
ing reward OF 5000 for the ARE!
and conviction Of every person thu
steals from them. This will prot
ably stimulate an active search fc
, the guilty parties. 1t is pretty cei