The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-25

tncse yalises was ever used. Everything
Y but money and jewelry was burned. II
there .:as any jcwelry, the gold was melt
q co ana sold; If watches, the works were
Sometimes haul Of this kind was a rich
one Once or twice jewelry drummer was
alyly drugged by drink out of a bottle
and his cases obtained.
But that sort of thievery finally became
Too risky. Onco he WAS confronted BY a
man whose yaliso he had grabbed, and no
amount or excuses or protestations of in
rccence would avail. The conductor was
appealed to, and upon an offer to prove his
identity by tho baggage master tho three
men Started forward. AS they crossed the
second platform the thief suddenly sprang
iron, the train Before pursuit was posi-
\ lie he was lost sight of. This was ut
Light The jump from tho car sent him
tnnbling into ravine and gavo him a
lady sprained shoulder and several minor
bruises, which laid him up for a woek or SO.
i UP to this time no "hold up" had been
attempted and no depredations on freight
cars had been made. The pals got togeth-
er and considered tho question of what
rext. The one in town who had disposed
of old gold and had sold what diamonds
Lad been stolen was called into consulta-
Ion. 1t was resolved to make move In
the why of rohbing freight cars, and the
leaders, first thought was to get some
siarnss's boy to join the gang. After some
browsing around they found q boy of about
70 who had deep grudgo against railroads
generally. He had lost brother ut rail-
read crossing accident and tho fnilure to
collect anything by law from tho COM
pany had left him In a frame of mind
Where chance to get even would not be
too closely Bcrutinized
u The gang took him to the city and spent
money on him until they had gained his
confidence, and whom they unfolded their
plans he was ready to join them. A steep
grade three miles from his farm was utii-
'i.ed by the gang mounting freight trains
az or near watering tank below 1t and
preaKing into the cars as the trains went
up the grade. Boxes of boots, shoes and
clothing and miscellaneous merchandise
we're dumped by the side OF tho track. The
4 f;trmer boy loaded the stuff into an ordi-
! nary farm wagon and took it to his barn.
tfsre the merchandise was wrapped in
! canvas and put into gunny sacks and aft
8sr%ard baled up in hay, with the hay on
the sides top and bottom, concealing the
contents. This hay was shipped into town
Es:pa hay store started by one of the con-
isspsrators. He sold some hay, but he ship
led stuff south and west, and large lots of
sfusrchanuise were disposed of with profit
70 The conspintors The boards of the
boxes and all evidences of the coverings of
ths goods were thrown down an old dry
Well vel IN g Held hot far from the farmhouse
& Once In the tolls of the gang, tho young
farmer allowed u shrewdness which won
hun the admiration OF his associates. He
tnsisted on rainy nights for the depreda-
lions, so that the storm would obliterate
tho wheel tracks md because fewer people
were abroad on such Fights He also
changed the places of breaking into the
ears 90 distant points, hid the plumber in
the wcosls eEd got it home in the daytime
~ covering 1t With wood or hay.
8 xsne afght two members OF the gang