The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13
ROBBED AT ASHLAND,
The Door of the Safe Was Blown or
and S4OO Worth Of Stamps Taken.

NIllNA WV
At an early hour yesterday morning the
postofice AT Ashland was entered by
means Of false keys, the safe blown open
and about 800 worth Of stamps u ~
in nickels and coppers stolen.
The present postmaster, Mr.. George X.
Nixon. who will I'm a few days give way
TO the new appointee. Captain }. NJ lay
lor. made everything secure as usual pe-
fore taking his departure Friday night
The safe. a small but compactly buiit
affair. was securely locked, and all the
doors to the office fastened.
DOOR BLOWN OFF.
Ho was on his way to the office yes
terdav morning when "A boy met him and
told him that his safe had been blow
omen. lie FASTENED TO the place ana
found that the door of that receptacle
had been blown off by means of dynamite
placed behind the rim.
The lob had been executed In a neat
and workmanlike manner, precautions
having been taken by means Of blankets
10 deaden the explosion. and the Whoie
business seemed 10 have been the work
OF expert cracksmen.
That the haul made by the burglars
was not larger is due TO the fact that
nearly all of the cash had been, as is
the invariable custom, taken over TO the
depot and put I'm the care OF the station
agent. Mr.. j. b. Hall. who locked II up
in his big safe.
An the registered letters and money
orders were not. fortunately. In the sale.
as IS usually the case. but had been put
in another receptacle. and the burglars
overlooked them.
II seems strange that no one heard the
explosion. which must have been a violent
one. from the condition Of the safe as
there are residences very close To the
pOst-Oftice.
Every effort is being made 20 locate the
burglars. and the matter was promptly re-
ported TO the Department at washington
by telegraph.
For some days past two ~ill-favored char
acters have been hanging around the
town al intervals. Friday night they We're
noticed by the porter on train No. -.
which leaves Richmond at 1880 o'clock.
They boarded the train i'm this city. and
got off at Ashland. The porter called
the attention Of the conductor 10 them.
and remarked that they were just the
sort of looking fellows 10 hold up a train.
Since the robbery no trace OF these
men has been found. and there seems
little doubt that they were the burglars.
4 special from The Times correspond
ont at Ashland gives the following ac-
count Of the robbery:
The safe OF the postofice here was blown
omen last night. Not more than nve
dollars in money were secured. but the
perpetrators got on with about 500
worth Of stamps. besides, some pri-
vate papers and valuable trinkets, IN
GLIDING a highly priced cameo ring be-
longing 10 Postmaster Nixon.
some Of the papers and a LOT Of stamps
used in the mailing Of newspapers by the
pound, we're found I'm an alley on the OPP
posite side OF the street.
The postmaster thinks that the tact
that the burglars knew that the "
paper stamps were not valuable is con
elusive evidence TO show that the work
was lone by professionals.
Entrance TO the building was gained ny
the use of false keys. and the safe was
blown open by knocking of the door han
die. as usual. and inserting dynamite in
the rim OF the door.
No one in Ashland heard the explosion,
Notwithstanding the fact that the post
office is located in the heart Of and
that a residence is not more than thirty
feet distant.
This is the second safe blowing to occur
here recently. hat OF Mr.. j. NJ. Leake
having been blown up in November.