Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
ROBBED A FREIGHT CAR.
Joseph Gadsey il Confessedly an
Ingenious and Desperate Crook.

Joseph o. Gadsey. a prisoner in the
Henrico Jail, IL his own account of him
self be true. is one of the most desperate
yet unique, crooks who has visited this
city in some time He was arrested on
Broad street some days ago by Detective
G. ID. Duke, on the charge of robbng a
car on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
and his confession Of the crime would
indicate that he is one Of those fellows
who would steal anything. In his con-
fession. Gadsey not only assured HIM
self a term i'm the penitentiary. but inn
plicated a number of young men, resi-
dents of Clayton, in HenricO, who, he
charges, received the stolen goods from
him.
Gadsey says he came up from Newport
News 10 Richmond by the Chesapeake
and Ohio, and determined when he left
the seaside city TO rob a car, having en-
gagged in that work many times before.
He claims to be an adept at jumping
trains in motion, asserting that he can
board one going at a speed of twenty
miles an hour, and from the deXterous
manner in which he secured the plumber
for the theft Of which he was arrested
he must undoubtedly be. He says he
watched a freight train bound west over
the James River Division pull out from
the city, and selecting a car marked
merchandise" as the best one TO
plumber. swung on 10 ii beneath the car
door AS the train bowled along west
ward he gradually drew himself from be-
Meath the car, and breaking the seal,
slipped the door open. He then crawled
into the car and collected what mer-
chandise he wanted as his booty, and
lust west of Clayton in cut he threw
the goods out He did not leave the car
himself at that time, and his explanation
of this action on his part shows his IN
genuity He knew that If he left the
car-door with the seal broken the rob
berry would be detected at the next
station, and the chances of his escape
would be slim. He, therefore, carefully
crawled from the car to the perch he had
previously occupied beneath It, and Slip
ping the door closed and replacing the
seal, sprang off at the next station. He
then made his way back 10 where his
plunder was. and this he claims to have
sold at Clayton.
The robbery when discovered, was
placed in the hands OF Detective Duke
TO be worked up, and he very cleverly
traced il to Gadsey and finally arrested
him. The goods stolen aggregated In
value $500, and Gadsey was before Justice
Lewis at the cOunty-cOurl mousse yeSteI-
day. charged with a felony. He was
upon his confession, sent on 10 the grand
Jury and then he implicated the young |
men-Messrs. Clifton Garbett, Roy
Charles. w. B. Beck. William Utley. |
William Seay. Joseph Deaton, and E. Il. |
Brooking.
All of these young men had appeared |
as witnesses against Gadsey. and when |
they were arrested expressed great sur
prise. They were bailed for their APP |
pearance before Justice Lewis next |
Thursday week and engaged Mr.. w ii. |
Beveridge 10 defend them. Mr.. BeVe- |
ridge says that they are all men of ex-
cellent character. and that he has no |
doubt OF their ability 10 prove their in
nocence Of any criminal intent in pur-
the goods.
Frank Rolf. Charles Clay. and William |
Fry three white men. were before Squire |
Lewis charged with being disorderly on |
the highway and with firing a pistol In |
the home OF Il. ID. Moore. They furnished |
security for 500 for their good behavior
and paid costs Of the case.
a marriage license was issued 10 Alfred |
NJ, Johenning and Miss Annie NJ. Guidt,
both OF Henrico. The young lady Is the
daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. C. c. Guidt.