The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-14

Anderson was a member OF gang OF
noted postoffice burglars in the East.
1he development of the prosecution OF
this gang began on April ii, 1899, at
Philadelphia when United States Deputy
Marshall "A. +. Myers and Postoffice
Inspector George C.. HOlden, John II.
Irving and Hardy L. Gregory effected the
arrest of J. w. Platt, alias j. W. Pear
son, alias Harrisburg Brock. THE
main leader Of the gang, whoAad oper-
ated as a successful safe blower over
canada and the northern and western
portions of the United States and who
fhad served terms liz Michigan, New York
and Pennsylvania. Platt was arTaigned
before United States Commissioner
Samuel Bell Of Philadelphia, where he
denied knowledge of the Virginia rob
beIies but Assistant United States At
torney i. f. Kane. with a certified copy
of the Indictment fer the Virginia rob
berries, obtained from Judge McPhearson
AN order for Platt's removal to the west
eTn district of Virginia. On July 3, 1899.
platt pleaded guilty TO the indictments
for eight pOstoffice burglaries and safe
blowing jobs in that district and was sen
fenced TO five years for each case. Judg.
mspt was suspended in six cases leaving
a sentence of ten years TO apply for two
robberies
The career of this gang is an interesting
one. and part of it is as follows:
Platt operated in the North fer several
years and then turned his attention to the
Westerns section Cf Pennsylvania, when
during 90 he picked up Frederick Ander-
son, who had been in a gang with odd
Peter Rocks" Ga main leader.) Later on
with Anderson and others he turned
south into Virginia. In September, '95,
the gang blew up the pOstoffice safe at
Buchanan, Va, securing over $J12 i'll
stamps and money. They robbed a small
cfifice in Albemarle county and IN No
venlber of the same year broke into the
pcstoffice at Basic City, Va, but secur-
ed only a small amount OF money from
the retail drawer, as another safe blow
ing gang had previously visited the place
They then worked north across Maryland
into Southwest Pennsylvania, blowing
open the safes in Il few stores and other
places en- route That winter was spent
in Western Pennsylvania spending most
Of the time in stores and small jobs. They
viewed the poStoffices ut Indiana. Mount
Pleasant. Gallitzin, South Forks and
Hastings, Pa They were flushed at
y 2stings. failing 10 get anything, but
,4okes hi Il West Elizabeth and one or
two small offices.
In the spring of 1896 the gang. includ-
ing Platt and Anderson, headed south
ward through the Shenandoah Valley in
Virginia, doing some stores and other bur
glares along the route At Roanoke
Va, they fell in with Joe Jones, alias
Brooks. alias McIraw, etc. a noted safe
blower, fifty-eigat years of age, Il native
of Montreal, Canada. Jones has operated
in Canada and the United States and has
served time in Michigan, Iowa. West Vir-
Sinia, and served eight years at Mounds
Vile. West Virginia, for burglarizing a
iewelry store. He escaped from the
Tennessee pcnitentary in 80, while serv-
ing three-year sentence. He also es-
capped from Barnwell, s. c., Jail in Feb
ruary. 30, while serving a tive-year SEN
torce for Il pCstoffice burglary which he
committed in South Carolina. He is now
at large.
Jones was known to Platt and Joined
forces With Platt at Roanoke, and the
gang headed west into West Virginia,
over the C.. & o. railroad, blowing open
the safe eff the Standard Oil Company
and several stores safes i'll Greenbrler
county, and particularly at Charleston,
also at Huntington West Virginia, and at
Covington, Kentucky.
They also drilled two safes in q large
vinegar factory at Covington, kentucky
but were frightened away before touch
ing off the safe. The gang headed back
to Virginia and entered on their most
successful career of postoffice burgla-
ries In July. 1885, they entered the
ed $400 i'm stamps and money. They also
entered the Radfcrd, Va, postoffice.
Early in August of the same year the
gang blew open the postofdice safe at
Fincastle. Vat, and secured $500 in
stamps and money, and after the job
Platt and Jones separated. Platt shipped
Il package containing drills, fuse powder,
tunnels, revolver cartridges, etc, by eX-
press to j. W. Pearson at Stanton. Va,
where they were accidentally delivered to
another party before Platt called. In
spector Gregory secured them later as
an unclaimed express package. In Sep
tember, 1896, the gang, including Platt
and Anderson, blew off the out side door
of a large safe in the pogtoffice at
Waynesboro, Va. but were frightened
away by people in the street. In the
same month they jumped back to Rad
ford. Va, and drilled a postoffice safe,
but failed TO explode. They robbed a
store safe of 800 and Anderson held up
man, who stumbled on Them at Con-
cord Depot, Va.
They also burglarized the Standard Oil
safe at Lynchburg and were chased by
the Lynchburg police officers. One of
them had his shoe cut off by a bullet
fired by a policeman while he was rum
ming. Tools We're scattered broadcast.
The gang blew up the pOstOffice safe at
Keysville, Va, securing over, 500 in
stamps and money. and In November,
1896, after this job, they secured two
covered wagons and with two on three
extra horses for trading began a gypsy
tour. Platt and Anderson each mar
ried and took their wives on the road
with them travelling and horse trading
as gypsies do. During December. 1896,
while in camp at Grottoes, Va, the men
drove across at night to Bridgewater.
Va, where they operated on the postof-
flee safe. A citizen stumbled on their
sentinel and exchanged shots. Platt
dropped out of the rear window of the
office and coming up behind the citizen
held him up ard turned him over to the
sentinel and completed the job. After
this they led the citizen out. threatening