The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01
bic EXPRESS ROBBERY.
A 100000 Cash Package Stolen
From the Adams in Pittsburg.
IT WAS ALL IN SMALL BILLS

Coward G.. Cunlsffe, . Clerk, Missing
Leaves a Family Behind-Receipted
For the Money in Pittsburg When
= Acting as a "Sub"-supposed Thief
Got Fourteen Hours Start.
Pittsburg, Pa.-A package contain
Ing SOL, 900 in cash was stolen from
the general Offices Of the Adams Ex-
press Company in this city. Edward
George Cunliffe, money clerk Of the
company, and n Of its trusted en-
ployes, is missing, and the police of
every city in the country have been
asked to arrest him on the charge Of
stealing the money.
The package containing the. money
was made up Of $4,000 in 500 bills,
$4,000 in $50 bills and the remainder
Of the money vas ih S.. $40 and $50
bills.
1t was learned that Il part of the
money had been shippsd by the Bank
Of Pittsburg. and the remainder by the
Farmers National Bank, Of this city.
From tho anne source it was learned
that the money "a consigned to a
bank in Cincinnati. .
Cunliffe, who received the money af-
ter banking hours in the afternoon, left
his Office at the usual time, about 6
o'clock in the evening. He stopped in
the hallway of the building and
chatted with several Of the other en-
ployes before he started for his home.
When he reached there he'said nothing
to his wife, but went direct. to his
room, where he changed his clothes,
putting on a new winter suit. He ate
bis supper, and then said that he was
going out for the evening. He kissed
his four children an affectionate good
bye and left the house. That was the
last seer of him.
When he did not report for duty
next morning nothing was thought of
the matter, but when his wife a few
hours later called up the Office Of the
company, and asked if he vas there
the suspicion Of the company was
aroused. A hurried examination was
made Of his books, and it was found
that his accounts were s. short. II
was fully an hour afterward that a tel.
egram was received from Cincinnati
announcing the fact that the package
containing the money had not been re.
ceived there, and asking why it had
not-been- sent. A further examination
of Cunliffe's books was made, and II
was found that the money which had
been intrusted to his care had never
been forwarded.
Detective agencies were at once mott
fed. and a search was started for Gun
life. Fourteen hours had elapsed from
the time that he had left his home In
the West End until the company was
convinced that he was guilty of the
theft. There are night trains on both
the Pittsburg and Lake Erie and the
Pennsylvania Roads for Buffalo, and il
vas believed by the officers that he
had boarded one Of these trains, with
the hope of reaching the Canadian Dor
der before his crime was discovered.
At the little home Of the Cunliffe
family, in the West End, the members
Of the family Of the man are almost
h~eartbroken. Cunliffe, according to the
neighbors, was a most devoted husband
and father. He was. absolutely fret
from bad habits Of any kind, and al
Of his. time, when not at his office, was
devoted to his wife and children. 4
Cunliffe came to this city in March
1904, from Hartford, Conn, where al
of his relatives live, and where he was
held In the greatest esteem. Prior II
his connection with the Adams Elk
press Company, be vas employed by
The American Express Company in
Hartford for a number Of years, and
came to Plttsburg with good recon-
msndations from them. His salary was
only 5000 per annum.
The company issued the following
description of the missing clerk:
Edward George Cunliffe is thirty,
five years OF age, looks to be forty;
five feet seven inches tall; weight 1zC
pounds; medium build; dark brown
hair, heavily mixed with gray; wears
a heavy, short-cropped mustache, dark,
and partly mixed with gray; could
raise a very heavy beard; has blue eyes.
When last seen hetwore dark blue, dou.
ble-breasted sack suit, a black derby
hat, turned cellar, and a black bow tie.
He wears a silver ring with all acorn
design. He is an inveterate cigarette
smoker, and the second finger Of his
right hand is badly discolored with
nicotine. Cunliffe is afflicted with
-I~ o A1~
cough"