Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-10-20
POOR CUNLIFFE'S STORY
FULL Of REAL PATHOS.
EXPRESS EMPLoYE WANTED AT
PiTTsBURG CAPTURED AT
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
DECLARES HE WILL RETURN THE
STOLEN MONEY AND TAKE
HIS PUNISHMENT.

George Cunliffe, the Adams Express
company employe who disappeared
from Pittsburg with $101,0o0 in cash,
was arrested here during the day. He
made confession and expressed his
willingness to return at once to Pitts
burg. He declared that the money
which he took was intact and that it
could be restored, but he declined to
tell until his return to Pittsburg where
1t is hidden. On his person when ar
rested the detectives found $3.50 in
cash.
Detectives under the direction of
Daniel G. Thornhill, superintendent of
the Pinkerton agency OF New York,
traced Cunliffe here and upon their
arrival early in the morning the aid
of the local policemen and detectives
was enlisted. All the hotels Were
watched carefully, but Cunliffe was
not arrested until late in the forenoon,
when he was seen by Superintendent
Thornhill walking down Middle street.
Thornhill called to his aid Policeman
O'Connell and the local officer placed
the man under arrest. Cunliffe made
no attempt to deny his identity and
offered no resistance. r.,
Quickly Regretted the Theft.
Five minutes after took the money
I was sorry" said Cunliffe in discuss
ing the theft, "but it was too late to
do anything. What can You expect
from a man getting a salary OF only
$65 month and handling thousands Of
dollars q day. was tempted and
fell. l have handled larger sums. I
remember once when I had $250, 900 in
cash. l was tempted then, but I
est. '~-. -.s
1.-THE night that I left Pittsburg /
rode in sleeper on the way to New
York and l stuck my head out of my
berth and saw Slater pass by. Slater
is our local manager in Pittsburg. l
thought then that I would turn back,
but knowing that he did not see me
cash thought would take the chance.
I want to go back to Pittsburg, restore
the money and throw myself upon the
mercy of the courts.
Il have made fool of myself HUI
man nature is frail and at some time
or other in our lives we must fall. I
have fallen and have made the mis-
take of my life. 1 wish that had a
chance to do it over again and would
be honest"
Went Directly to New York.
The robbery for which Cunliffe is
wanted in Pittsburg was committed on
the night of Oct. 9. The prisoner says
that he went directly to New York
after the robbery and that he came to
Bridgeport last Tuesday. He de-
clined to say whether he had spent all
his time previous to Tuesday in New
York. In Bridgeport Cunliffe has been
living at a hotel of an inferior class
in the lower part of the city. The fact
that man answering the description
Of Cunliffe was staying at the hotel be-
came known early in the day when the
arrival of the Pinkerton detectives led
the Bridgeport police to make close
search for the fugitive. With the aid
of picture of Cunliffe Detective Ed
ward Cronin of the Bridgeport force
learned that Cunliffe had room at
this hotel, but when detectives went to
the room it was empty. An officer was
stationed in the room to await the re-
turn of the guest, but before that hap
pened Detective Thornhill saw and
recognized Cunliffe on Middle street
and the arrest followed. The descrip-
ton sent out of Cunliffe fits him very
closely and his picture is regarded an
excellent likeness. Cunliife is thirty