Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-10-04
P|NKERTON ON THE JOB
Gne OF the Famous Detectives
ShreWdest FeatS.
STORY OF INTIMATE FRIEND.

Rev Byron n. Staaffer Tells How
Pinkerton Made an Arrest at Buffalo
IN Connection With Remarkable Ex.
press Robbery In 1s35--tiis Kindness.
~ 6 probable that few Buffalo peo-
pie know ihat one 81 fhe shrewdest de-
tectige feats ever performed by Rob
crt g. linkeuon, the famous detective
who died few days ago, was pulled
oil ia Buffalo said the Rey. Byron II.
Stauier the other day 10 a reporter Of
the Buffalo Express
- most remarkable express robbery
occurred ut susquehanna, pa, IN 1885,
IN which $4,000 sent by the Erie rail-
road from New York to It's shops In
Sasquchanna was stolen from the safe
Of the United States Express company
at that place The robbery occurred
GA a Saturday night: Bags containing
bogus coin were placed ia the safe so
that the crime was not discovered UNI
Ill the next Monday morning. Robert
a. PlnkertOn was sent for.
lie soon made the discovery that
the job had not been done in New
York, as at first supposed. The bags
were of a kind discarded by the COM
pany six months before. The safe had
been opened by some one. who solved /
the combination. George Proctor. an .
Of the express company had .
left on Saturday for a two weeks va
- Il t,fet
trail and located him IN Buffalo, where
he was risking money freely in the
pool rooms and bucket shops.
Bob rmkerton arrested Proctor and
took him to the old Tiff House, on
Main street, where after an hour or
more Of the sweating process. Proctor
confessed that two other men were i'm
Dlicated in the deal-Cmtch Donahue.
who was at that time keeping the
Queens hotel at Fort Erie, and an
)ther man named Collins.
Proctor promised TO lure his accom-
,lices over TO Buffalo from Fort Erie
md put up all he had left Of his share
If the robbery as "A sort Of security to
10 the job Two detectives Swallowed
'roctor for several days, and finally
ie cluded them and crossed over to
Fort Erie, where he was safe because
he cxtraditon laws Of that time did
ot cover robbery cases.
Bob Plnkerton did not give up
ope. lie found that Donahuc. the |
'ort Erie hotel keeper was wanted in
'anada for several bold robberies. so [
G crossed the river to Fort Erie and q
ad long talk with Douahue. He sat
p all night with the notorious Clutch.
him with arrest by the
authorities unless he deliv-
red his pal, Proctor, on American
)il. by promise Of immunity Dona- B
ne was finally persuaded to give uD S
hat he had left of his share of the 3
10000 and to lure his accomplice, Z
rector, to the United States.
1T was agreed that the three men l
lould start for England for safety.
hey were to take train by way of
ontreal for Portland. Me, where
ey could ship to England. Collins
Id Donahue were to slip off the train
the station before the train crossed
G Canadian border into New Hamp-
Ire and Proctor was to be arrested
soon as he crossed the line.
Then Bob Pinkerton planned
up detat to bag the whole bunch.
18th three or four detectives he board ]
the train on which the robbers
IRE riding three or four stations be-
re the train came to the Canadian
rider. The conductor agreed to run
: train through the last station be-
re the border without stop, so that
'nahue and Collins could not leave
But the two men played still
IRE clever game, getting off the train
fore the Pinkerton men boarded it
Il leaving Proctor asleep in his /
'th as the train crossed the line !
er midnight. Proctor was arrested
i sentenced to long term in the
Thopas c. Platt. president of the
tied States Express company, was
satisfied. however to let the other
, men off so easily and carried the
tier to the Canadian authorities,
ere Clutch DOnahlue was convicted
another charge and his property at 1
t Erie confiScated.
Bob Fullerton was a good hearted I
p. After sending Proctor to the
itentiary he felt sorry for his fam
and raised $1,000 for Proctor's wife
set her Up in little business in
nSylvanla. where she is still max
living" 4
e. S;autfer was well acquainted
b the famous detective He first
him at Glendale, Mo, about If
miles from St Louis. Mr. Stauf-
was at that time nineteen years old,
lb reporter on the ST. Louis Chron- l
4 big robbery occurred at the
e town. and Mr. Snufrer went out
over it for his paper Bob Pnker-
went 90 the scene Of the robbery 1
/ special locomotive Mr. Stauffer
10 get aboard the engine and was
sed. lie boarded an accommoda-
Something happened TO the Spe-
locomotive. So that Mr. Stauffer