The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-20
TRAIN ROBBED
Locked The Messenger Up and
Rob Express Car
MAKE THIER ESCAPE
No One on the Train Knew of the

No One on the Train Knew of the
Daring Robbery Until the Mes
senger Was Gotten Out of the
Box in Which He Had Been
Locked by the Robbers.
Train robbers on Tuesday night
overpowered Express Messenger
Thomas L. Hutto, on Southern train
No. IT, which passed Branchville lit
tie before eight o'clock and which
is due in Augusta at half-past ten
o'clock, and robbed the express safe
of about $500, all the money that
was in it. The robbers took notn-
ing else. The following particulars
of the robbery we take from the
Augusta Chronicle:
The robbery occurred between
Warrenville and Augusta. Inc
thieves got the drop on the mes
senger, knocked him senseless, tled
his hands behind his back, and threw
him into and locked him in chest.
They procured his keys and, at their
leisure, ransacked the car.
The messenger was liberated at
the Union Station in Augusta. The
blow with which he was felled was
not severe. He was nearly sufocat-
ed from his close confinement in the
chest. Otherwise he suffered 10 Ill
effects physically.
Southern No. II makes up at
Branchville. It's connections there
are with Columbia and Charleston.
It's express and mail are through.
Ordinarily the train, for the South
ern Express Company, carries S2'ooo
to $4,000 of currency. Tuesday
nights packages were the smallest
in years. AS stated, as luck had IT,
the shipments was not more than ap-
proximately $500.
Thomas L. Hutto has been an eX-
press messenger four years. He lives
at 2OS Ellis street. He tells a VerS
interesting story of the robbery.
Hutto was sitting idly on box dn
his cara compartment car, embrac-
ing mail and express service-as the
train pulled out from WarrenVille.
The end door of the car-next the
baggage car-was thrown suddenly
open and man, his face hidden by
a shabby mask of red flannel, pistol
extended, ordered hands up!' Hut
to was dazed by the suddeness OF 1t
all, and made no move. "Hands up
tell you!" was ordered by another
voice, and second man had entered
face red-fanneled, pistol extended.
Before Hutto could obey the rapid
and fierce orders, and as he reached
for his gun, which was in tin oox
but a foot or so removed from him,
he received blow, presumably from
the man who had entered the car
first, and was pndered unconscious.
But he, regained consciousness In
a fash-he is sure he was uncon-
scious but a moment. When him.
self again he found his hands grasp
ed tightly behind his back. A pistol
barrel was pressed hard against his
spinal column. Cry out, make any
demonstration, and l will pull the
trigger!" the robber told him. A
package of baby clothing-an ex-
press shipment-was cut open and
cords taken therefrom, with which
the messenger was securely tied
hands behind back.
There was in the car an empty
express chest four feet wide, tve
feet long and three feet deep. me
robbers threw the helpless messenger
into this chest and clasped it, but
did not lock it. They then, having
secured his keys, went through the
car and safe at their leisure.
There Hutto remained until eN-
press helpers extricated him at the
station in Augusta.
The negro helpers at the union
Station, when they proceeded TO the
car, as is customary, to remove the
express to the station office, found
the door of the car on the right
side-which was closed-unlocked.
The end door was locked. The door
on thu left side of the car was open.
Entering the car they heard vigor-
-ous talking in the leXpress chest
and liberated Hutto, who gave the
first information of the robbery.
Conductor J.. B. Metz declares that
he and no other man on the tram
had intimation Of any thing wrong
until after Hutto had been released.
The robbers left the train at Broad
street. through the downtown side
door Of the car-the one found open
at the station.
From his chest prison Hutto could
hear them plainly rattle silver. he
could hear their voices, but no dis
tinctlv enough to distinguish what
they were saying He heard one OF
them call the other Jim.
His experience on the run enabled
him to locate when the train reached
the Hamherg yards, when it crossed
the bridge and about when it reached
Rroad 1t was then that the hum of
conversation ceased and HuttO knew
-. tl,n MON nod left the car. lie