Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-18
M A N ! 6ahaSD

Captain Bob" Bunch was ore of the most active
express robbers in the South, which at one time
was terrorized by criminals of his following and kind
He was finally down and killed by detectives in
the employ of the Southern Express Company.
tangled case of the INSIDE" variety the dis
appearance of $4,000 in currency sent by express
company from New York to Susquehanna for the pay
rnent Of employees in the Erie Railroad shops 1t was
enclosed in pouch with tag and SEAL delivered
by Marine National Bank, transported and locked
in the express company's safe at Susquehanna When
the agent opened the bag he found that it contained
packages of brown paper neatly clipped and tied to
represent bills.
The Piulcrtons called in. They found that
the bag seal and tag were bogus and had been sub
stituted at some point Acting Tip" from n pro-
fessional thief that empoye of the railroad was
concerned they learned that foreman in the boiler
shop recently obtained leave of absence. On this
slender cIcw they followed the man, found he had
sduanderrd money and arrested him. He confessed
that he had taken wax impressions of the keyholes
in the safe and the door and named accomplices
in Canada. On his representation that he could lure
the others to the United States they let him 60 where
upon he escaped to Canada.
The next Of the Pnkertons was an indication
of their far reaching influence. They caused rumor
to reach the of the foreman and his confederates
that they wanted by the Canadian police for
robbery there The foreman boarded train for Port
land at once. One of the Pnkertons met the train
at Island Pond Vt, after it crossed the border and
caught him
100000 in Potato Sack.
A singular robbery was that committed by an
express messenger the Chicago Rock Island and
Pacific Railroad. Two packages of currency, each
containing $5O000 in his safe. He had brought
along seven sacks of potatoes which he intended to
leave at Davenport his home. While the train was
drawing into Davenport he had a sudden impulse to
taken money, and he stripped ten dollar bill
from one of the packages. Then he later ex-
planned, he reflected that he might we'll take all
as part. so he tumbled the whole 100000 into a
potato sack. With this his shoulder he left the
at the station and walked TO barn on the out
skirts. where he concealed all but $1,000, after which
he started for Chicago.
The theft was discovered when his arrived in
Chicago and he captured the moment he set foot
in that city. He accompanied the detectives back to
Davenport and the barn, and the entire treasure, with
the exception of Sc the hands of the colnpanys
officials exactly twentyfour hours after it had been
removed from the safe. The messenger could never
explain what his plan had been or how he expected
to eVade pursuit
poorly dressed young entered a trunk store
in Milwaukee carrying valise. He selected trunk
and left the vase asking that it be enclosed in the
larger receptacle and sent to address he gave.
While the clerk following these instructions tile
valise flew open. 1t full of money, more than
$4,000 in all. The police notified and the young
man was arrested when he came to inquire for his
trunk. He money clerk in an express ofticce at
st. Louis and had simply walked out with the money
during business hours.
Better planned if equally futile the adventure
of an express agent in Golden City, Mo- He
found that be had bundle of bills containing $4,000
in his office day, and decided that this was his
chance for European tour. Next day his wife missed
her husband aud her best mourning costume which
she wore on account of her fathers death. Mean
while charming widow quite fashionable in appear
ance except as to the feet a train bound for
St Louis The feet attracted considerable attention
tlA
pciOn. The express agent went no further with his
European trip.
Another kind of theft for which the companies and
their secret service forces must be- the alert is
the stealing of packages from express wagons the
city delivery routes. clever band of thieves whose
method to steal horse, wagon, packages and ALL
recently gave much trouble They usually operated
by sending small parcel by express to address
the top floor of building. Waiting near at hand
until the driver upstairs, they fastened the front
door from the outside with chain and paddock,
mounted the wagon and drove calmly away
Big Haul from Truck.
Two truck robbers of this kind made rich haul of
eight trunks few years ago They were identified
by process of elimination, the detectives searching
out every thief in the city who had ever carried on
this form of depreciation. Their rooms were watched
and the wife of of them was arrested first When
she searched she had bracelets and brooches
worth $4,000 in her clothing and bag containing
more jewelry. Nearly $4,000 worth of valuables
recovered when the men were arrested.
Drivers an express wagon in Jersey City stole
a small package marked as containing jeWelry and
opening it discovered diamond necklace of fifty
stones, worth $4,000 They were arrested when
they tried to pawn the gems for $40.
Another case of a similar kind occurred in the
city last year. collection of jeweled ornaments
valued at $32 900 sent from New York in care
of express company. A boy, seventeen years old,
helper on the wagon, having been disappointed in
love affair." bethought him to win the favor Of
his lady fair by gift OF gems. When the wagon
arrived at the Jersey City office he picked up the
parcel and walked off with it.
Complete mystery surrounded the for nearly
week The boy had chosen, quite accidentally, the
exact moment when the package not watched
and there one to observe his movements The
first real clew that the detectives obtained came from
the manager of a large business concern. He said
that office boy in his establishment had exhibited
pearl necklace. The boy arrested and produced
the article. 1t made of eighty five pearls worth
$3,000 and he had purchased it from the thief for
twenty-five cents. He said that he had also been
offered another necklace subsequently found to have
been an emerald and diamond dog collar worth
S135OO. for seYenty-fYe cents but would not 60 SO