New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-02
VICTIM OF HIS PLOT
CASHIER AIDED PLAN
$1,000 ROBBERY.
THUG Hired to GiUe Knockout
at Niagara Falls, Ont, Does
Worb Too We'll.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune

Buffalo, Jan. Through the diligence
of detectives employed by the North
American Assurance Company in order
satisfactorily to settle whether or not the
Canadian Express Companys Office at
Niagara Falls, Ont, was actually robbed
by highwaymen, it has come to light that
the cashier. William D"bson, permitted
himself to be knocked out and the ex-
press company's safe rihed of S14,169.
Dobson has made confession and i'm
plicated Paul Whistler, an employe Of
the United States Express Comaany at
Niagara Falls n. Y, and Charles j.
Flynn, a bartender, also of the New o4rk
side. A fourth man was also implicated.
but so far has eluded arrest. He is said
to be a Buffalo crook, who did the real
job.
The robbery took place early in No
vember Dobson, who is twenty-five
wears old and had been employed by the
company for five years, was FOUND un-
conscious in the Office. His head had
been cut open. and piece of iron pipe
on the floor indicated how. he had been
assaulted. The safe had been rif1ed.
to the office looking for q trunk. and he
had made a search for it. While so en-
gagged, he said, some one hit him, and he
lost consciousness.
Dobson was taken about the various
cities to inspect rogues' gallery pictures.
He identified one at Detroit, and the
subject of the picture was arrested.
However, he showed that he was in Jail
at the time of the robbery.
The surety company was called on to
make good Dobson's bond for $1,000. The
company was not at all satisfied with
Dobson's explanation and sent detec-
tives to Niagara Falls. and Dobson was
instantly under surveillance. His salary
is $50 d month but it was noticed that
at Christmas time he was making eX-
tensive purchases, including a valuable
set of furs for his sweetheart. Dobson
was again put through a cross -exami-
nation, but maintained that his first
story was correct. However, on Thurs
day the efforts to get him to confess
were renewed and Dobson broke down
under the ordeal.
According to his story, Flynn. Whis-
tier and himself planned the robbery. 1t
was necessary to have all the appearance
of real holdup and therefore man
who knew how to administer knockoutS
safely was necessary. Neither Flynn
Tor Whistler was equal to this part of
the Job so the fourth man, said 10 be a
crook from Buffalo, was secured. The
police say that the Buffalo man gave the
first hint of the way the robbery took
place, as he was not satisfied with his
share of the money and threatened to
make an exposure. Whistler. who lives
on the Canadian side, was also arrested
and is locked up there.
This afternoon Flynn was arrested and
arraigned before Police Magistrate Piper
at Niagara Falls, n. Y. He waived ex-
animation and was taken to Jail. To-
night the prosecuting attorney from Nj
agara Falls, Ont, conferred with the po-
lice at Niagara Falls. N. Y, and and
effort will be made to extradite Flynn
He denies his completely in the game.
An order to obtain Dobson's confession
the police kept him in room in a hotel
and compelled him to tell and retell his
story constantly for twenty-four hours,
giving him no let-up The fact that the
cashier was so badly hurt served to
divert suspicion from him for a long
time.