davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
TRAP WAS SET HERE.

Every trigger OF the trap into
which the daring cracksmen fell was
set in Richmond. Early yesterday
afternoon the inspectors were conf
dent that the baggage would reach
New York later, and they prepared
at once to spring upon the claim.
ants. The three inspectors, who left
here at SEQ o'clock Monday night,
were reinforced in New York by In
spector Kincaid and Detective Buzby,
who was detailed on the case by ].
G. Harper, superintendent OF police
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The
men we're captured at 9 o'clock, and
were identified at the Mulberry Street
Station.
When Cunningham and Chester
entered the baggage room at the
Grand Central Station, and presented
the checks. they are said, In some
manner, to have suspected that they
had fallen into a trap, and both at
tempted to escape. They were ar
rested after a desperate struggle.
Meanwhile the trunks were opened,
and each was filled with stamps. One
large trunk and a small one were
recovered.
Chief John r. Harrison, OF the
Washington division Of post-oface In
spectors, assisted by l.. l.. Scherer,
general agent OF transportation for
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company. conducted the search for
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
CERTAIN HE'S NOTED CROOK.

Mr.. Scherer said last night the ac-
lions Of the men after leaving the Al
hambra were typical Of expert bag
gage thieves. and he believes the two
| prisoners will be identified as noto-
rious criminals. There seems 20 have
been little trouble about identifying
them he said. and this 20 my mind
indicates that they have worked
somewhere before. Ny Information is
that they are Englishmen. and
can't say that have any line on the
criminal record OF either OF them.
If the little fellow is the man I
am led to believe he is. he Is des-
perate, and would have killed any
person who might have interfered
with him while he was carrying out
the job at the pOst-Ofiice. / have moth
ing TO say about my connection with
the case, except that the government
has always helped me In similar deals
and l am glad TO have an opportunity
OF assisting il. We could never have
located the criminals unless the va
rious railroads had offered us every
facility and the telephone companies
had given us absolute right OF way
over the wires.
&C. s. Burton, assistant baggage
agent at the Union Station, in Wash
ington, rendered valuable service. He
remained up ali night Monday, and
every request we made of him was
promptly and thoroughly carried out
AS Washington was the central point
from which we worked, he was ex-
actly the right man in the right
place. 1 never feared not catching the
men or falling TO locate. the trunks
as long as the baggage was In pos
session OF the railroads, but ] knew
that once II got away our case would
be doubly difficult. We have been
lucky. I'll admit; but we have worked
thoroughly, and the result is most
gratifying"
According to information received
by Detective Scherer over the long
distance telephone from New York
this morning. the trunks seized con-
tained stamps valued at $4,000.
Later reports sent out by the AssO-
ciated Press stated that the loot
amounted TO only $4,000.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
DEADLY BATTLE WITH
CRAZED MAN ON PULLMAN CAR
Kills Conductor and Porter Before
Being Shot to Death.

Wilmington. Del, March 23.-An
exciting battle. in which three men
were killed. took place on a north
bound Baltimore and Ohio train this
afternoon. The fight began at New.
ark. Del. and ended in this city. Sew.
eral persons were wounded in the
deadly ARRAY which occurred at the
Delaware Avenue Station here fol.
lowing the arrival OF the train at 5:17
O'Clock
The dead are:
o. h. Wellman, aEed forty years.
of Philadelphia. conductor of the
train
Samuel Williams. aged fifty years.
negro. Pullman porter. whose home
Is said TO have been IN Jersey City.
j. H. Bethea, aged forty years. of
Dillon. 8. c.
The injured:
John o. Wiley. aged forty years. a
park guard OF Wilmington. Del. shot
IN the hand and leg.
Matthew Haley. a citizen of VII
mington. shot in the leg.
Others were grazed by flying bull.
lets.
The triple tragedy was the result
of an alteration between Bethea.
who was passenger. and williams,
the porter in the Pullman parlor car
Mercury The car was bound from
Washington TO Jersey City.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
MEN WERE SEEN AT WORK.

It has been established with prac-
tically absolute certainty that this
safe in the cashiers Office was bored
into shortly before the yeggmen
shipped the trunks. w. b. Stouffer.
of Baltimore, who boards at 71O East
Franklin Street, Just opposite the
Franklin Street entrance OF the tenn
porary pOst-office building, gives the
Information that he saw two men at
work yesterday morning, and that
they entered the building several
times, each time coming out with a
bag, which they dumped into a buggy.
He did not see the vehicle drive on
however, and would have suspected
nothing but for later developments.
The crime is described as one Of
the boldest that has taken place in
the annals of government post-offices,
and 1t is believed the thieves knew
of Mr.. Marriott's absence from the
city and were well acquainted with
every necessary detail of the work
ings of the Offices TO have selected
the most propitious time for the
fulfillment OF their well directed and
perfectly arranged plan. There is
nothing either on the doors or win
dOws OF the Office to show that an
entrance was forced, but q Is said
the locks of all entrances are easily
fitted, and the men probably had
little trouble in getting through
them.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
Opportunity For Economical Buyer.

Best bargains on the market. Up
to-date household articles, Jewelry.
Novelties, etc, direct from the
factory. Send one cent stamp for our
illustrated catalogue and be con
WINGED. WA. A. CRAWFORD, Sect.
The Peerless Supply Co., IT w. 1s6th
Street. Dept G, New York City.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
YEGGSrEN SEEN WHILE AT WORE
Said "GOOd Morning" to Man Who
Passed the Office.

Two recent arrivals IN Richmond
w. B. Stouffer, who has q room at
.710 East Franklin Street, and It. X.
Davis, who rooms at 919 East Mar
shall Street, may be able to throw
some light on the post-ofsice robbery,
for both, between the hours of 3 and
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
DELIBERATELY PLANNED.

The cracksmen were too shrewd
10 board at a room in the same hotel
/ at which they proposed to carry out
an important detail OF the gigantic
robbery and IL is understood, the in
spectors have been unable TO locate
them at any other hostelry. although
| they are believed 70 have been in
Richmond certainly since last Fri
| day. That the room was rented for
eleven days is taken 20 indicate that
unless the opportunity had presented
I itself yesterday morning the experts
would have chosen some other fu-
ture time TO commit the deed. Laut-
erback says the trunks were brought
20 the hotel by n negro driver who
runs team on the street on HIS own
account. and il ia not believed he
/ had any knowledge OF the purpose
OF his employers.
The room to which the thieves
carried their ill-gotten riches is but
a short distance from the door
through which they are believed TO
have entered the pOst-onlce. and a
missing link Is as 20 how they car
ried the bundles OF stamps through
the streets without being seen. On
the doorsill are evidences that the
trunks were taken out hurriedly. as
the facing is scratched OF. Several
persons claim 10 have seen wagon
standing IN the street about the time
or the alleged removal, and the in.
spectors were informed yesterday
that the two-horse team was hired
from the Richmond Transfer Com
pany.
There are theories that the trunks
containing the booty are stlu in
Richmond, but the best evidence that
TIE inspectors have dropped this line
OF work Is that all yesterday after
noon Chief Harrison. with three Of
his men, were closeted with Chief
L. L. Scherer, Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio detective department, In the
latter's Office on the third floor OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio building.
at Eighth and Main Streets. IL is
stated that the local detectives were
put TO work on the Richmond end
OF the case, but II is probable n the
belief had been strong that the booty
was still In Richmond that the gov
eminent experts would have under
taken the task OF locating Il them
selves
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
DESCRIPTION OF LEADER

The empty trunks are said to have
been removed to the storage room
shortly after 2 o'clock Saturday
afternoon, and a man, described by
Henry Lauterback, clerk at the AL
hambra Hotel, as having been stoutly
built and about five feet six inches
tall. and with a red face, at once
ordered that the room be thoroughly
cleaned. He gave Lauterback %
cents for the job. A little later this
stranger pulled down the shades over
all the windows, and over the glass
door leading into the lobby he pasted
brown paper. There was no way by
which the thieves could have been
seen while at work packing the
stamps into the trunks.
Ernest Waller. the night clerk.
says he heard wagon drive up to
the side entrance of the hotel yes
terday morning between 3 and &
O'Clock, but he had no reason to
suspect anything. and did not make
any report until the inspectors went
to the hotel yesterday afternoon and
questioned him about the actions of
the men. From the hotel the inspec-
tors went 20 the Office OF Connolly &
Co., and there they learned that
- - secured the room last
Friday and paid for it for eleven
days. The description given by Mr..
Rohleder. who carried out the
contract for the rental agents. leads
the inspectors 20 believe that this
stranger and the man who super
intended the work OF cleaning are one
and the same.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

He was guarding a suspected trunk
and when the lad made inquiries for
1t the detective followed him back.
approaching Chester. who attempted
TO fee from the station.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
RUSH ORDER FOR STAMPS.

Postmaster Allan did not endeavor
10 take any part in the work Of To-
eating the yeggmen after the arrival
of Mr.. Harrison other than 20 sum
mon persons asked for and 90 ex.
plain the operations OF his Office
force. Yesterday afternoon his sup
ply OF stamps was depleted 20 such
an extent that he was compelled TO
call on nearby Offices in order 70 sup
ply the demand. Mr.. Allan says he
has often suggested 20 other officials
here that iron bars be placed over
the front windows OF the temporary
building. but that he had never made
any complaint 20 the department.
+. Leslie Spence. OF the United
States Fidelity and Guaranty Com
pany, In which all the employees of
the Richmond post-ohice are bond
ed. was in consultation with Mr.. AL
Ian yesterday morning. but his com
pany Will not be held responsible I'M
less the crime is traced 10 some per
son inside the Office or IL Is proved
that the crime resulted from negli-
gence. There is no suggestion, how
ever, that anybody here Is at fault,
and is hardly probable that any
steps will be taken in view OF the
evidence thus far secured, other than
20 show that the crime was designed
and successfully operated by experts.
who came to Richmond for no other
purpose.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

New York. March 29.-Immediate-
ly after the report of the Richmond
robbery to Washington, Inspectors
Frank r. Barclay, James b. Robert
son and John G. Rooms, of the Wash
ington division, were assigned to the
case. On the theory that ne men
would need trunks TO get the stamps
out OF Richmond, and further. that
they would want get out OF Rich
mond as soon as possible. the in
spectors watched ali trunks leaving
Richmond. They located three trunks
which they felt were the right ones.
The owners of the truRks-three men
unknown TO the police and post-of-
ice inspectors-were supposed to be
living at hotel In that city.
To follow the men meant to fol
low the trunks. and this was the
method used. All three trunks were
shipped to Washington.
At Philadelphia one trunk was
shipped TO the Avon Hotel. Thirtieth
Street and Lexington Avenue. New
York, care OF Charles Hatfield. OF
Buffalo. One other trunk was shipped
TO the 1wenty-third Street Station.
New York, over the Pennsylvania
Chester called for the trunk at the
Twenty-third Street Station this
morning. Inspectors Barclay, Robert
son and O'Brien, of New York. were
awaiting him, and on their orders.
the baggagemaster told Chester the
trunk was mislaid. Greatly excited
he jumped over the railing and into
the baggage-roOm, and after search
found the trunk. which ne ordered
forwarded to the Grand Central Sta
ton, where it's seizure and his ar
rest occurred. In this trunk. the
stamps were found; the burglars
tools and the revolvers we're discov-
cred in the trunk at the Hotel Avon.
Richmond. Va. Times. Dispatch
March 30, 1910.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
HOW TRUNKS WERE CHECKED

One trunk was checked from Wash.
ington, over the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, to Philadelphia. and thence
into New York. A second was shipped
from Washington over the Pennsyl-
wanna Railroad, to Baltimore. was
switched in that city to the Balti
more and Ohio, and taken to Tren
ton, y. J. From Trenton It was
switched TO Newark, and thence to
New York. The third trunk was
shipped from Washington to Newark
and from there TO the Twenty-third
Street station OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad in New York City. Il was
reswitched in New York TO the Grand
Central Station, where the thieves
were caught
Late Monday afternoon the inspec
tors and detectives working here
traced the baggage as far as Newark,
and that night Inspector Rooms was
sent to Baltimore, and inspectors
Robertson and Barclay went to Phil
adeiphia. When the baggage was
traced past Philadelphia, and was
known to have been sent TO New
York, the three men were ordered
there, and arrived yesterday after
noon.
Chief Inspector Harrison remained
here yesterday keeping in touch with
his men by telephone and telegraph
and when il became evident late in
the afternoon that the arrests would
be made last night he left for New
York. News Of the capture OF Gun
ningham and Chester. and OF the re
covery Of the larger part OF the booty
was conveyed TO him on the train
at Fredericksburg.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

the thieves, and through their eff
forts on Monday the baggage was
traced from Washington north. The
thieves endeavored by every method
to lose the identity of the trunks:
but the railroad officials in Baltimore,
Newark. Trenton, Philadelphia, New
York and other cities offered every
assistance, and wherever the baggage
was switched those working here
succeeded In procuring numbers, and
in locating the next point in the
route.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
FIGHT CAUSED A PANIC.

The detective grappled with him.
but Chester is of powerful build and
both men fell struggling TO the floor.
Women passengers screamed and
a panic was created in the station
until the officer subdued Chester with
his club.
Meanwhile the two men stationed
outside. warned by the noise OF the
struggle. broke and ran. Cunning
ham, however. was bowled over by
two pedestrians and was quickly
overpowered by the police.
Examination OF the trunk revealed
in addition to the $4,000 worth of
stamps, set of burglars tools. de-
scribed at headquarters as the finest
ever brought to New York. There
were also two 3S-calibre revolvers
in the lot.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
NIGHT WATCMAN HEARD
NOTHING.

William Paul, of Manchester. night
Waterman at the Federal building,
made his rounds as usual and SAYS
he passed the cashiers office not long
before the time the vault is said
10 have been entered. The employees
in the cashiers Office are Miss Vera
II. Winston Minor b. Ratcliff.
Thomas b. Olphin, Thomas O'Con-
nor, B. W. Russell. r. r. Richie and
l.. 4. Matthews. Cashier Marriott was
In Blackstone, but he was telegraph
ed for and arrived in the midst Of
the excitement at 1920 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. He had nothing TO
say last night
In his capacity as chief inspector
Mr.. Harrison had full authority at
the Federal building yesterday. and
his first official act was 70 endeavor
to cover up the methods by which
his men were working 60 solve the
mystery OF the crime. None OF his
assistants was permitted TO say n
word about anything they were do
ing, and Inspectors Alberto and SAT
fel, who were put at work checking
up the records. with n view OF find
ing the exact amount OF the govern
ments losses. labored all the
afternoon, and said last night their
task had not been finished.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
TWO rRUNKFULs OF STAMPS.

The news OF the robbery created
a sensation in Richmond, as we'll as
in the department at Washington,
which is working In conjunction with
the men stationed here to locate the
criminals. wherever they may be,
and in order that the whole country
may be on the lookout, civil service
employees in every large city in the
United States have been notified.
The trunks used by the fugltives
are said to have been about FIVE feet
long and three feet deep, and IL is
believed that they were nearly filled
with the stamps.
1t is hardly probable that the force
of inspectors here will be increased,
but il is likely that some of those
stationed in Richmond will be trans
ferred elsewhere, or else they Will
be used to instruct representatives
in other cities, so that the baggage
may be the more easily identified
Hundreds of kilograms were sent out
from Richmond yesterday over pri-
vate wires and through the regular
offices, and all the various branches
of the service we're kept closely in
touch with each other.
Exactly who gave the information
which led the inspectors to suspicion
that the stolen stamps were taken to
Alhambra Hotel is not stated, but 1t
is understood that the informant
knew that the storage room was rent
ed Friday night, and that the trunks
were carried there Saturday after
noon and were taken away early
yesterday morning. He first commu-
nicated with a member OF the local
detective force, but he was later sum-
mOned by the government men and
thoroughly outlined every detail as
he knew it.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
The Great
Post Office
Robbery.
Continued from First Paxe.)
Continued from First Paxe.)

the government detectives at work
on the case.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
FIRES TWO FATAL SHOTS.

Bethea. who had been drinking
heavily shot the porter through the
heart. killing him instantly. When
Conductor Wellman saw the porter
rail- he ran TO the scene TO remon-
strate with the passenger. who still
held the smoking revolver in his
hand. Bethea fired n second shot into
the negrO's body. Then without a
word Bethea shot Wellman through
the heart. The conductor fell dead
in his tracks. When the desperate
fred the conductor threw his right
arm up TO protect himself. The bull
let struck his arm and continuing
plowed through his body and lodged
in his heart.
Before the passengers could inter
fere the double murderer had barri-
caded himself in the toilet room OF
the Pullman car and threatened 20
Kill the first person who approached
Meanwhile the train reached vii
mingtOn. When it came into the sta
tion hurry call was sent TO the po-
lice station. 4 iscuad--of patrolmen.
headed by y slice Captains, Kane
and Evans. and reinforced by park
guards aud posse or citizens and
10 -<sssse8. ran 20 the scene. The PC
lice called upon Bethea to surrend er.
AS an answer he opened the door of
the toilet room short distance and
opened fire at the police and the
crowd with an automatic revolver.
Chief of Police Black. who also rush
ed TO the railroad station, lodged be
hind the express office on the train
floor just I'm time 90 escape the bull
lets
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

Subscribe to the PLANET.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
HIT BY A STRAY BULLET.

Wiley. the park guard, and Haley
are not seriously injured. They we're
both struck by stray bullets fired by
Bethea. A tragic incident OF the af-
fair was that when Williams, the
porter. was shot. he fell into a seat
in the car All through the battle the
dead porter sat with the appearance
OF one looking from the window.
Bethea was well dressed. While 1t
was believed by some OF the pas
sengers who fled when the train
reached Wilmington that the despe-
rado was insane, other passengers
stated that he appeared to be sane,
with the exception that he had been
drinking.
There was more excitement In con-
nection with the battle at the railroad
station than anything that has oc-
Cured in this section since George
white, a negro, was burned at the
stake, near here in June. 1903, for
an assault upon Helen Bishop, the
seventeen-year-oN daughter OF a
Presbyterian minister.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02
BATTLE LASTS AN HOUR.

Bethea is believed 20 have had at
least 100 rounds OF ammunition. for
he succeeded in holding the posse at
bay and also held up the train from
5:17 until 6:35. During this time
many shots were fired on both sides
until finally all the windows OF the
car were broken. Travel over the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad also
was tied up.
When the battle had lasted about
an hour. the police realized that they
would be unable TO drive the man
from cover. A call was sent to a To-
cal fire company near by. The fire
men responded with their engine
Attaching a high pressure hose to a
fire plug. and with the fremen bar
ricaded behind trucks and boards. a
stream Of water was played upon the
windows Of the toilet room. The des-
perado fired a number OF shots at the
firemen. but they were not injured
Subsequently. Bethea, drenched with
water. staggered 90 the platform, and
the police was more called upon him
to surrender. His reply was several
shots in quick order from his re-
volver.
Several of the policemen had arm
ed themselves with shot guns. and
just as Bethea fired the last shot, Po-
lice Captain Evans fred a load OF
shot into his face. Notwithstanding
this injury, he kept on blazing away.
Patrolman Boughman opened fire
with a pistol and struck Bethea in
the right arm. The desperate man
tried to fire again, but Sergeant KEEL
Ter opened fire and also managed to
spring upon Bethea. When the police
took hold OF HIS arm he fell dead in
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

view OF the spot at which they work
ed, as a large letter file was pulled
out Just far enough TO have allowed
them to go behind it. The holes in
the doors are about quarter of an
inch in diameter. In their hurry TO
get away the cracksmen dropped one
OF the tools, and a button bearing
the photograph OF woman was
found on the floor of the Office.