The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-13
EXPRESS ROBBERY DEPICTED.
SrREET PLEADS GUILTY AT
PRELIMINARY AND TELLS
OF OCCURRENCE.
Confession, duplicating Coleman,
Purports To Describe Plot to Rifle
Express Safe.

messenger. Is charged with the rob-
berry OF the express car OF train No.
IL Of the Southern railway en- route
To Charleston Thursday OF last week.
when he was arraigned before Magis-
trate Williams today. Coleman asked
for later preliminary that he might
secure the services of a. lawyer and
he will be given his hearing on Mon
day. The hearing today was devoid
of any especially interesting features
and II was quickly disposed Of. Street
being made to secure bond for his ap-
pearance at the approaching term OF
court. street was in fine humor at
the hearing but Coleman seemed de-
pressed and subdued. Chief Cantwell
of the Charleston police department
turned over to Magistrate williams a
typewriter copy Of Streets confess
sion which was made part of the rec
ords OF the case. The alleged con-
fsssion duplicates Coleman and. in
fact. makes II appear that II was
Coleman who suggested that the car
be robbed. and In carrying out the
scheme. had himself imprisoned by
Street. even directing when 1t should
be done and where Street should
leave the train. The confession reads
m follows:
II rode with this ooy, Coleman,
back and forth on the trains several
times. He said TO me one day, going
to Branchville. when / was on the
car with him. that he had q payroll
amounting to very near $4,000, and
he stated to me IL we had this we
would be fixed. The remark / made
was. No hell. when you get anything;
get u hundred thousand and he un-
loaded the money at the proper desti-
nation. Once or twice since I have
been on the car with him. and asked
him how everything was. He sal I
nothing doing He mentioned to me
about a government payroll coming
down once a month. and he said he
could strike that some time and fix
everything his way
ION this occasion, the night OF the
robbery. I came to his car door at
summerville. He says. Come In and
ride with me- I had already drank
about a half-pint Of liquor and had q
haf-pint more In my nip pocket.
started to 60 In the side door. He
says. Come to the end. will have 1t
open'-meaning the end Of the ex-
press car next to the mail car, and
Just after leaving the public street.
crossing at Summrville. the door
opened and I went In.
when the train had passed by
LAdson, he said. Bill. I haven't got
much, but we can use this. and take
chance at more some other time
He opened the safe and then he closed
the safe again. Every door In the
car was open. He got up and we
closed the four side doors. He went
back and unlocked the safe, leaving
the keys In Il: took out a package OF
money In envelopes. Ave or six. I did
not count them. He asked me II
had n knife; I told him yes. He used
IL. He would cut open one and
would cut open one. We came to an
envelope with nothing In II but checks.
am not certain. but think 1t was
all checks. He threw the checks and
envelopes behind the trunk. The bulk
OF the money was In 81 and 50 bills.
He said. 1t Is no use to count the
money. I will count the envelopes
He says. 4 only got about $500 or
$3.50 I says. You fool me into this
thing for this small ar CUNT He then
says. You take this and take care
OF it--don't come around me for four
or five days have not. We rode
on together. The train stopped at
Eight Miles. They threw the switch
and pulled In. told him to let me
get out and catch the special He said,
No; they would want to know why /
got or II to catch a train behind it,
i rode on then to Seven Miles. They
stopped there TO pack hot box on
the expires car He says to me. Look
out and see what they are doing He
was standing at the door. / looked out
on the right hand side and seen
somebody standing near the engine.
on the Coast Line crossing. walked
back In. shut the door and bolted 1t.
Then he said to me. leaving Seven
Miles: Where are you going to get off
at" I said. Il can get off at Mag
nolia crossing He says. All right;
don't put me in the box until they