Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-22
NO CHARGES BROUGHT
AGAINST MESSENGERS
Men Who Connected Robbery Story
VIII Not Be Prose-
Cuted.
NO LOSS RIFT IRON SAEI,
NO LOSS BUT IRON SAFE
Special Agent Cannadny, Of Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railroad, Doubted Story OF
Express Messengers.


1t IL improbable that criminal or civil
proceedings will be instituted against
y. y. Chambliss and NJ. NJ williams.
the two messengers who broke open n
safe on tho express car attached TO the
Atlantic Coast Lines Florida Flyer on
Thursday night and threw II into Acquia
Creek. and il is presumed by General
Agent w. a. Michigan. OF the Southern
Express Company, that they have re-
turned to their homes.
Neither was placed under arrest either
before or after the examination, In
which they admitted their responsible
lily for the loss OF the safe, but they
we're kept under constant surveillance
each other until their statements were
In the hands OF the officials
IMPROBABLE STORY
STARTED SUSPICION
II was tho inprobability OF their
story which first directed suspicion to-
wards Chambliss and Williams. Spe-
cial Agent a. T. Cannaday. OF tho Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company, went over the story
with each OF them. pointed out the i'm :
probabilities and discrepancies. and
then asked each TO pass verdict on the
original account.
They agreed that 1t was highly
distorted story: that II would not bear
minute investigation and dissection and
then each. without the knowledge OF
the other. made the statements as
printed exclusively In The Timea-Dis-
patch yesterday morning
II was absolute foolishncss for them
TO have disposed o! the safe after split
ting 1t open to get out Chambliss's sup
plies" said an official yesterday after
noon. They simply became frightened
after they had broken the safe, and
then decided upon the robber story to
save themselves from a possibly en-
barrass!ng position. AZ II is. they made
matters worse They thought that their
story would be accepted at it's faco
value. and there would be no con-
sequcnt publicity.
SAFE CONTAINED NO
MONEY NOR VALUABLEs
The safe was absolutely empty, so
far as money or valuables are con-
cerned. II contained only Chnmbl!ss's
overalls. papers. way bills and sup
plies, He had forgotten his keys. He
had sent Williams to get his (Wil-
liams'D keys. and the latter got hold
OF the wrong ones. Chambliss needed
his supplies. and no had TO break open
the safe to get them out. That IN Itself
would have looked suspicious and then
Chambliss did the nrst thing that oc-
Cured to him-kicked the safe out Of
the car"
In order 10 carry out the robbery
story. chambliss knocked holes In both
side doors at tn" same height from the
floor. showing that a single mind had
been behind the operation. He had to
use the side doors because both ends
OF the car were crowded with ship
ments. making II Impossible for any
one to have gained entrance from
either direction. He had to break holes
In both side doors SO as to make It
appear that he was covered from each
side OF the car
After the safe had been disposed OF.
Williams went to sleep He was aroused
by Chamhliss after they had gotten
into Richmond. and they agreed upon
the robbery story as the best way out
OF the difficulty. 1t was then. It Is
supposed, that the side windows were
broken. The train reached Richmond
at l2:40 o'clock In the morning. There
was no one at Byrd Street Station to
examine them. and the messengers con-
tinced on their runs.
AS soon as Special Agent Cannaday
was notified OF the case he went to
Washington. and began an investign-
ton for the Southern Express Com
pany. The first thing he did was to
have both men brought back TO Wash
ington. Williams went back first, and
Chambliss was kept one night in Rich
inond, so that the two should not meet
and plan other details OF the story they
had concocted Each was questioned
only p short time before he saw the
futility Of proceeding with his story,
and the statements were obtained
y charge OF robbery could not be
brought against them rs they would
have known IL the safe contained
money. and ii was stated positively by
the Southern Express Company that
there had been no shipment OF money
or valuables They might possibly be
~, rnI 4, xt.,.1o
they destroyed the safe, but II Is re-
garded as doubtful whether even this
proceeding will be taken. Mr. Michigan
presumes. however. that both mes
sengers Will be discharged from the en-
ploy of the company.
SAFE IS LOCATED
IN AC0UIA CREEK
Despite reports to tho contrary, tho
safc has been located Mt the bottom
OF Acquia Creek. but 1t ia improbable
that effort Will be made to recover Il
since 1t is now of no value, and is not
needed in clearing up the case.
Chamhliss. whose home is In EN-
Doria. is about twenty-one years cid.
Ho is single. Williams is said to be
about twenty seven years Of age His
home is I'm Rose Hill. n. c., and he is
said to be n graduate OF the University
OF North Carolina
The revolver which Chambliss said
was stolen from him was recovered
by Special Agent Cannaday in the mes
senGers boarding house in Washing
ton. and was. In his possession at the
time he began his examination Of tho
two men. With this indubitable proof
OF the absurdity OF the messengers
first story IN his hands. he had no great
difficulty In unravelng what Mt first
promised to be q mystery. After max
Ing their statements Chambliss and
Williams shook hands with their in
quisitors. and, departed They had, ac-
cording 10 an official OF the company,
been extremely foolish. The company