Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-21
CHAMBL|SS AND
WILLIAMS CONFESS
Express Messengers Admit They
Broke Open Safe on Flor
ida Flyer.
HAD LEFT KEYS AT HOME
Concocted Story of Robbery AT
ter Pushing Wrecked Safe
From Car Door.

a. Y. Chambliss and NJ. NJ. Williams
confessed early yesterday afternoon
that II was they who on Thursday night
broke open the SAFE and threw II from
express car attached to the Atlantic
coast Line Railroad Company's Florida
Flyer while the train was running be-
tween Alexandria and Frcdericksburg.
Both messengers made signed confcs-
sions.
Chambliss said that ne had forgot
ten his keys. and that he broke open
the safe in order to get out his sup
piles Williams, who was returning
homo "deadhead." repeated this story.
and added that Chambliss told him ne
had forgotten his keys and asked him
(Williams) TO get his. Williamb had
but ten minutes to spare before the
train loft Washington. and got the
wrong keys
MESSENGER SPLIT SAFE
OPEN WITH EMERGENCY Ak
After tho train left Alexandria, and
when II was but a short distance north
of fredericksburg. Chambliss. accord
Ing to his confession split the safe open
with the emergency carried in the
car. and then dumped the safe from
the side door. He thinks that the safe
dropped near the brink Of the river
and IT Is said that the little iron box
now rests at the bottom Of Acquia
Creek, near the scene OF the famous
Morgnnfeld robbery In 1894
Nothing save the papers and sup
plies which Chanbiiss needed were OBJ
iained from the safe which bears out
tho story given out by the Southern
Express Company that st contained no
money. The two messengers decided
after they got to Richmond that they
would say that they had been held up
by robbers. and holes were broken by
them In both side doors TO carry out
their story. Both men were detained
in Washington. but, II IS said. were
not placed under arrest.
The confessions were obtained BY A
J. Cannaday. chief special agent OF the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad: Chief Special Agent Hagcy,
OF the Southern Express Company. and
Special Agent Edmondson. OF the Az
ian;ic Coast Line Railroad. The ex-
animation was conducted In Washing
ton
CHAMDLISS MAKES
SIGNED CONFESSION
Chamhl!sss confession follows:
Il had forgotten my KEYS, and didn't
know any other way 10 get in my safe
to get supplies. such as stamps ink
pad. etc, TO make the run with, SO ]
just decided would open the safe up
with the AK and get them out. which
] did. / then threw the safe out just
this side OF Frederick sburg while the
train was crossing Il bridge think
the safe dropped near tho edge OF the
river. told him ,Williams) tha, We
might as we'll say we were held up
and robbed. go We decided TO do that;
l,,,t lyv han I lot,
and my conscience was hurting me then
gave the gun to williams and told
him to keep It, There was no OBJ
ject except to get my supplies out
OF the safe.
osisned) albert y. CIIAMBLIss"
WILLIAMS TELLS
STORY IN DETAIL
Williamss story is as follows:
II had gone over 20 the restaurant
10 get something TO eat. was get
ting 1t for Chambliss. and didn't get
anything for myself. While I was
there he came over and stated that he
had forgotten his keys. and asked me
TO go over and get them. SO I went
10 the room. and, as | only had ten
minutes, in my hurry | got the wrong
keys. ! was supposed to be OF duty,
and didn't discover il until after tho
train started. and he wanted to unlock
his safe and get his supplies out. and
couldn't do It, Well. he studied out
how he could get his supplies, and
finally took the AK and tried to split
the lock- and couldn't do that So I
put the safe on one side and cut II open
and got his supplies out. and didn't
know what to do with the safe. lie
knew IT was wrong TO cut the safe
open just to get his supplies. so he
threw the safe out.
Before we got to Richmond went
to sleep. and think he did also. But |
OF course, we had been talking about |
what he was going to say as to what !
he did with the safe. He didn't know, !
SO just before we backed into the sta
ton he raised me up and said: 4 tell !
you what am going to say. I will !
say that we were held up by robbers
And then said: I wouldn't do IT, and
he said he was going to do 1t all right !
and wanted me to vouch for it, 7 !
ask cd him n couple Of times and really |
did not know he was going to do IT, !
but when we got to Richmond he went
ahead and told II. | didn't think at !
first II was going to be anything but !
joke. but he got both OF us into a
scrape right there.
Before ] got off at Rocky Mount |
y. c. he gave me the revolver and told |
me TO keep 1t out of sight, SO that |
nobody would see II. I have not seen |
Chambiss since. I am positive that
there was no motive whatever outside |
Of what have said.
tSigncd) M. NJ. WILLIAMS"
NOTHING OF VALUE
ACTUALLY TAKEN |
The Southern EXpress Company has |
not yet decided what disposition It |
will make Of the two messengers. Both !
Young men. and both ha Na hnn1, In |