Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-19
CRACK SAFE WITH AK.
THROWING IT FROM TRAIN
Robbers Jump From Open Door
and Return to Booty by
Roadside.
Loss NOT YET DETERMINED
Express Company Says Iron BOX
Contained No Barge Sum
Of Money.

Two masked white men about 10
o'clock last night boarded the nrst
section of train Number Gl. ~
tho Richmond Fredcricksburg ana
Potomac Railroad Company. due here
a, l2:+o o'clock this morning. and. after
"verpowerins tho express messenger
and locking him In the car. threw tho
safe from the doorway or the car and
escaped on a heavy grade running up 10
franconia. n short distance north OF
FREDERICKSBURG.
II is supposed tina; tho men got
aboard the train in Washington. /; was
while tho train was nearing Franconia
that thcy entered the express lcar and
ordered tho messenger 10 hold up his
hands. The messenger was powerlcss
10 aid himself, and was overcome. The
robbers then attempted to blow open
the safe. cracked It open with an
AK and, being unsuccessful in this.
threw II of as the train was running at
slo" speed upgrade j, is not known
here wha, was in the safe.
MESSENGERS FOUND
LOCKED IN THEIR can
The train arrived at BYRD street Sta
ton on time. and IL was discovered then
that tho messenger was locked in his
car. Telegraph wires flashed back the
information. and !; was learned in the
local offices that two automobiles had
been stolen near Franconia soon after
tho time OF the robbery, and ii is sup
posed that they We're used TO carry Off
tho safe
The messenger was released when
he arrived in Byrd stree; station, and
continued with the train. He did not
know at the time. il was said. how
much money the safe contained. Ac-
cordlnr to his story two masked men
entered tho side door of his car soon
after leaving Washington and threat
ened him with revolvers If he did not
give thcm tho key TO the safe He
at once complied with this demand The
men were unable 10 force open the safe
and, when nearing Franconia, where
the train necessarily had to slow down
they picked UP the safe and hurled il
from the train. Then they dropped off
Inc messenger was released when
he arrived here, but the train remained
only long enough for him to give n
rather disconnected story. The author;
ties OF ALI the counties and cities be-
fed, and were asked to look out for
the robbers 1t was learned after
wards that two automobiles had been
stolen near the scene of the robbery.
Express Messenger G. Y. Chamblss
was in charge of the car, and Messen-
ger NJ NJ. Williams was returning home
dead head. Both men were held up.
CHAMBLJSs DESCRIBES
SENSATIONAL HOLD-UP
According to Messenger A. Y. Cham
bliss. who detailed his experience hur-
riedly to Southern Express Company
officials at the Byrd Street Station dur
ing the few minutes that the Jackson
Vile Express remained in Richmond.
the TWO robbers broke the glass doors
OF the express car as the train was
slowly making It's way on an upgrade
near Franconia, and. thrusting two
pistols through the apertures, ordered
him to come forward and open the
doors.
There was nothing to do but obey.
Express Messenger NJ. NJ. Williams,
who was Ill, was lying down. In his
excitement Chambliss called loudly to
Williams to come to his assistance.
The robbers threatened him with In
slant death II the doors were not opened
Immediately. and Chambliss reluctantly
opened one Of the doors
MESSENGER WILLIAMS
GIVES ACCOUNT OF ROBBERY
Williams who has been Ill for scv-
eral days, was on his way to his home