This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Memorable 1886 Express Robbery Case on Rock Island Line
The Chicago to Davenport express murder and robbery from March 12 1886 ends with the capture and conviction of Harry Schwartz and Newton Watt. Pinkerton detectives shadowed suspects across cities, unraveling a plot tied to five and twenty two thousand dollars in fifty and one hundred dollar bills. The case reveals a careful scheme, fake masks, a torn draft, and a family web including Schwartz's Philadelphia wife who confesses after his conviction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rock Island Road
Chicago
Kellogg Nichols
United States Express Company
Davenport
Iowa
Messenger Nichols
Joliet
Morris
Harry Schwartz
Nichols
Schwartz
Minooka Station
Minooka
Newton Watt
Watt
Pinkerton
Hand
Danforth
Mr. Pinkerton
Rock Island Railroad
Pinkertons
Michigan City
Plunkett
Rock Island
St. John
Penientiary
Butch” McCoy
James Connors
Hammer
United States
McCoy
Frank Murray
Galesburg
Grady
Omaha
St. Louis
Murray
New Orleans
John Smith
John McGinn
Pinkerton Agency
Illinois Central Railroad
Connors
Jeff
Jack Mullins
Mullins
Cottage Grove Avenue
Jesse James
Desperado
Frank Jones
Consi
Des Moines
Jones
Philadelphia
New York
Buffalo
Cipher Dispatch
R. J. Linden
Chestnut Street
D. Robertson
Shad
Smith and Murray
Mrs. Schwartz
Harry
Rendinesa
Schwarts
Jall
Jollet
Robertson