Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-07
The Iowa Express Robbery.

The Iowa Express Robbery.
There were but two gentlemen on the
train who came in personal contact with
the robbers, and they were Mr. .. r. Kill
;ngsworth and Mr.. Matthew Claire, both
to Omaha, the former being mail register
clerk, who runs on night trains between
Council Bluffs and Davenport, and has
charge of registered mail packages, and
the latter agent of the G., II. l. & p, at
Omaha, who was accompanying the
Chinese to Chicago. Mr.. Burgess, ex-
press agent, who lives in this city, was de-
tained at DesMoines by Express Superin-
tendent Quick, SO as to identify the chief
robber, should he be caught
Mr.. KillingswOrth account OF the affair,
as made to our reporter, was very interest
ing
To begin with, he said that the express
run" that night from Omaha was very
light-in fact, Messenger Burgess told
him before the accident that he had the
smallest amount in his safe he had carried
for months. This was owing to the fact
that their had been Saturday night and
Sunday night runs from Omaha on the
C., r. /. g. p, else the amount in the safe
would have been large. To be sure there
were three tons bullion-gOld and silver
Erickson the floor Of the car, stuff that
was hardly portable except by dray. Well,
the train left the Bluffs on time, and was
making splendid time when the stoppage
occurred. At that time the parties in the
express car were Assistant Superintendent
Royce, Albert Flick, baggage-master, and
Messrs. Killingsworth, Burgess, and
Claire whose occupations are mentioned
above. Mr.. Royce was sitting near the
door, Claire was near him, and the others
were attending to their business. The
train had passed Anita, and was within
three miles of Adair, when there was a
sudden and slight slack of speed, and the re-
port of firearms outside arrested their at
tention. Mr.. X. says it sounded amid the
rumble of the train much like package
Offire-crackers. Bullets battered about MIR.
Royce, and one graZed the side OF Fick's
head. In moment more there was VIC
lent conclusion, the express car was lifted
at one end, showed forward, and then ca
reened at an angle of forty-five degrees,
and stopped its maneuyers. 1t did not
fall completely upon its lower side. OF
course packages went pounding to the
lower side of the Car, and the inmates
were considerably knocked about and
shaken up. They had hardly recovered
Il cir uprightness when into the door on
the lower side--the one on the upper be-
ing shut-sprang q man with revolver
in each hand and mask on his face he
was the leader of the robbers, as was as
certained afterward. No sooner had he
entered, than he tore the mask from his
face. He was above medium height, was
well built, red faced, sandy haired, and
had nj Ia q
ed like a laborer-wearing blue denim
pants and coat of thin material. No
sooner had he entered the car than two
other fellows in masks appeared at the
door, with revolver in each hand, which
they leveled at the heads of the inmates.
The scoundrel in the Car did all the talk
ing, and he commenced as soon as he was
in-shOuting at the top Of his voice, with
fearful oaths, Give us those keys, or I'll
blow your brains out! Give US the money
or I'll blow you to hell!" I'VE want
money! Where's them safe keys-quick,
or some of you'll get killed" AT the
same time he pointed his pistols close to
the heads of the astonished listeners.
Where's the bullion-give us the bull
lion." Then he shouted to his men (:
Rush in and help! Come ont Curse
such set of robbers as you are-rush. in
and helpv
Some one told Burgess to give the
scoundrel the safe key, and he did SO. The
fellow unlocked the safe, the men at the
door telling the inmates that if they stir
red they would shoot their heads off.
The chief robber seized satchel be-
longing to Burgess, and crammed the safe
packages into it, and as he did so, he
said: "Here isn't half as much as we
want-where's that bullion? Give us that
bullionr" BY this time he was on his
feet. Mr.. Killingsworth pointed TO the bull
lion on the floor, saying, "There it is, I'M
der your feet" The robber replied, I'VE
don't want them things-give us the bull.
lion, curse you, or we'll blow your brains
OUT" Then he appeared to forget all
about the bullion, and asked If there was
any money In the mail bags. mo, not q
cent" replied the agent. Then the fellow
put his revolver close to Mr.. KS head, as
he had beforeto Mr., Burgess, and said !:
Hand out your knife, mighty quick" Mr..
X. surrendered his knife. Then the rob-
Der picked up mail sack: "That is for
Chicago, is it?'' "Yes." us there any
money in it," "No." He dropped thst
sack, picked up another one, threw 1t
down, and asked: where's the other safe
haven't got half enough money yet
where's the other safe?" Burgess replied
there was no other safe. Then The eyes
OF the marauder fell upon packing chest,
usually carried in an express car for loose
articles, and asked, Whats that! ~ at the
same time picking up some Of the articles,
which he threw down again, with an oath.