The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-31
MisfeAaneuus.
THE LATEST RAIL ROBBERY

THE LAIESI hdIL hODbEhi'
One of the most daring robberies OF
this daring age of robbery was commit
ted in Kansas the other day, OF which we
had telegraphic account. The mail
brings us the details from the Kansas
City Times;
The scene of the robbery is the village
of Muncie, a small flag station on the
Kansas Pacific Road, twelve miles dis
tan from Kansas city. Yesterday at
ternoon, a short time before the train was
due there, a party of five men rode into
town and deliberately hitched their hors-
es. AS the train came in view, one OF
the party stepped out uponthe track,and
untying a scarf which he wore about his
neck, waved it to the engineer, who at
once began to slacken the speed OF his
train. While this was going on the rest
of the party were placing a railroad tie
upon the track. As soon as the train
came to a stop a shot was fired, and the
engineer was at once ordered upon the
ground and told to uncouple his engine
from the express car. This he did, but
the robbers at once discovered that
they had made a mistake, and then or
dered him to couple again, which com
mand he also obeyed. They then order
ed him to uncouple the express car from
the coaches, which being done they
boarded the car, while a portion of them
ordered the engineer to his post and told
him to pull away from the train, The
distance gone is not as certained dehnl-
tely, there being conflicting statements
in regard thereto. Two men effected the
robbery. They presented their revol-
vers at the head of the messenger Frank
B. Webster, and ordered him to open
the safe and deliver the contents, which
ne thinks amounted to some $4,000. His
own statement, which is appended, Will
give clearer idea Of the transaction.
As near as can be ascertained, all men
connected with the affair were large in
stature and powerful except one who was
rather short, but strongly built They
rode bay horses, which seemed to be in
an exhausted condition, and the entire
party was armed with revolvers and
Henry rifles. They were dressed in
dark clothes, and their manner OF exc
cutting orders showed that they were
alarmed and excited. They made no
attempt to disturb the mall leaving the
registered letters untouched.
The train was under the management
of Conductor J. o Brinkerhoff. Among
the property taken was one can of gold
dust valued at $4,000, consigned to
Kountze Bros, of New York, and a pack
age containing $1,000 for the Mastin
bank of this city also package for Bull
lence, Moores & Emery, and several
smaller packages for various hrms OF this
city.
Frank D. Webster, the messenger,
made the following statemtntto a Times
reporter, who met him at the office OF
Wells, Fargo & Co., Immediately on his
arrival:
About 3:45 this afteroon, as the train
drew up at Muncie, | heard loud hal
looing outside, and not suspecting any
thing wrong, walked up to small win
dow which is between the mail room and
the express room. A revolver was thrust
under nv nose, and saw large man
in d .rk clothes, with a cloth tied over
his face, completely concealing his fea-
lures, standing in the mail room. he
ordered, me TO come out, threatening to
shoot if refused to obey immedlaL'
tely crawled through into the mail room,
and from thence to the ground, On get
ting outside another man approached me
and told me to hold up my hands. d d
so, and while looking around saw three
other men, making FIVE, and all the men
masked and heavily armed. In mo-
ment they ordered me to 80 back lnto
the car, which Ibid, both Of them follow
ing. Once inside, one placed reyols
yer to my head, while the other leveled
a Henry rifle on the other side, and
was told to unlock the safe. readily
obeyed and at. theirs.oEder handed cut
the contents. One Of them took a mail
bag and as handed out the packages
the other threw them into the bag. |
took out SIS, 900 in currency, 5000 in
gold, and all the packages of the money
IN the safe. They said they did not
want silver brick which was there, and
also gave me back my watch saying they
did not wantlmylpersonal Property Az
erlhavihg got all there was in the safe
without touching anything else, they or
dered me 70 get out on the ground. While
one guarded me the other took the
money and got his horse. The other
left me, and with the others rode away
to the rh going over the hill
Mr.. w. L. Kilbourn, passenger who
was in the first coach back Of the ex-
press car, and whose homeis in Chicago
told a representative of the Times the
following story: "a
He had got on the train at Lawrence,
when in the vicinity Of Muncie the loco
motive sounded the sighalto put on the
brakes. the train being tagged. At the
sound Of the whistle Mr.. Nlbourn MOTTO
ed man get up from his seat in the
coach where he was and 90 rapidly for
ward. Mr.. Kilbourn is now OF the opin'
ION that this man was one OF the gang,
and had been placed upon the car to 60
forward 1t the slgnaltto uncouple the
train from the Baggage car AT all events
circumstance g sem to warrant Mr.. XII
bourn in his eoc usions. form few min
utrs aflsr the man had gone out the train
was uncoupIed. and the baggage car ano
locomotive drawn ahead about the length
Of coach and stopped. Then the con
ductor came into the car and asked u