Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-05
Attempted Express RObbery-Desper.
ate Fight Between the Robbers
and Their CaptOrs.


and Their Capt0rs.
The Toledo Blade of June 24 contains a
detailed account of the recent attempt
made by four men to rob an express car
on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Road, near Ligonier, Ind. Suspicion had
been entertained for some time that such
robbery was in contemplation, and,
consequently, number of men, under
Police Capt. Purdy, were secreted on the
car at the time the raid was made. Capt
Purdy gives the following graphic de-
scription of their encounter with the des-
peradoes:
q stationed Brown, Cavanaugh and
Tibbits so that if the robbers entered the
car those officers would be IN the rear of
them. Sullivan, Hart and myself were so
stationed that, should they enter the car,
we would face them. The Others were
stationed on either side. There was a
narrow aisle through the stacks Of baggage
just wide enough to allow party of men
to pass through single file Messenger
Carleton sat in the center of the car in a
small area where the express matter had
been cleared away. Nothing occurred to
arouse suspicion till the train was leaving
Ligonier. Then footsteps were heard on
the platform, Then every mans breath
came quick, for we thought that an attack
would surely be made
"The train got under headway, and was
about two miles away from the station
running at full speed, when the door was
opened, and four men, two with blacked
faces and two wearing masks, entered the
car. The messenger was coolly and quiet
lY looking over his bills. | had previous
ly instructed him as to his method of pro-
cedure, or, rather more, nom procedure.
The men walked into the car single file,
and Detective Cavanaugh reached his
hand quickly out and closed the door.
They did not notice the move. One of
them laid his hand on the shoulder of
Messenger Carleton and said Hello
Carleton, who had before been oblivious
to all surroundings, started up and saw
three revOlvers pointed toward him. 1t
required the utmost GOODNESS for him to
sit still in that situation, but he acted as if
it were the most usual thing in the world
to pass through the ordeal which he was
then undergoing.
1.-The man with his hand on the mes
senger's shoulder was about to pull the
1OpSS IIOIn Ills pUChCI, WIFI WHICH 10 gag
and bind him, when ] gave the signal and
we all sprang from our places of conceal
ment. The robbers started to rush out of
the car, but they were Intercepted by
Officers Brown, Cavanaugh and Tibbits.
We pounced upon them from all sides,
and each selected his man. Then occur
red one of the most desperate fights ever
witnessed. The men knew they were
struggling for liberty, and they were
desperate as tigers. The air was filled
with yells, and the sight which presented
itself was that of confused mass of
struggling, yelling humanity. Laddy
was the most desperate man | ever saw.
Two officers bore him to the floor, but he
struggled to his feet and fairly shook
them off. One of the party presented his
revolver at Detective Cavanaugh's head
but that officer struck him across the hand
and his weapon fell to the floor.
" never saw so desperate man as
Mr.. Hart. (The gentleman alluded to is
an old man who is apparently in feeble
healthy. [ am almost of the opinion that
Hart would have killed every one of the
robbers had he been obliged to contend
with them single-handed and alone. He
hit Laddy several stunning blows in the
head with a billy that made the blood fly
in all directions, but that desperate man
did not seem to feel it a particle. Every
one of the thieves had his revolver cooked,
but they were all knocked out of their
hands, and we that were making the ar
rests fought with billies and clubs.
" 1t was long time before the men
were overpowered. AT last they were
handcuffed, and utterly exhausted, we
sat down to contemplate the result. | ex
Dnctpd tn find tn hat cOma of tho mon had
been seriously injured, but aside from
some bruises, the most severe ones being
administered to Laddy, no one was in
jured. All the while that the terrible bat
tie was going on the train was dashing
along at its usual rate of speed, and not a
soul among the passengers knew what
thrilling event was taking place on the
very train in which they were riding.
Great credit is due every man who aided
in the arrest, but special praise ought, in
this matter, to be bestowed upon Mr.. Hart,
Detective Tibbits and Cavanaugh, and
Officers Brown and Sullivan, and also
upon Conductor Smith.
Upon the arrival of the train in this
city we took the prisoners to the station,
where they now are.''
The BLADE says:
The names of the robbers were Milton
N. Laddy, a farmer; A. q. Billman,
formerly conductor on the Lake Shore
Railroad; Emery Christie, at one time a
brakeman in his employ, but now en-
gagged in agriculture, and Frank L. Hath
away. They were all young men, and
wero evidently new to the business 1t
was most skillfully- managed piece of
work on the part of the robbers and no
less brilliant achievementfort the officers"