The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-19

was trap door in the car about two feet
.square,that opened into the box beneath,
for the convenience of the agent. ena-
bling him to get at the things when the
train was in motion. This door was
generally covered with box or some
other express matter, but this night the
load consisted chiefly of bullion and
.there was nothing in the center of the
car.
II remained eonversing with the agent
for long time. About half-past two
the engine was putting up Ottumwa Hill
dover and slower moved the train until
5at last it stopped.
s5"There! / thought we should get
remarked Duncan.
rar got off and walked up to the head
f5f sAe train, and gave orders for one.
half of it to be run up to station three
miles beyond, and then for the engine to
come back after the balance. The ex-
nrss;ss, baggage, and two passenger cars
comprised the fret and the remainder of
the train the last section.
AT - the entire train was connected
again. After time went ahead to the
Iexpress car. For some reason / could
not define l felt wrong in leaving Billy
alone the half hour we had been getting
up the bill; and it was this feeling that
induced me to go and see if everything
was right. l was surprised at finding
the car door open, and / was alarmed
and almost speechless at finding Billy's
arms tied to the handles of the trunk on
which he was lying, piece of strap and
cloth in his mouth, and string tied
around his head keeping it iu place. The
trap door in the car was thrown clear
back. AS soon as my nervous hands
could remove the gag, he gasped:
aJohn, the bumper" :"
"Where ?" said | looking around.
sGone! jumped the train! Has lob
bed the carp
Ina few words the situation was made
plain. When the first section of the
train was being taken up the hill Billy,
who knew we were stalled, tried to get
up and fasten the outside doors, which
were closed but not locked; he had par
italy succeeded in getting upon his feet
when the trap-door suddenly opened and
the head and shoulders of man appear
ed 1t was evident by the surprise he
manifested that he thought no one was
in the car
aJohn, the dumper!" gasped Billy.
ayes John, the dumper!" he exclaim.
ed, jumping out of the box and rushing
upon him.
Billy was unarmed, although two feet
away, in a rack for the purpose, were
two navy revolvers. With his crushed
foot he was unable to do much, and was
oyerpowered and tied to the trunk. Fol
tfesr of his voice the ruffian had gagged
| him. He then proceeded to rob the car
Taking the key from the messengers 3
pocket he opened the safe; fortunately
lSaese vas but little money which he did
not consider it worth his while to take
lie then picked up several of the bricks,
one at time (and it was all he could dc
to lift one) and threw them out Of the
car door, As soon as he had completed
his work he opened the door wide, and
olinging to the railing commenced to
walk around the Car ) he had been gone
about twenty minutes.
l reached up and pulled the bell; in a
few seconds the train stopped, ,and at my
order commenced to back up. l hurri.
edly informed the men connected with
the train of the robbery.
About three miles back I discovered
what appeared to be a man lying in the
bushes down the embaukment and, stop.
ping the train, Duncan and I went down
to see. / cast the light of my lantern
upon him, and reco gnized in the battered
bruised and almost shapeless object, the
man with the wooden leg.
We carried him into the baggage-cal
and examined him; his head was frac.
tured in most horrible manner, the
brains oozing out from an indenture bis
chest was crushed in as though with {
heavy boulder. 1t is needless to say h'
was dead.
The man was found, and the silve
could not be far away; a little searching
found one of the bricks imbedded in thu
ground several inches, and the others
amounting to six, were all recovered.
And here, my story ends John, the
bumper, robber and murderer, was dead
Killed by jumping from the train.
An Investigation showed that he hat
pried off the staple and lock from tn
door of the box, and had crawled in t
conceal himself for the purpose of rob
berry. He was doubtless familiar will
the trap-door in the car. Not fndin!
sufficient room he had pushed the Jacks
and other things out Of the box, ant
this it was that caused the scraping OF
the bottom of the car He must hav
entered the box at Creston.