The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-07-21
TRAIN ROBBERY.

TRAIN ROBBERY.
Highway mem Attack = Train IN Tho
Chicago. stock Island Nmd Pacific
Railroad, shoot IDOwn shc C0Mdmc-
tor. and Hob tho Express Gar.
Tho most daring robbery ana wAnton mnr-
der that has occurred In thu Southwest for
many years took place ON tho night 81 July 10,
near Winston station, Mo- Tho express train
Of tho Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail-
road, from Kansas CITY, was boarded ut that
point by gang Of men valiously estimated At
from tento fifteen, v1ho sho. down thu conductor
and another employee III tho road, displaced tho
fireman and engineer by knocking them OF tho
locomotive, put two Of their men III charge,
and plundered tho safe Of tho express car Of
liz contents. Mr.. G. II. Murray, the express
messenger, gives tho following clrcumstsntisl
~, cunt Of tho affair;
William Nestfall jumping Oh the head End u
the smoking-cAr 70 20 through the train for
tickets. M no always does. No left Winston
about on time, 0:30 o'clock. Being IN the ex.
press car Ibid not zee what transpired In the
smoker, but passenger told mo ~ tol.
lows: 4 masked man arose from hts seat,
and, approaching the conductor - he camc
along, aaid, You arc my prisoner The con.
dnctor had not time TO mako word Of reply
when the stranger pulled out . revolver and
shot HIM. Tho conductor rccled against tho
aeat, and attempted to 80 out tho rear door u
the cur, when the robber fired again. Wtstfall
managed 70 get out Gu the platform.
whore 10 fell down and relied OF tho
the shots the train suddenly stopped. We. that
"a, ] aud tho baggage-man, Frank stampcs,
were standing between two trunks In the middle
Of tho car a. tho time. Just after the train
stopped Baggagcman Stampcs stopped to The
north.sile door to scc what Maa tho
os Ventilation. as '0a. tho night aa va. 's sssy
warm. Without warning Stampes was grabbed
by the legs by four maskedmcn. Their spolos-
man said: Come out. you Of q =, como
ont At this they pulled him out VIM
they got him down on the ground they tod him
II lie moved or spoke word they would kill
him. The robbers then shot into the exlrt~s
car twice. Knowing pretty well what was com.
ins, had ensconccd myself b. hind tho sample
trunks. The four men then jumped into our
car aud mt tho lights out. A they did thus
got out II my place and went over toward tho
locomotive end Of tho car. The robbers were
looking for me. a. heard them say especially,
the cuss. Tho robbers. thinking
probably | had left the car, also deserted
II for tho timo being. / jumped up aud
barred the end door next to The smokinE-car
aud shut tho south-sidc door. Then
barred the door next to the engine.
There was some firing done At the car while
! was locking the doors, but how many shots
! don't remember. One ball went through
the door, missing me BY about three inches.
After running about half q mile the train
came 10 4 stop, ~ Il wAs started imnc-
datcly after the road agents pulled thu bag
gagcnlan out. Just NJ Wan barring tho out
side door, the last one Of the fonr, tho rub
6..r, NfNt NJ ham
into the car and began shooting aga,n How
many shots they hired / don't know. but
aftcrward We counted twelve bullet-holcs III
that end OF the car which were shnt on the
inside. At almost every shot they would
keep up the veil, .Comeout, you of A.
thought they had ceased firing then rose np
and said, Here am They grabbed me and
whirled me around several tlnlcs and demanded
the kew. gave Il TO them. One fellow went
toward the safe, then turned around. handed
me the key and told me TO unlock the safe.
did 30 1t the point Of four rcvolvers, threw the
cover back, and leaned mp against the side Of
the car. The one who appeared to he tho
leader pulled out Of his coat-pocket rack two
feet long BY foot and ! half in width. He
took the money and oil tho contents Of tho aAfc
and put them into the sack. While doing this
he asked me several tlnes how much money
there waa. told HIM ! didn't know. hut
vuCIu W0o YMS0 AltUU KssU vi III
Then he demanded. Ia that an ron have
got2 Give me the rest Of it, tnld him il
was al the car contained Of value except the
seven silver bricks on the floor. He answered,
Il want the rest Of II or Ill kill you.' After
had again told him hadn't another cent he
continued. saving, You might IA well
give up We have killed your con-
dnctor and engineer, and We are going
to kin You. 10 get down on ytnr En~cs.
There arc twelve men in this gang. and we've
got full possession Of the train He then
struck me on the head and another blow ON tAe
back with his revolver. After this the men left
the cars"
A stonemAson reading al Wilton. Who hoard
Cd the train 1t Cameron, was shot and killed -
he stood on the platform Of the first coach next
10 the smoker.
None OF tho passengers were molested. The
robbers only attacked the engine, express and
smt king-car
The spot where the robners had their horscs
tied In the woods was discovered. Tho men
were in such haste 10 leave that their halscrs
were cut, not united, and the trail WAS in tho
direction Of Clay county. The sheriff OF Da-
vless county, Mo-, with 100 men, at once start
cd on the trail.
1t is the general opinion in the vicinity Of
the scene Of the robbery tho gang il the same
old ono headed by Jesse and Frank James.
Sheriff Tint erlskc, II Clay county, started
out with thirty men after the robbers II 10
thought the latter divided near Lawson, ann
ing for CLAY county.