The daily gazette., 1881-07-18
Rock island Train Robbery
Further Particulars of the
Daring Crime.
A TELL.TALE LETTER DROPPED
By ONE OF THE HIGH.
WAYMEN.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, July IT. 1884,
There 10 considerable evidence to show
that the train robbery on the Rock Is
land road last Friday evening was done
by the notorious James gang, and it
may prove that one or both of the James
boys were present with the gang. The
horses used BY the robbers In their es-
cape were thoroughbred animals, in the
best condition for the work on hand.
The horses were hitched to . fence
about fifty rods from the station, where
the following letter was found:
KANSAS CITY, July IL, 1881.
CHARLEY-l got your etter to-day and
was glad to hear that you had got eyery-
thing ready for the 18th. We will be on
band At that time. Bill will be with us,
We will bu on the train; don't fear.
Wen be in the " smoker at Winston.
Have horses and boys in fix for fast
work. We will make this point again
on tho night Of the 18th. All is right
here. Frank will meet us at Cameron
Park. Look sharp and bs well Hxed.
Have the horses we'll gaunted, as we
may have some running to do. Don't
get excited, but keep cool till the right
time. Wilcox or Aloott will be on the
engine. think IL best to send this to
Kidder. Yours, through time and
through death. STICKS.
The letter was found In the under
brush, and bears evidence Of having
been carried some days in the pocket.
The people of Winston and of tbs vicin-
lty v bo know the James boys and most
of the comrades they have had in the
past say that they have no doubt of their
being connected with this crime, but 1t
has long been custom of the people of
Missouri to attribute every daring piece
Of outlawry to the James boys, and time
alone will tell whether or not the present
suspicious are founded on good grounds.
The officers ofthe United States Express
Company refuse to name the amount of
money taken from the safe, but say that
they think $4,000 too high figure.
Conductor Purple, of the Hannibal Rail-
road, who passed through Cameron with
his train last night, stopped long enough
to gather some of the stories. He says
that Westfall was shot while his back
was turned to the assassin, and that Nc
Lellan, the stone mason, was shot be-
cause he, seeing the intention of the
robber, attempted to cut him down with
. stone trowel, the only weapon he had
at hand.
THE CONDUCTORS DEsPERA re RKsIs-
TANCE.
John Broadfoot, q broad shonldered |
Canadian from Brussels, Opt., made his |
exit from the smoking car with the con-
iuctor. He told the reporter that the con- |
1uctor, after he had been shoot a. once
lowered his head and "butted" the rob.
Der who had fired, nearly knocking him
of his feet. He aud Westfall In their
light reached the door a. the same in. |
slant aud the conductor fell upon the |
platform and he stumbled over him.
Another passenger says that all who
had money In their possession put 1t
" here they thought there was the least
Of its being found ,and for the
next ten miles they could be seen
abstracting their valuables from cuspi-
t0rs, the inslde mattresses aud SIN l.
lar places. Mr.. Frederick Henkel, ol
No. 3S6 West Adams street, was In the
'moking car when the attack was made.
dis account Of the inception of the aAa.r
'grees with those already given. He
Idds:-
"As soon as the train was In the pos
ession OF the robbers the passengers
umped down on the floor and some OF
hem under the seats. You see it was
Unhealthy to be upon your feet at that
ime. 1t rained lead, and lead diet is
There were SIX ladies In
he 'sleepers,' aud as soon as they heard
be shooting they just dropped OIL the
oor like the other passengers. The,
'ere frightened, but they showed q
iuch grit rs the men. We could not
how much, for not one of us had n
svolver. John Mcclellan was killed ,
18th the conductor. think that the +.
lieves recognised them and that they !
ere put out of the way on that account.
he express messenger, William Murray, !! .
sserves credit for his pluck. abe rob 2
srs .houlsd to him to open the door OF
10 car but he persistently refused. They
-ed thirteen Shots al him, but none
ok effect. The passengers all endeav. :,
ed to hide away their watches and a
oney. One of them-a Chicago drum p
his valuable in the water e e
oler. l wrapped mine In my pocket i
lifted The cover Of spit W
on, laid 1t in aud put the lid on again. 4
1t The Passengers were not molesLed. II
q found five bullets In the snoker ard az
irieen in the baggage car. pI