The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-07-21
A DARING TRAIN ROBBERY.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, July l6.-IniOrmahon has
been received here Of dariDgly planned and
successful train robbery at Winston, Mo, on the
Rock leland road, short distance east OF Cam.
eron. The robbers were supposed TO be under the
leadership of Jesse James. The men boarded the
train which leaves this city at D. M at Cameron.
Two Of the robbers got on the front end Of the
baggage car, next to the engine; three more were
in the smoker" and two on the platform between
the baggage car and the smoker" There were
seven men In ALL Conductor Westfall had passed
nearly through the smoking car when they stood
up in the aisle with drawn reVolVeTs. One Of them
advanced with lYOlVer in each hand towards
Westfall and ordered him 10 hold up his hands
The conductor was slow in comply ng with his
demands and was shot through the heart. He
staggered out on the platform Of the ear and fell
off into ditch. One Of the other men shot John
Mccullough, a stone cutter Of Wilton Junction
through the heart, who turned outward in his
seat. His dead body was found beside the con.
ductor's. The men then went through the train
to the express car ard OVerpoWered the United
States express messenger, Charles Murray, who
was intimidated into opening the safe, from
which 10 900 was taken. When they entered the
express car Murray, who WEs looking over some
Of his papers, and Frank StAmper, baggageman,
was sitting In chair near the open door; both
men were Immediately covered with four rev0l.
Vers and when Murray objected to handing over
the keys Of the safe he was knocked down. It's
thought that about Sl5 600 was in the safe but the
exact amount is not known.
The desperadOes then went to the engine and
told the engineer to start his train. This he COuid
not do on account OF the automatic brake, and he
| was at once fired upon by the robbers. The eDgi.
neer put out the lights in the cab and craWled
along the OtbOard to the pilot, and after eXtin
| gushing the headlight laid down In the pilot
The robbers made no search for him, but depart
| ed. The train went on the next side track where
| II waited for the passenger train, which took
| Westialps body TO Cameron The sheriff was nOt
ned OF the robbery as soon as possible and he i'm
mediRtely started In pursuit with posse Of about
| sixty men, but at this writing no tidings have
| been received that he has overIaken the robbers
| Great excitement prevails in the neighbOrhOOd,
and the whole community is much agitated over
the event. j. K. Treat the express agent at Kansas
City, said this morning that not much money
went from Kansas City, but the impression seems
| to be that the robbers secured several thousand
| dollars. The generally accepted theory out on
lhe road Is that the robbers were professionals.
One Of them, the tallest one, was seen In Cameron
all day yesterday aid could be identified by sew
| eral people. The men who have been searching
for the robbers to-day found where they had thei
horses tied In the woods, and say that In their
| hurry 10 get away they did not unite them, but
cut the hRlers and LETT them hanging to the Lrees
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
CHICAGO, July 16-President Riddle, Of the Rock
Island Railway, has received the following dis.
patch from Davenport Iowa. about the train rob
berry:
After the train had left Weston station II was
boarded by twelve armed men, and one party Of
the robbers took control Of the engine, while an.
| other gang went into the smoking car and com.
pletely overwhelmed the passengers. Conductor
Westiall met them at the front end Of the train
when one Of the robbers fred q shot which
wounded him in tn } arm. He Immediately ran
TO the rear Of the car, followed by two Of the men,
Two shots were fred at him In quick succession,
and he dropped dead on the rear Ilatform, Sew.
eral Of the desperadOes entered the baggage car,
holding revolvers at the head Of Express Agent
Murray and commanded him to open the Safe,
which Murray did, and the robbers obtained be.
tween 5000 and $1,000.
The train ran along about three miles under di.
rection Of the gang, when II slowed up and they
departed. The report as to the shooting OF passen.
gers ia not confirmed, and is not credited at head,
quarters. The Superintendent Of the Rock Island
road has offered a reward Of 5000 for the appre.
hensiOn OF the robbers.