The weekly miner., 1881-08-02
RAILROAD ROBBERY.
Particulars py a Passengers.


city. The passengers arrived here about II
O'Clock this morning, having been detained
for some time on account of a washout the
other side of Davenport. among the passen
gers was K. l.. Martin, Of Kansas City, who
gave the following account OF the affair:
The train left Kansas City at $50 last even
ing, and consisted of six cars we'll filled with
passengers, including a sleeping car. Supper
was furnished at the regular eating station,
and no event seemed to excite the suspicion
OF the passengers or train men until Weston
was reached, which was at $50 o'clock. At
that station four rough appearing men got on
the train with handkerchiefs held about their
faces so as to partially conceal their features.
The first intimidation the passengers received
that there was anything wrong was the cry,
"all aboard" which appeared to be the sig
nal. At that instant the four men, as we'll US
several others, who had come from Kansas
City and Cameron, made rush for the en-
gine aud for the conductor, Charles Westfall.
Firing was heard on the front cars as we'll as
on the engine, and then the train was put in
motion, at'the rate of forty miles per hour.
On giving the signal two of the men nade
for the first coach, where the conductor was
standing. One of the men went up to the
conductor, Westfall, and pointing pistol at
him, said: "You are the man want" and
fired, the ball striking Westfall in the arm,
but did not prove fatal. Westfall att empted
to run, and as he did the robber fired twice
at him. Westfall reached the platform, when
a second robber fired the shot which killed
him. He was wounded in several places,
but the last shoC took effect in the brain, pro-
ducing almost instant death. Three of the
robbers started for the engine with the inten-
ton of shooting the engineer and taking
possession of the engine. The engineer
seemed to apprehend that there was danger,
as on the approach of the trio he started
back on the engine and secreted himself in
the tender. A stone mason by the name of
Miller came forward from the baggage
car while the shooting was progressing.
and shot him, the ball taking effect in the
heart. Charley Murray, express messenger,
was also visited by some Of the robbers. He
was knocked over the head and made to de.
Nver the keys to his safe. They secured $500
in money and $500 in valuables, and gov
ernment bond of the amount of $1,000,
Murray was threatened with instant death il
he concealed anything, but was permitted to
live Oh informing them that all his valuables
were in the safe. The brakeman on duty,
whose name cannot be ascertained, as soon
as he learned of the murder of the conduct.
or, rushed through the train and informed the
passengers that an effort would be made to
rob them. AS soon as this had been accom-.
plished, the brakeman started firing, and
when the second robbers entered both doors
with pistols in their hands, demanding mon.
ey, the brakeman pulled the cord attached
to the air brake, and soon after the train
stopped. The men jumped from the cas- and
made for the woods. Mr.. Martin stated that
not more than fifteen minutes elapsed from
the time of leaving Winston until the rob-
bers jumped from the cars and made them
selves scarce. The sleeping cal porter lock-
ed himself in the stateroom of the car and
did not make himself visible until the train
was at Washington. Conductor Westfall,
who was killed, lives at Miller, where his re-
mains were left this morning. The robbers
numbered thirteen, and only two of them
had handkerchefs tied around their faces.
]
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, July 17.-There is con-
siderable evidence to show that the train rob-
bery on the Rock Island Railroad last even
ing 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 escape
were fine thoroughbred animals, in the best
of condition for the work on hand. The
horses were hitched to a fence about fifty
yards from the w inston station, where the
following letter was found to-day:
KANSAS CITY, II.
CHARLIE: got your letter to-day, and was
glad to hear you had got everything ready in
time for the 10Th. We will be on hand at the
time. Bill will be with us; We will be on the
tram; don't fear; will be. in smoker at Win
ston: have horses and boys in good fix for
fast work; we will make this point again on
the night of the 10th; all is right here; Frank
will meet us at Cameron; look sharp and he
well lixed have horses well guarded for we
may have some running to do; don't get ex-
cited, but keep cool till night time; Wilcox
or Walcott will be on the engine; think best
to send this to Kidder.
Yours, and through death stick.
TIM.
The letter was found in the underbrush,
and bears evidence of having been carried
for some days in the pocket. The people OF