Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-30
ST. LOUIS.
The Express Car OH the Atchison. To-
peka \ Santa Fe Road Robbed.
An Engineer Killed, But no Money Found
-Grand Jury Indictments
A Different Report of the Robbery
Given by Passengers.

st. Louis, September GA Post
Dispatch Kansas City special says this
morning, shortly before three O'Clock,
the thunder bolt passenger ON the
Atchison, Topeka II Santa Fee railroad
was boarded by II band of twelve
masked men at Coolidge, Kas., and
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S safe r5bhed. The
engineer refusing to stop the train
when ordered by the robbers,
was instantly killed. The fireman
and brakeman We're badly wounded as
was also the express messenger. 1t Is
impossible to ascertain the amount OF
booty obtained. The robbery creates
the most intense excitement in KAN
sas City, where il was thought, with
the breaking up of the James gang,
train robbing in the West would be
forever ended. Coolidge, where the
robbery was committed, Is u small
station on the Atchison, Topeka "
Santa Fe, 496 r1iles west
of Kansas City, aud, with the excep-
ton of the the telegraph operator, Is
almost uninhabited. Armed posses
have been sent out from Emporia, To-
peka, Dodge City and other points TO
pursue and capture or kill the robbers.
As the train pulled out from
Coolidge three men appeared and or
dered the engineer TO stop. He re-
fused and was instantly shot dead.
The fireman was also shot through the
breast and badly hurt, though not
fatally. The men entered the express
car, but Samuel Peterson. the express
messenger was prepared for them, and
made such a vigorous fight thai the
robbers were driven off. Find
ing the train aroused, and them.
selves likely to be worsted they then
beat a retreat, having failed to secure
the treasure they were after. Infor.
nation was at once telegraphed to sta.
lions along the line, and special
train started for Coolidge from Empo
ria with posse of armed men in pur
suit. The dead engineer, who was
named John Hutton, lived at Empo
ria, his run being being between that
place and Dodge City.
LATER--S. S. Peterson, the expire $;
messenger, was not hurt The robber.
got no money.
The grand jury of the criminal court
have made II report, in which they
state that ring exists in the city
formed by the gamblers and lottery
men and notorious individuals, wht
have used money and threats to cor
rupt the police officials also tina
some Of the police commissioners haC
given blank designations which wer,
used by the ring. 1t is further de
olared that Governor Crittenden ha.
the over, and it is his duty to inves
tigate the two indictments returned
against Warren j.. McChesney, con
spcuous member of The alleged ring
one for bribery and one for forgery.
Kansas City, September 20.-The
Santa Fee train which was attacked a
Coolidge at two o'clock this morning
arrived here tonight. The statements
of the affair by the people on the trair
differ considerably from the brief ac
count received by telegraph. Owing
to the darkness and the fact that &
few people are about it is difficult +,
learn the exact history Of the occur
renee. 1t is known that two robber!
engaged in the fight and is aenerall,
believed was three i'll the party. G. G
James, a postal clerk tells the follow
ing story; THE train had stopped a
the station aud the conductor had jus
sigma led to start when a man with
drawn revolver elm. , d on the engin'
and ordered the engineer to surrender
A scuille ensued. Meanwhile q mal
opened the door of the express car
stumbling as he entered. He ut one,
, opened fire on the messenger VIII,
crouched behind box. The
robber fired four times ant
the messenger returned the fire wheI
the former returned from the car ius
as the fireman, who had left the en-
CINE, was crossing the platform til,
robber fired and fled The fireman
fell senseless with bullet through hi,
neck. Meanwhile the first robber, VIII,
had been forced backward by the en-
gineer, fen dead, shot through tn,
head. James, hearing the firing, haC
gone to the door of his ca
and witnessed the attack on tn,
express ear. BY this tim
the people had come out OF the traii
and the robbers had disappeared
Only one or two persons witnessed th
shooting. 5. >. Peterson, q messenge
who resides here, told about the sam,
story rs James. He declined to sa,
f how much money was on the express
car Every body seemed dazed by tn,
shooting, and it was some time befor,
a pursuit was organized. One theory
of the affair il chat the robbers haI
accomplish further down the road, ant
their intention was TO run the train 8
short distance and stop; that the rs
sailants were somewhat under the in
iiuence of liquor aud the plan mis-
carried. Several strangers were seer
about the platform before the trair
arrived.
AS curious coincidence il is related
: that the train was attacked few
miles west Of Coolidge, across the lin,
IN Colorado, Just enc year ago to
night, and that the Wells Fargo ex
press company's safe was robbed.
FOREIGN FLASHES.