Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-10-04
TRAIN ROBBERS
Attempt to Rob the Cannon Ball
at Coolidge.


Saturday morning Dodge was thrown
into a high pitch of excitement by q re-
port that gang Of roughs had attempt
ed to rob the westward bound cannon
ball at Coolidge that morning, sand that
engineer Hilton and fireman Fadel were
killed.
1t was soon learned that John Hilton
was dead and his body at the Fireman S
Hall, and George Fadel was at Coolidge
badly wounded, and dying. A short
time after he was reported dead, but
we are glad to say that he is still alive
and will undoubtedly recover.
The cannon ball in charge of conduc
tor Greeley and engineer Hilton pulled
into Coolidge shortly before one o clock.
After standing some ten minutes three
masked men, heavily armed, appeared
upon the platform, and while two of
them attacked the express car one of
them mounted the engine. One of
them ordered Hilton to pull out, and
at the same instant sent ball through
his heart The next instant he placed
his pistol almost against George FadeI s
face and fred, the ball going in the
cheek and coming out of the neck The
express messenger, Peterson, promptly
returned the fire into his car and repul-
sed the robber; several shots were then
fired at the conductor. when the villains
withdrew
Dave Mather, of this city, was speed
lily notified to gather posse and start
in pursuit, which he did, leaving here
about o clock a. M. on special train.
Another special from the west brought
Sheriff Parsons and deputies from Bent
county, Colo, into Coolidge about the
same time. Acting in concert with
Sheriff Parsons, Mather arrested two
men during the day, Luny and
Chambers, and the next morn
ing Dean and Harry Don
nelly were arrested at Garden
City and brought down ON the cannon
ball, and lodged'in Jail.
Engineer Hilton body reached the
city on the train he ran from La Junta
to Coolidge, and Fzdel was taken to
the hotel in Coolidge, where he remain
ed until Tuesday, when he was brought
to his brother residence in this city
Upon his arrival here a TINES repre-
sentative obtained from him the follow
ing account of the shooting:
The train arrived at Coolidge on time
and laid there some six or eight min
utes, the time being occupied by Hilton
and himself in oiling the engine, Hilton
on the right and he ON the left. This
brought him next to the platform, and
when nearly done his attention was
Drawn to man standing on the plat
form by the side of the tender. This
man had his nat pulled well down over
ais face, and as Fadel got on the cab he
followed, Hilton b4ing already up.
At this instant Hilton had his hand
on the lever about to start, in response
to the signal already given by Conduc-
tor Greeley. The stranger had pistol
now in each hand, and pointing one at
Hilton ordered him to pull out, at
the same moment firing, and Hilton
fell, realing backwards and falling in
the gangway. Almost simultaneously
he fred from the other revolver at
4 aoeI, who iell by the side of Hilton.
He lay for a few moments insensible:
AID Then regainlng consciousness at
to revive poor Hilton, " no was
lcau, having been shot through the
heart, the oail going in the shoulder
anu cvming out the s.ae. taGei was
s.IJt in the cheek, thc ball passing by
the ase of tue car and uut tie i1acA Of |
the mead.
vi tne four prisoners now in Jail it
is thought that at least two were impli-
cateu in TIE shooting, and the others
were present to aid. But of course no
can be had until Fadel has
recovered sufficiently to take the stand,
as he thinks he can positively identify
the man who did the shooting.
A0SE-SlD REWAkD.
Nine head of work steers from stock
yards, Saturday night, 22d inst Brand