The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-05-07
he ENTERS THE CAR UNossERvED
A Desperate Combat In Disarming HI
victims-The Fiend Escapes With
small Booty Unprovoked
Murder In sosth Texas
THE DAYS RECORD OF CRIME.
Train Robbery and Murder,


this morning, was stopped near Har
roidsburg, Indiana, shortly before mid
night by band of masked robbers
who compelled the engineer and lire
mon "a leave the engine. Entering
the express car the American
express messenger was covered
with revolyers and ON ref using
to unlock the safe was shot dead. The
safe was broken open but found to con,
tain but S4O0. The scene OF the robbery
is among hills and stone quarries, and
Is but thinly settled.
Davis, the wounded express messen-
ger, was brought here to night from
Bloomington, Indiana. He is still un-
conscious and cannot recover. 1t IL es-
timated that the robber secured about
$1,000, 800 OF which he dropped when he
jumped from the train.
DETAILS OF THE DARING DEED.
INDIANAPOLIS, April 30.-The express
matter in the Louisville, New Albany
d Chicago train was carried In the bag
gage car, which is occupied by the mes
senger and baggage master. 1t is as
The messengers name was George n,
Dayis, of Louisville. Last night at ll:l0
o'clock tho train reached Harrodsburg,
Owen countv, local station; the third
below Bloomington. IL has q popula'
ton of not more than 400 souls, and at
that time OF night is as quiet as the
grave. 1t is, in round figures, liz miles
from Lafayette. There Is a water-tank
at Harrodsburg and the tram stopped
there four or five minutes to replenish
the engine. While it was at a stand
still, one of the passengers III the sleep
ing car, J. ii. Hamilton, OF Greencastle,
happened to be looking out Of the win
dow ana, by the reflected light of the
engine and the dim illumination from
bA tNrtg ii n ~ m
emerge, apparently from under the
trucks, and disappear in the direction OF
the engine. In the brief glimpse which
Mr.. Hamilton had of the man he said
he was above medium height, dressed
in the tattered garments of vagrant
and carried in his hand club or stick.
He naturally supposed him to be some
the trucks, and dismissed the matter
from his mind. In the meantime the
engine had taken water and started.
Nothing unusual occurred until the lit
tie station OF Smithvule Hill, about two
miles north of Harrodsburg, was
reached. There sharp ring OF the bell
on the engine stopped the train. Before
an inquiry as to who pulled the bell
rope, could be made, the baggage mas
ter flung open the door of the smoking
car, and
RELIED IN COVERED WITH BLOOD
that trickled from II CHASTITY wound in
his head. He sank on his
knees between the forward seats
aud gasped out to the Mortified passen-
gers, who rushed to him, that q rob DOR
had entered the baggage car and shot
him and the express messenger.
This was all he was able to say, when he
fell unconscious upon his face. By that
time Conductor Chamberlain was at his
side, and, with few more intrepid OF
the passengers, made his way into
the baggage car. A single
lantern. turned low, and swinging from
a hook in the ceiling cast dim light
over the frightful scene. Davis was
stretched in pool of blood by the side
of his safe, which was broken open and
plundered. Every where was evidence
OF a terrific struggle. The floor was lit
tered with papers that the assassin had
taken from the chest, and deeming
them worthless had thrown them away,
and the heavy boxes which stood in the
car were scattered around in confusion.
Davis was lifted and carried into
the smoker. he was breathing
but 1t was evident he was wounded to
death. He had been shot in the upper
part of the head, piece of skull as large
as silver dollar being literally blown
off. From this aperture blood and brains
freely oozed.
THE BAGGAGE MASTERS TALE.
Weber, the baggage master, gives
this account of the affair:
"When the train stopped at Harrods-
burg he and Davis were asleep upon
car we're open and they had
no suspicion of anything wrong.
Just after the train. got into motion
Webber was awaksned by a violent
blow on the head. The force was such
as to half stun him, but staggering to
his feet, he saw tall, muscular man
struggling with Davis. The messenger
was despatched with blood, which was
gushing from wound in his head, and
he also had evidently been struck with
club while he was asleep. The blud-
geOn with which this had been done.
large hickory stick, lay on the floor
covered with blood and hair. Webber
was too badly hurt TO take part in the
fight and fell to the floor. The rObber
was large man, raggedly dressed, and
HAD bristling light moustache. He
seemed to be about So years old. This
much Webber noticed as the two men
fought. 1t was but for an instant. Da-
Wis managed TO loosen his right arm and
draw his revolver, but before he could
fire the man wrenched the weapon
from his grasp, and leveling, it like
lightning, pulled the trigger. The ball
struck the messenger i'll the head, and
he fell dying to the floor. When the safe
had been rifled the rohher LETT the train,
rs it started up in answer tothe bell.
NO TRACE.
Search was made as soon az could be,
but no trace ot the r0bber could be
found Tho wounded men were left
at Bloomington. Davis lived
+. al Louisville. He was p
years of age and unmarried
Webber lived at New Albany, Is %
years old, is married. and GAS several
children.
LouIsvILn, April 50 The Amer
ican express otficials are unable
1 to say how much money was in
the safe robbed last night. As near
as can be arrived at DGItis had only
500 in his car When he left The city last
night. The agent at New Albany says
he sent out $1,000 by Davis from that
place. How much was picked up by him
at the way statiors caanoS be learned,
the amount win exceed 500
THE officials feel very bad over the muir
rder OF DAVIS, as be as one OF the most
popular and eiliciert naeasengers in
THEIR sspploy. He has heen wounded
J seyeraf times during1i:s service. In the
great ucciienL BeD SalGm, Indiana,
about two years ono, whom the train
went throueha btld3ss Issis saved his
life and all The valua6les ~ dumping the
safe into tbs tiger ~jliiel5he train was
gOiug througA Be paid fta Eia dave
Hon to duty to mo neglees OF soft by
\ having aaiiculder ana Two II ,s prokpn.
.AAi. iir ----------~------- y iNN
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