The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-05-07
Il DEMONS DEED.
FIENDISH WORK OF A RAGGED
TRAMP IN INDIANA.
Enters a Train, Kills the EX-
press Messenger and
RObs the Safe.

CHICAGO, April 30 The Louisville express,
on The Louisville, New Albany and Chicago
Railroad, due here at O'Clock This morning,
was stopped near HarrodSburg Ind, shortly
before midnight. by a baud of masked robbers,
who compelled the engineer and fireman to
Leave the engine. entering the express car;
with revOlverS, aud refusing to unlock the safe
was shot dead. The safe was broken open, but
found to contain but S400. The Sc"ne of the
ROBBERY is am6ng the hills and stone quarries,
and is but thinly settled.
Another Account.
matter in the L. N. A. s. g.. train
was carried i'll the bagga &c car, which is uccu-
Lied by messenger and baggage-maSter. 1t
Was, as usual, the first car on the tram. The
Louisville. Last night at IL o clI ok the train
reached Harrodsburg, Owen County, local
station, the third below Bloomington. 1t has
population of not more than four hundred
souls, and at that time of night as quiet as the
grave. 1t is, IN round figures, 112 miles from
h There and the train yaep stoed her
four or five minutes to replenish the engine.
While it was at a stand-still one of the passen-
Greencastle, happened to be looking out of
the window, and by the reflected light OF the
engine and from the car-WndoNs, saw man
emerge apparently from under the trucks, and
d diSapp+ar in the direction of the engine: In
the brief glimpse Mr.. Hamilton had of the
man, he SAID he was above medium hight,
dressed in the tattered garments OF q va
grant, and carried stick in his hand-a club
for a stick. He naturally suposes him to
be some tramp, who was psteal1ng a
ride under the tiuckS and dismissed the mat
Meantime the engine had taken water and
started. Nothing unusual occurred until the
little station of Smithyille Hill. about two
miles Nor'h OF HarIOdsDurg, was reached:
share ring oI 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 do6r & OF the & Sokng car fr ana
a CHASTITY wound in the head. He sank on his
kn: e> between the forward seats and gaspeq
out to the n3rd SaG Tno
the baggage car, and shot himself and the
express messenger. This was all he was able
to say when ne fsll ON MS race
his size, and, with few Of the more intrepid
passengers, made his way into the baggage
car. A single lantern, turned low, and swing
light over the frightful scene. Davis was
stretched in pool OF blood by the
side Of o his his safe, which E;arvvby YVES yss
was evidence of a terrific struggle: The floor
was litteted with papers that the assassin
h I'd taken from the chest, and deem1ng worth
stood Ia the car were scattered al ound In con-
fusion. Davis was Lifted and carried into the
smoker. He was breathing, but 1t was EVIDENT
he was wounded to the death. He had been
Shottn the upper part OF the head, piece or
skull as large AS silver dollar being literally
blown off. From this Aperture blood and
brains freely OOZed.
Webber, the baggage master. gives the fol
lowing account of the affair: "When the train
stopped at HarrOdsburg, he and Davis were
asleep on their train chests. Both doors OF
the car were open and they mad no suspicion
of anything wrong. just as the train got into
moton, Webber was aw akened by a violent
blow or the head. The force was. ssch as to
half stun him but staggering to his fett ne saw
tall muscular man struggling with D; Wis. ! lie
messenger was bespotted with blood, which
was gushing from the wound in his head, and
he also had evidently been struck with a cluh
which this had been done-a la, ge 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, ragged!
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