The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-08
TRAIN ROBBERY.
An Express Train Raided by Robbers, the
Messenger KILLED and Safe Robbed.

An Express Train Raided by Robbers, the
Messenger KILLED and Safe Robbed.
CHICAGO, April 3o.-The Louisville ex-
press ON the Louisville, New Albany and
Chicago Railroad, due here at eight O'Clock
this morning, was stopped near Harrods-
burg, Ind, shortly before midnight by q
band of masked robbers. They compelled
the engineer and fireman to leave the en-
CINE. Entering the express car the
American Express messenger was covered
with revolvers, and refusing to unlock the
safe was shot dead. The safe was broken
open.s but found to contain but $500. The
scene of the robbery is among the hills and
stone Quarries and is thickly settled.
Nothing unusual was suspected until the
little station of Smithville Hill, about two
miles north of Hsrrodsburg was
reached. Three sharp rings of the bell in
the engine stopped the train. Be
fore inquiry as to who pulled the bell
rope could be. made the baggagemas-
ter Hung upen the door of the smoking car
and reeled in covered with blood that
trickled from CHASTITY wound in his head.
He sunk on his knees between the forward
seats and gasped out to the Mortified
passengers, who rushed to him that a
robber had entered the bag.
gage car and shot himself and
The express messenger. This was all he
was able TO say and he fell forward uncon-
scious upon his face. By that time the con-
iuctor came in and was at his side, and with
few of the more intrepid of The passengers
made his way into the baggage car.
A single lantern turned low. and swing
Ing from hook in the ceiling, cast light
over frightful scene. Davis was stretched
in pool of blood by the side of the safe,
which was broken open and plundered.
Davis was lifted and carried into the
smoker He was breathing. but it was evil
dent he was wounded to death. He had
been shot in the upper part of the head. a
piece of skull as large as silver dollar be-
ing totally blown off. From this aperture
blood and brains freely oozed.
THE FACTS.
Weber. the baggagemaster, gives this
account of the affair: When the train
stopped at Harrodsburg he and Davis
were asleep upon their train chests.
Both doors of the car were open and
they had no suspicion of anything wrong.
just after the train got into motion he
was awakened by violent blow on the
head. The force was such as to half stun
him, but, staggering to his feet he saw a
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 a club while asleep. Weber
was too badly hurt to take part in the
atfray and fell to the floor. The robber
was large man, raggedly dressed. and had
a bristling light moustache. This much
Weber noticed as the two men struggled
in each others embrace. Davis, managing
to loosen bis right arm, drew his
revolver. Before he could fire, the
man wrenchedshe weapon from his grasp,
and leyeling it, like lightning pulled The
trigger. The ball struck the messenger
in the head, and he fell dying to the floor.
When the safe had been rifled the ro5ber
left the train, as it slowed up in answer to
the bell. Search was made as doom as
could be, but no trace of the criminal
could be found. The wounded men were
left at Bloomington.