The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-14
The Messenger Found Dead, with His Throat
Cut-The Safe Broken Open and Pillaged
of Property Valued at $4,000.
Bunches of Hair Which May Serve as
Clews to the Perpetrators.
The Railway Company Offers Large Reward
for the Capture of the Murderers, or Any
of the Men Who Committed the Crime.
ROBBERY AND MURDER.

ROBBERY AND MURDER.
An Express Messenger Slain While Defending
the Property In His Charge.
CHICAGO. March ia Joliet, Ill, special says
One of the most daring and bloody express rob-
berries ever perpetrated in Illinois occurred on
shc Chicago, Rock island & Pacific west-bound
express last night between this place and Morris.
The facts, as learned from the baggageman, are
that shortly after the train which leaves here at
t1245 A. NJ had left this city. he heard rap at
the baggage-car door. Thinking 1t was the ex-
press messenger, he opened the door, and was
met by masked robbers, who covered him with
reyolvers and demanded his key to the express
ear. The key was given up. and one robber
who was on top of the baggage-car, held re-
volver on the baggage-man through
the transom in the roof Of the car,
while his confederates turned their attention
to the express car. 1t is thought that they
raped on the express car door and informed
the messenger, Fl. S. Nichols, that the baggage
car door was opened and the despera1oes en-
tered, and then occurred one Of the most bloody
and desperate struggles on record Being con-
fronted by the murderous villains, the messen-
ger fought for his life and the property in his
possession. The interior of the express car
shows that he fought the robbers from one end
Of the car to the other, but at last the murder
GUS blows that they rained his head
with an iron poker forced him to
succumb, and he was left dead in
the car. The robbers then rified his pockets
for his keys TO the safe, which they robbed of all
its contents, which are variously estimated at
from $4,000 to 100000 Checks and valuable
packages not containing money they left scat
tered about the floor. Nothing was known of
the occurrence until the train reached Morris,
the first stopping place west of here except the
coal shute where the train stopped to take on
coal. At Morris, the local express messenger
raped on the express car door, but as the sum-
mons was not answered, 1t was thought the
train messenger was asleep Upon the door of
the car being opened the horrible evidences of
the desperate struggle and the dead
body of the messenger were discovered In
one hand that was clutched, the dead hero held
. lock of dark colored hair, that he must have
torn from the head Of one Of the assailants
News was at once telegraphed to Ottawa, and
Sheriff Reit and Chief of Police Murray at once
organized posse and started on special engine
for Morris, stopping the way at the coal chute,
two miles west Of here, to see if they could find
where the desperadoes boarded the train at that
point Snow was falling lightly at the time, and
the tracks. if any, were covered A large force
Of officers and men from this place and Morris
are now securing the country, and it is thought
the guilty men will be captured, in which event
they will probably be lynched, as public opinion
in this town is at fever heat, and it will not be
safe for the murderers to be brought here.
The dead messenger was married man. and
had been in the service of the United States Ex-
press Company for about ten years, and was one
of their most trusted employees. His home is at
Chicago.
AS to where the robbers boarded the train all
is, as yet, mere speculation Conductor Wag-
oner does not remember having seen suspicious
characters aboard last night but the general
opinion is that the gang got on the train at the
coal-chute, two miles west of here, and jumped
off juse before the train reached Morris.
The news of the robbery and the murder of
the express messenger produced the greatest ex-
element in the Rock Island Office in Chicago.
in receipt of dozen dispatches detailing the par
ticulars of the affair. The officers of the road
held consultation, and it was agreed to send
special detectives on the track of the rufians at
once. The train. No. s. left the depot last night
at IL o'clock. 1t consisted Of locomotive two
baggage-cars, two sleepers and three coaches, in
charge of Conductor Wagner. kellogg Nichols,
of Chicago was the express messenger. II is
thought that the men who com mittsd the robbery
and murder are convicts lately released from
Joliet penitentiary. The brakeman of train No.
16 says he saw six men walking along the edge
of the woods near Au Sable, which Is close to
Morris. Officers from Joliet are out after the
nen They left nothing in the car by which
they might be identified except a stove poker,
which used by or them weapon.
Superintendent Chamberlain left for Morris at
$40 o'clock to investigate the affair and take
charge of the body. Nichols forty five years
Of age and married. He lived on the North
Side.
was brought TO Chicago when the incoming mes.
senger, w. M. Turner, arrived this morning.
His train met the one on which Nichols was
killed at Morris, and Mr.. Turner reached the
place soon after the murder was discovered.
The widest excitemsnt prevailed about the depot
at the time. Nichols was found with
bis throat cut from ear to ear the wound being
jagged. uneven cash, as If it had been inflicted
with Ratchet. Turner had to leave for Chi
cago before the investigation was we'll under
way It was found, however. that everything
was ali right when the train drew up at Joliet
1t started promptly, and according to schedule
time was due to arrive in Morris at 1:30 in the
morning No stops were made between the
places, and for that reason it is thought the
Inurdersrs boarded the train at Joliet. Arriy-
fng at Morris, Nichols did not as was his wont
appear at the door Of the express car to
deliver his packages. The agent waited
on the platform For several minutes and
firing Of the delay. opened the door himself.
Nichois's body. covered with blood, was lying in
one corner Of the ear, thu safe was open and the
yaluables found missing The United States
Express officials say Nichols had in hts custody
from 800 600 to ga 900, and some forty packages
OF iewe1ry consigned to fewelry firms ia the
cnunfrx pha xelna OF this iaxalxr In rnknown