The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-26
A BLOODY DEED.
= ferrla1s Crime Committed en ~ Rect
Island Road nstween Jollss and HEes-
riss. Il;snois--rhe MiscreAnts
secure Absst oss.Ooo


u the Chicago Rock Island train which
leaves this city at II p. m. was boarded
BY robbers At Joliet, at one O'Clock this
morning. Kellogg Nichols, express mes
senger Of the United States Express
Company was killed, and money and jew
cry valued AZ about $4,000 were stolen.
Nichols attended 10 his duties q Joliet
but when the train arrived At Morris.
twenty miles beyond Joliet, he did moi
open the door OF the car. The local agent
II Morris forced open the door, and found
Nichols lying dead on the door Of the car
with his throat cut from ear to ear, and his
head horribly cut and crushed. The bag
gsgeman was found bound ard gagged in
the next car The safe was broken open
and lis contents gone. As the train does
not stop between Joliet and Morris, Il 10
approximately certain that the robbers
boarded the cars at the former place.
CHICAGO, March ll-The news Of the
robbery Of the express car and the muir
der Of the messenger produced the
greatest excitement in the Rock Island
once In this city yesterday. Division
Superintendent +. H. Chamberlin was in
sips Of dozen dispatches detailing
tne particulars Of the AFFAIR. The officers
Of the road held aconsultation and agreed
to send special detectives on the track of
the rufllsns At once. The train, No. 5,
left the depot Friday night at eleven
O'Clock. 1t consisted Of the locomotive,
two baggage cars, two sleepers and three
coaches. in charge Of Conductor Wag-
aer. kellog Nichols. Of this city. was
the express messenger. IL is thought
that the men who committed the robbery
and murder are convicts, lately released
from Joliet penltentiary. The brakeman
Of train No. is says he saw six men walk
ing along the edge Of the woods near Au
Sable, which Is close to Morris. Officers
from Joliet are out after the men. They
left nothing in the car by which they
might be identified, except stove poker,
which was used by one Of them a. .
weapon. Superintendent Chamberlin left
for Morris yesterday to investigate the
affair and take charge Of the body. Nichols
was forty-five years Of age aud unmarried.
He lived on the North side.
A NEssENGER's STATEMENT
The first authentic information OF the
murder reached the express Office on
Washington street. when the incoming
messenger, w. NJ. Turner, reached here.
His train met the one on which Nichols
was killed. At Morris, and Mr.. Turner
reached the place soon after the Eiurder
was discovered. The widest excitement
prevailed about the depot at the time.
Nichols was found with his throat cut
from ear TO ear. the wound being jagged,
uneven cash, as II II had been
inflicted with Ratchet Turner had to
leave for Chicago before the investigation
was well under way. 1t was found, how
ever, that everything was all right when
the train drew up at Joliet | started
promptly. and according TO schedule time
was due TO arrive At Morris At 80 q. m.
No stops were made between these
places. and for that reason II Is thought
the murderers boarded the train at Joliet.
Arriving At Morris, Nichols, As was his
wont. did not appear IT the door Of the
express car 70 deliver his packages. The
agent waited on the platform for several
minutes, and. firing Of the delay, opened
the door himself. The sight that met his
eyes was horrible one.
Nichols body, covered with blood. was
living in one corner Of the car. the safe
was open and the valuables found miss
ing. The United States express officials
here say that Nichols had In his custody
from $4,000 to $4,000 and some forty
packages Of jewelry consigned TO iewelry
firms in the country. The value Of this
jewelry IL unknown, 1ut the express
people say Il can not be less than 81. 900
and may be worth double that amount.
~
a. soon as they heard Of the murder.
They took immediate steps to track the
murderers. and large force OF detectives
was set TO work on the case.
special from Morris says: Conductor
Wagner. who had charge 81 the train on
which the express agent, Kellogg Nichols,
was murdered, SAYS: "As the train came
TO standstiil at Morris ut 80 This morn
ing. got ont on the platform. About the
same time Watt jumped Oh the baggage
car a. white as sheet and gasped
out: "My God! Look in there The
money IL all gone and the papers
all over the 7" looked in with
my lantern and the safe was standing
open; the way-bills were all scattered
around and Inc drafts and other papers.
some u them torn, were all around on
the floor. took my Key and went 20 the
other car and called Mick! Nicki' but
there was no answer. A. swung my
lantern In the car . horrible sight was
seen. There was blood scattered around
everywhere and on the trunks The local
way-bills were all covered with blood
and the legs of the chairs were bloody.
Tn the forward part Of the chr
found tie body Of Nick. The face was
covered with blood and q great pool was
underneath him. The body was still
warm. The car showed that there had
been big fight, from nearly one end to
the other. On hook hung big poker.
which was also covered with blood
"Nick" lay with both hands cIenched,
and between the fingers Of one hand
he held lock Of black hair. while in the
other hand was lock of red hair" The
conductor thinks the ROBBERS got on 1t
the coal chute. near Joliet. and had
jumped OF just IS the train slowed up at
Morris.
II liz understood that the Rock Island
road will offer reward Of $4,000 for
the capture 81 the men who committed
the robbery and 5000 for the arrest 81
any ore OF them.
supposed 10 be Lost with All on Board.
SANDY Hook, March l5.--The steamer
n