The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-03-19
JESSE JAMES TAG
TICS.
Train Robbers on the Rock Island
Kellogg Nichols, Messenger for
the United States Express,
Sayagely Beaten to
Death.
The Gould Strikers Holding Out
The Situation ut st. Louis-Pro-
gress OF the Fight in Texas.
NEARLY $4,000 STOLEN.

CHICAGO. March 15.-There is deep
sorrow III neat little cottage, 459
North avenue; u widow of q day is
nearly distracted with grief; hor-
ribly mutllated body at the under
takers tells a mute story of bloody
crime, and the community is shocked
by what proves one Of the most fiend-
ish deeds perpetrated for years. The
murdered man is Kellogg Nichols, UP
to a day ago trusted messenger in the
employ of the United States Express
Company. On his way out to Daven-
port early Saturday morning, between
Joliet and Morris, the express car in
which he was at the time was entered
by train robbers, who, after desper-
ate fight, killed Nichols. took his keys
from him, walked into the next car,
where the baggagemaSter, Newton III.
Watt. had previously been placed
under guard, opened the safe. stole
nearly $4,000 in cash, q large amount
of jewelry, and decamped. The rob-
berry was discovered aT Morris, live
little town southwest OF Joliet. and
Immediately officers were dispatched
from both places, supplemented by a
large number of detectives from this
city, as soon as the news OF the crime
reached here.
The details of the crime read like
one of the bloodiest chapters in the
history of train robberies. and when
they first became known people smiled
ut what they thought TO be SELL" SO
lnheard of is deed of that character
within 100 miles Of Chicago. The
train on which the murder and robbery
was committed is known as No. 5,
leaving the depot of the Chicago.
Rock Island & Pacific Road. on Van
Buren, street, at 1890 p. m. The train
of Friday night consisted Of the loco
motive, two baggage cars, which at
the same time served as express cars,
two sleepers and three coaches. Con-
ductor Wagner was in charge of The
train; Kellogg Nichols was the express
messenger, and Newton ii. Watt was
in charge of the baggage for which the
railroad company was responsible.
After the train had passed Joliet Watt
was in the second baggage car, in
which was also the express company's
safe, containing the valuables; Nichols
was in the car ahead. The rear door
of his car was locked and barred with
chain from the inside; the front door
of the second car was not locked.
From all that can be learned, the train
robbers, six or seven in number, en-
tered the train between Joliet and
MinoOka, ten miles out from the
former. Presumably the point where
the robbers boarded the train was the
coal chute, two miles west Of Joliet,
where there was mOmentary stop for
coaling. Watt, the baggageman. was
sitting on trunk as the engineer
whistled for Minooka, and he had just
risen when he heard slight noise
above the rafting Of the train. The
glass of one of the small windows be-
tween the roof of his car and the
raised portion, serving for purposes of
ventilation, was broken, the arm of
man, who must have been lying fiat on
the roof of the car, reached through, a
revolver was pointed at Watts head
and he was commanded to remain in
his position at the peril of his life.
Watt, who is about twenty-four years
of age, implicitly obeyed. A few mo-
ments later, when the baggageman
heard rustling noise from he safe,
toward which he had turned his back,
he made motion as ii to face about;
the warning was repeated, and again
the trembling man obeyed. He re-
NAMED III this position for about five
minutes until the train slowed up for
Morris. Looking up, he saw that the
arm and revolver were wi,hdraWn.
The safe was open, books and papers
Uttered the floor. and Watt jumped
out. When Nichols failed to deliver
his express packet to the agent at
Morris, the latter opened the first car,
and the horrible spectacle which met
his eyes at once told the story OF The
crime. The body of the unfortunate