Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-19
MURDERED FOR GOLD.
Robbers Board Train and Commit &
Deed Of Blood with Horrid Boldness.

Robbers Board Train and Commit a
Deed Of Blood with HOrrid Boldness.
JOLIET, ILL.,, March 14.-One of the most
daring and bloody express robberies ever
perpetrated in Illinois occurred on the
Chicago and Rock Island and Pacific
west-bound express last night between
this place and Morris The facts learned
from the baggage man are that after the
train which leaves here at 12;45 a. m. had
left this city, he heard a rap at the bag
gage car door. Thinking it was the ex-
press messenger. he opened the door, and
was met by masked robbers, who covered
him with revolvers and demanded his key
to the express car. The key was given up,
and one robber, who was on top of the
baggage car, held a revolver on the bag
gage man through a transom in the roof
of the car while his confederates turned
their attention to the express car.
1t is thought that they tapped on the
express car door and informed the mes
senger, H. S. Nichols, that the baggage
man wanted to get in. AT any rate the
express car door was opened and the des-
peradoes entered, and then occurred one
, t the most bloody and desp crate strug
les on record. Being confronted by the
murderouS villains the messenger fought
until he fell to the floor corpse, mangled
beyond recognition.
The robbers then rified his pockets OF
the keys to the safe, which they robbed of
all It's contents, variously estimated from
$25, 900 to 500, 900. Checks and valuable
packages not containing money they
left scattered about the floor Nothing
was known of the occurrence until the
train reached Morris, the first stop west
OF here, where the train stopped to take
coal. AT Morris the local express messen'
ger raped on the express car door, but as
the summons was not answered, it 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 Messen-
ger Nichols was discovered In one hand
that was clutched the dead hero had a
lock, Of dark colored hair torn from the
head OF one OF his assailants. A large
force Of officers from this place and Nor
ris 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 is at fever heat
and it will not be safe for the murderers
to be brought here.
The dead messenger was married mar
and lived at Chicago. He has been in the
service of the United States Express com
pany about 10 years, and was one of theil
most trusted employees. AS to where the
robbers boarded the tram, all as yet Is
mere speculation. Conductor Wagner
does not remember having seen any sus
pcous 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 just before
the train reached Morris.
Bsggagemaster Watts Placed Under Ar
rest on Suspicion OF Completely.
CHICAGO, March 15.-On Saturday nigh
Andrew Watts, the baggagemaster, ar
rived in this city on freight train anC
was arrested. Watts's story does no
meet with general credence. The idea o
his being covered with n rifle poket
through the transom of car is said to b.
preposterous, by reason of the peculia
construction Of the car roof. Then tn
fact that the poker with which Nichol
was pounded was afterward found hang
ing in its proper place behind the stov
seems to prove that whoever used it ha
been accustomed to the discipline of raj
way rules, which are very strict on thes
points. Even under the circumstance
of the murder railway man Nigh
} have replaced the hook from sheer fore
Of habit, but any one else would certainl