The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-08-03
The Wyandotte Wreckers.


Kansas City, July 29.-The preliminary
examination of o. ]. Lloyd, Geo. j. Hamil-
ton, Robert Geers, VIM. Vassen, Mike
Leary and Fred. Newport, charg d with
wrecking Missouri Pacific freight train
last April, was begun before Judge Ander-
son at Wyandotte this afternoon. The
court room was crowded and the iveliest
interest displayed in the proceedings. The
railway company WIS represented by a
number of officials and attorneys Both
state and defense are preparing for a stub
born contest. The examination opened
with
THE EVIDENCE or WI. vASsEN,
one of the defendants. He testified that on
the night of the wreck he went 10 the
Knights OF Labor hall on Sixth street.
There he met Hamilton, Geer and
Leary. They went 10 a saloon and
and had drink. Hamilton said ''come,
let's CO."
The witness asked where" and was an
swered,
you'll SEE"
Hamilton wore a SLOUGH hat and gray
wig. The party crossed over the Sixth
street bridge and were Joined by Lloyd and
two or three Others, one of whom the wit
ness did not recognize. Lloyd had crow
bar. They went up the track toward the
wyandotte bridge, stopping at the point
where the wreck subsequently occurred.
The witness advised that the inside rail be
taken up, but Lloyd insisted upon taking
up
THE OUTER RAIL
Leary and the witness had moved up
toward the bridge, about ID yards, Leary
stan. ing guard &c give IOtice of the APP
proach of anyone. Soon after he came up
and said that the thing was done. Then
they took another drink and went home
The next morning the witness was visited
in his bedroom by Lloyd, who said
There's been
THE DIST WRECK YOU EVER SAW
at Wyandotte, and two men were killed. /
only wish the whole id mob of scabs had
been killed too.
The witness was cross examined by ex-
Lieutenant Governor, Chas. p. johnson, of
ST. Louis, who, 81 counselor for the Knights
of Labor assembly No. 10l, and who con-
ducts the defense but his testimony was not
shaken. The witness said the only one
who spoke to him about joining the party
was Lloyd. He did not know Just what they
were going to do until they arrived at the
scene of operations. Then the witness
tried to dissuade themifrom their intentions
but failed. He next urged them to remove
the inside rail away from the river, but
was silenced. There were
TWO OTHER MEN,
he said in the party, higgins and Werner
who have not yet been captured. The wit
ness testimony correspondent in the main
to his written confession made to the detee-
tives and recently published. He said
he testified, knowing that his evidence
might be used against himself, and did so
because his conscience troubled him and
without the hope of reward or clemency.
As near as he knew
LLOYD GEER AND NEWPORT
drew the spikes. Newport threw the crow
bar into the river. They were interrupted
once during their work by train running
north.
DIR. Geo. NJ. Gray, coroner OF Wyandotte
county, was the next witness. He related
the circumstances of the inquest over the
bodies of Horton and Carlisle, the victims
of the wreck.
Geo. Fowler, the engineer of the i'll
fated train, told the story of the disaster.
The state then rested its case, and the de-
tense asking for more time the court ad-
iourned until tomorrow.
At tn eoutset this morning the prosecu-
ton announced that the examination would
De as against Hamilton, Geer and Leary
only. 1t is surmised that the other three
are expected to waive examination. As
before stated all the prisoners are knights
of Iahor