Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-15
The Express Messenger who Lost his Life for mis-
Trust.

NC LApAeSo NAsSSSASS- " - -
Trust
The robbery of the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific express car "iiJ the brutal MUIR
der of Kellogg Nichols, thn express messen-
ger, early Saturday morning, rs mentioned
in the GAZETTE of Saturday, is probably one
of the most horrible crimes on record. All
Illinois is excited over the occurrence, and
should the perpetrators be caught, they will
fare badly. Hunting parties are securing
the entire section between Chicago and Jo-
liet. where the murderers and robbers are
sunposed TO be, and their capture is immi
nent.
The particulars CT the crime as follows
The Kansas City express on the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railway left Chica
go at IL O'Clock Friday night. About 1880
\. H. Watts, the baggage man, heard rap
at his door, and thinking that it was Nichols,
lsthe express messenger, he opened it only TO
be confronted with two revolvcrs held by
two men. They told him that they wanted
the key to the express car, and he was made
| to give it I'd. The men then started toward
the express car turning on their way TO
pont to the venliiator and the top Of the
car. where mans hand holding q revolver
was seen. He was told that ifhe moved the
| whole TOD of his head would blown Gil. The
two men then went to the express car
and tapped on the door and informed
| Messenger Nichols that it was Watts
| The door was opened, and then occurred
one of the most desperate and bloody strug-
giles ever fought On being told by the men
that they only wanted him to keep still and
| that he must give up the treasure in his
charge, he refused. and made heroic re-
sistance for his life. The interior Of the ex-
| press car shows that he was not killed i'm
| mediatelv. but that he fought the robbers
| from one end 10 the other, and that he was
moi the ONLY one in jured. The odds were
too great against him, and the blows they
rained upon his head with an iron poker
forced him to succumb, and he was left dead
in the car. The robbers then rilled his
pockets OF the keys TO the safe, and, stuilIng
the treasure in their pockets, left the car.
They took only money and iewelry Leaving
valuable packages and checks scattered
about the floor.
Nothing was known Of the robbery until
the train reached Morris. The local express
messenger raped at the door of the express
car, but received no answer, and tho car
was opened. Then the horrible evidences
! of the murder were visible. The body Of
| the dead hero was lying OH the floor near
the safe. In one hand, that was tightly
clenched, was lock Of dark hair, and in
the other one of red, torn from the scalps of
his assailants His head was a mass Of
blood and bullet holes, while several bullet
holes were found in his body. The local
| ed with blood, and the articles in the car
wero bloody.
| The robbers arc supposed to have boarded
| the train at the coal shute just outside OF
| Joliet, and to have left as the train slowed
UP at Morris and escaped across the coun.
! try. Nichols, tho murdered man, was 10
years of age, and lived in Chicago. He had
| been in tho employ of the United States
Express Company for over ten years. The
officials Of the company had the greatest
confidence in him, and his sad death Is re-
GREETED by them. He had in his custody
| Friday night about $2% 600 and jewclry
worth IS 900 more.
Supt. kimball, Of tho Chicago, Rock i.
land and Pacific railway, has Issued the
| following:
"Ten thousand dollars reward Several
persons entered the express car on the pas
senger train moving west on the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railway, between
Joliet and Morris, between l and > O'Clock
u. III. Saturday, the 18th of March, and
murdered tho messenger Of the United
States Express Company, and robbed IFS
safe of Il considerable amount Of money.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Rail
road Company will pay reward OF $1,000
for the arrest of any one ofthe parties guilty
| if but one shall be arrested, and $4,000 for
the arrest of all. Rewards TO BIO paid when
party or PARTIES are arrested and finally
convicted"