The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-03-18
TRAIN ROBBED.
MASKED DESPERADOES EN-
TER AN EXPRESS CAR
NEAR CHICAGO.
FEARFUL CONFLICT, THE MESSEN'
GER SLAIN AND S25.OOO 10
100000 STOLEN.

Chicago. March 13-A Joliet, Ill.,, special to the
Evening News, SAYS one of the most daring and
bloody express robberes ever perpetrated in llli-
nois occurred on the Chicago Il Rock Island Pac-
fic west bound express last night, between this
place and Morris TIL facts learned from the
bargageman are that shortly after the train which
leaves here at l2:45 a. m had left here, he heard
rap at the baggage car door Thinking it was the
express messenger he opened the door and was
met by masked robbers, who covered him with
revolvers and demanded his key to the eX-
press car. The key was given up and
one rOhber, who who was on top of the big age
car held a revolver on the baggageman through
the transom in the roof of the car, while his con-
federates turned their attention to the express car
1t is thought that they raped on the express car,
and informed the messenger, X ). NICHOLS, that
the baggageman wanted to get III. At any rate,
the express car door was opened, and the despera-
does entered, and then occurred one OF the most
bloody and desperate struggles on record.
Being confronted by murderous villains, the
messenger fought for his life and the property in
his possession The interior OF the express car
shows that he fought the robbers from one end OF
the car to the other, but at last the murderous
blows they rained on his head with an iron poker,
forced him to suCcumb and he was left dead III the
car. The robbers rited his pockets of the keys to
the safe which they robbed of all its contents
yariously estimated at from $4,000 to SlOE,OOO,
checks and yaluables. Packages not containing
money they left scattered around the floor
At Morris, upon the door of the car being opened,
the horrible evidences of the desperate struggle
and the dead body of the messenger were discover
ed. In one hand that was clutched the dead hero
had a lock of dark cOlOred har that he must have
torn from the head of one of his assailants.
Sheriff Reitz and Chief of Police Murray at once
organized posse to search for the robbers. The
snow falling lightly at the time and the tracks,
if any were covered. large force of officers and
men from this place and Morris is now securing
the country, and it is thought the guilty men will
be captured in which event they will probably he
lynched, as public opinion in this town is at fever
heat and it will not be safe for the murderers to be
| brought here.
The dead messenger was a married man, and mad
been in the service of the United States Express
company for about ten years and was one OF their
| most trusted employees.
DETECTIVES ATwORK.
CHICAGO Marcu l3.-News of the robbery of the
express car and murder of the express me- senger
produced the greatest excitement in the Rock
Island office this morning. Division Superin-
| tCnlcnt X. II. Chamberin was in receipt OF a
dozen dispatches detailing particulars of the affair
Officers of the road held consultation and agreed
| to send special detective on the track of the
rutlians at once. 1t is thought the men who com
miGted the robbery and murder are COnviCts lately
released from Joliet pententary The brakeman
of train No. Ii says he saw six men walking along
the edge OF wood, 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 as weapon. Superintendent Cham
berlin left for Morris at clock to investigate the
affair and take charge of the body of Nichols who
was 10 years of age and unmarried.
ne ot "uiie'IG IiIoi ili st VI NV nun
30 ,trna. tI';, ,,,su H. - II, H. w -
sonar NJ NJ rmrnar Tr,,ochd bnro III train oo+
tLa 49, an ,hib VIZ @ HIN a. ~; G
Mr. Turner reached tbe Mace soon after Tho nnr'
der was discovered. The widest excitement pre-
found With his brdst cnt from ear 70 aor T te
wonnd hain' ''9 ial,od ma,an ann ,.as b"i nG
Hoor G Gta b uneven s"S" DIS hao
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inc at Worrs Vchols as ,yas N liz want ala o
a,in"sr at tbe donr of tb , '',o w. Cd" Wv, H.
paars s TSo ,o ", e f gar ~ M
md trin, of tb daIo nnJ tL @ hiir
ma intnd Stotos' Pm" ni,9edL
tbat vibi %G i o MIA a ne aoo say
Sa5 p0a and some fnrt ocLo,ss ~ WV ="
snoJ 70 ieyoIr fr ,"fHases VI Ie"TlN c9n
of tbis ioyoir IL n,nn M 'iS m ne oaTe
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dGnbie That amo"nt 'H"i' 9'0'o' anu may oe worth
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