The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-13
The Poor Fellow Actually
Chopped to Pieces with
a Ratchet while De-
tending his Charge.
The Bandits Escape with
about $25, ZOO under
the Cover of Dark
ness.
FAMOUS OUTLAWS OUTD0NE.
A HELLISH DEED.


One of the most brutal and unprovoked
murders that has ever been known was
committed on a train coming this way on
the c., r. |. & P. road early this morn
ing. The human devils who perpetrated
the terrible deed, have committed an aci
in criminal annals to which any of Jesse
James crimes would not take precedence.
II the fends were disciples of the motto e.
rlous outlaw they have outdone their mas
ter; it was a deed which would startle the
regions once haunted by Jesse James him
self much less acivilized and law abiding
community. Although the crime alluded
to was not committed in this immediate
vicinity, it is of such a nature as to be Of
thrilling interest, especially from the fact
that the victim was well and favorably
known to many of our citizens.
Passenger and express train No 5. on
the G., r |. & p, which left Chicago at
IL O'Clock last night, and which is due al
Rock Island at eos, did rot arrive this
morning until 7;30, the cause of the de
lay being an encounter with train robbers
between Joliet and Morris, resulting in
the murder of the express messenger,
Kellogg Nichols Exactly where the
fatal affair took place is not known. and
probably never will be. 1t was while the
- train was under way-running at the rate
Of twenty EIGHT miles an hour between
Joliet coal chutes and Morris, the sec
ond town west. The train was made up
of engine 133, an express car. baggage
car, three coaches, chair car and Pull
man sleeper. The train was in charge OF
Conductor Wagner, the brakemen being
j. Schwartz and n. II. Watt, the latter
acting rs baggageman in place of Rum,
sey, the regular baggageman, who is in
disposed. Watt occupied the baggage
car by himself, and the forward car-eX-
press-was in charge of Messenger Mich
OILS, of the United States Express COM
pany.
COVERING THE BAGGAGEMAN
Some time after the train pulled out
from the coal chutes this side of Joliet
where fuel had been taken on,
Watt was attracted by the breaking
of one of the ventilating lights in the
roof of his. car. A revolver aimed direct
at his head was pushed through and he
was told by gruff voice on the root to
take char and if he dared to move a
muscle or utter a sound, his id head
would be blown off =" He was amazed
at the sudden demand, but there was
nothing for him to do but to obey. The
scoundrel then repeated the threat, say
ing, "if you move muscle till we get to
Morris or some stopping place, I'll blow
your head of, at the same time covering
the victim with the cooked revolver.
How long Watt remained in his perilous
position he has no idea He did not dare
to move or even cast his eye at the figure
on the roof until the train Stacked up at
Morris. He felt conscious, though, that
the revolver was aimed at him until the
train decreased its rate of speed. He
then notified Conductor Wagner of what
had happened, and 1t was not until then
that it became known that
THE MURDER
had been committed. Conductor Wag,
ner was familiar enough with train rob.
bers' pranks to know that the express car
would be the first object of q robbery.
SO he hastcned to that car. and
opening the door, called Nick" but no
answer came. lie then entered, when
MOST HoRRIFYING SIGHT
met his gaze. There in pool of his own
blood lay the messenger, dead, and his
head pounded and cut TO a jelly, almost
an unacceptable mass of mutilated
flesh. The safe was open and the con.
tents gone An alarm was given and
the news spread like wild fire
through the train. THE train has
been robbed and one man murdered"
flew from mouth to mouth, while anxio us
inquiries came, ''are the robbers still
aboard2' Intense excitement prevailed.
People were aroused from their berths
and hurried forth-some half clad-into
the cold air at 1880 in the morning to see
if it was actually so, that man had been
murdered on the train. A coroner ar.
rived in the meantime and took the body
of the murdered man in charge. He also
delayed the train in order to ascertain
the names of the employees as witnesses.
The body was conveyed into the depot,
where some of the passengers who knew
the deceased, viewed the remains, and
claim that they could never have recog-
nized him. The head was
AwFULLY MUTrLATED AND CRUSHED.
How the foul deed was done can
not be ascertained. The tram men
surmise. however, that while Watt
sSaS 4sje ~: Y.