Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-25
A RAILROAD STORY.

10 scene of one Of the most remarkable
IL Known in criminal annals, which
Iii tnown detectives of Cincinnati and
Eminent attorneys Of Indiana figured.
mo- casa was the more remarkable be-
ranse the lives OF a number of persons
wore involved, and the result went to
.or, how close one could come to death
'ad vet escape, and what little circum-
s.orces taken advantage of, occasionally
change the aspect of affairs and defeat
tbe ends OF Justice.
Toledo was not the name that charm
inc little city was known by at that time.
If was called Perry City, after an old resi-
don't about those parts, and was then
cuaiut village W 18th not much more than
, zoo inhabitants.
Among the persons upon trial were
charles St. Claire. He was the proprietor
NJ house of low resort at Terre Haute,
and was the principal defendant. Next
IN order was "Bud" Shoemaker, at the
time A bAggageman on the Vandalia road.
Jannie Osgood, an inmate OF house of
ilI.repute at Indianapolis, was also a de-
fandant, as were two negroes and white
man. employed about st. Claire's place
at Terre Haute. just year previously
train on the Vandalia route had been
stacked by robbers, and during the at
tsck one man, Milo Ames, the engineer,
was killed outright, and several passen-
GERS seriously injured. The attack was
made at Long Point Water Tank, a
dreary, lonesome spot on that road, at
which trains stopped for water. There
was not house for miles about, and no
hotter place for midnight marauders
could have been thought of. The point
IA about sixty miles from Terre Haute,
Ind.. and about four miles from Casey,
Dill.
Close to IL O'Clock on the night of July
h 1875, as a train on the Vandalia was
about to draw out after watering up" at
Long Point Water Tank, the engineer
was surprised at a slight noise back Of
him, and, turning about, was confronted
nv masked men, one on each side OF his
Z cab. The fireman was standing at one
side Of the track, and overheard one OF the
|men say as he leveled his revolver at the
iengneer:
"Pull out, or Pn let daylight through
#vouw
n 1t was afterward thought that the engi-
Eneer supposed the men intended robbery.
EThey were both masked, one with hand
Ekerchief covering his face and the other
Ewearing huge visor. Over the visor was
Epulled black SLOUGH hat, and it was
Etbese articles that played such proml-
hent part in the trial, and the skilltul use
RDf which at the proper moment gave the
suspected persons their liberty. When
confronted by the two men the engineer
+ bit once placed his hand In his hip pocket.
/ PIE carried his purse there, and undoubt-
Edly meant to give il up. Scarcely had
De started to reach for it than one OF the
men fired, and the poor fellow fell back
Head alongside his engine. To the fire.
Enan's surprise one of the men grasped
&he lever, the throttle few open, and the
Engine and express car, minus the re-
<mainder of the train, shot by him and
ElOwn the track. He watched it as long as
ZbOssible, and then heard considerable
Shooting of firearms.
The express messenger, a brave fellow
@amed Burke, was in his car, and OF
EcOurse heard the shot that caused the en-
Mneer's death. He Immediately surmis-
Ned what was up, and determined to hold
~, and to only give up his trust with his
a lie. The engine ran down the track
EbOut a half-mile or more, when it sud
& lenly came to stop. By this time Burke
bad barricaded the doors of the car, which
contained almost $500, 600 in money, and
with two trusty revolvers, sprawled upon
{hls stomach, awaited whatever might
cOme. He had not long to wait. An at
Fempt was made to open one of the doors,
but it was found to be barricaded, and a
blot that came quite close to one OF the
bObbers informed them that they would
have trouble in getting the coveted
weslth.
They then withdrew to a safe distance
bnd fairly riddled the express car with
bullets, one of which slightly wounded
Burke. 1t was this shooting that the
fireman heard, and he was not long in
Rcquainting the passengers, who had
been left behind, with what was going
bn. They made a rush down the track
toward the express car, firing their re-
folYers as they ran. The robbers, becom-
ing frightened soon made themselves
bcarce, shooting as they fed, and wound
1 Ing several passengers. The fireman took
W Charge, the engine was run back and con-
hected with the passenger cars. and in
ew hours the train drew up at Terre
t1aute, and the affair was explained to the
authorities.
The railroad and the express company
Immediately offered reward of $4,000,
aud other rewards brought the total up to
ile neat sum of SIT 800. or course a
plumber Of detectives were after the re-
yards. Among the number that took
OLD was the HaZen Detective Agency OF
Cmcinnan. Detective Larry Hazen had
made considerable of a reputation in ex-
ress robbery cases. In connection with
an operator from st. Louis agency, be
went to indianapolis, FROM there to Terre
l1aute, and was not long in connecting
Tue persons named above with the at
tempted robbery. He rightly conjectured
lSt some person connected with The
ram had taken a hand. The unc0upling
" tne express car and engine from the
valance Of the train was the work of
person who understood the business. One
9ay While in Indianapolis the girl Jennie
Usgood was pointed out to him as q
friend" of bud" SHOEMAKER, the bag
Easeman on the train upon which the
I9ooery was attempted. He learned also
tlal Jennie had lived for some time at
81 11e mousse of a fellow named st. Claire, at
Ielre Haute, and a visit to that place
ana quiet investigation showed him
suaI almost every woman thre knew
nure or less Of the midnight attack. He
pressed his inquiries little further, and
Dooh mad collected sufficient evidence 10
Sualrant him in arresting st. CLAIRE,
onewSmaker, the OsgOod woman anothree
employees of st. Claire.
onewmakers brother was at the tine
,uel OF police at Terre Haute, and,by
tue way, recently killed himself by PIT
us ball through his heart at te
SPENCER House at Indianapolis. 1t ,
oupposea that he knew of his brother
ou JUNCTION with the crime. The prison
co. Immediately prepared for trial, en-
ssp"shg as counsel the Hon. John Il. Land
S ~ present Democratic candidate TO
Sinusress IN the Terre Haute (lndiana