Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-02
TRAIN ROBBERS In 'HOC.'
The Examining Trial of Brock and
Burrows, the Cotton Belt Train
Robbers, Begun at Texarkana,
Brock Makes a Clean Breas! Of the AZ
fsir-The Doodle Obtained Very
Small According TO His Figures
The Evidence Shows &c to be One OF the
Most skiIlfnIiy Devised and Executed
Train RobosEiss on Record.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
TExARKANA, ARK, Feb. Brock and
Burrows, the Cotton Belt train robbers,
were not removed to Little Rock last
night IS intended, but were srrGlgGed for
for examination this morning before JUS
tice McFlinn's court. The examination
vas held with closed doors, but among
the newspaper reporters admitted was
THE GAZETTE reporter. The accused
waived an examination, but as there was
8 large array of witnesses in attendance
they were examined and the testimony Of
the most important ones taken down.
The robbery in question was committed
near little station of the Cot
ton Belt road, called Genoa,
about eight miles esst of this
place on the night of December 8, 1887,
and the testimony of one of the partici-
pants es sblished it IS one of the most
skillfuliY devised and executed of any Of
the kind of this age Of train robbery.
james Buchanan Burrows, who was
captured in Lamar county, Alsbsms, a
few days ago and brought to this plsce, is
apparently about thitty-fve years CID,
about five feet nine inches high, and looks
the farmer or cowboy. When the trial
commenced this morning he wore care
less air and had smile on his face
which changed to nervous tWitcbings
as the trial proceeded and the incidents
of the robbery were related one by one.
Some OF Pinkerton's best men are here,
and they are directing the prosecution,
which is conducted by some of the sblest
attorneys at this bar. Thomas J. Gavin,
the express agent who was one of the
victims OF the robbery, gave clear and
explicit account of the robbery, aud fully
and completely identified Brock aud Bur-
rows as the men who held up the train
and broke into the express car, aud stated
that Burrows ordered can Of oil to be
brought that he might burn the car.
W. L. Brock would be recognized by
the description given OF him by the news
papers ct the time Of the robbery. he
SAYS he is thirty-two years Old, is large,
heayy set, fully six feet high, very high
forehead, fair compile Xlon and mustache
that was spoken of SIS belonging to the
leader of the gang. He gave full stale
ment CT The whole affair, aud in good
language showing that he has some edu-
cation. Brock said thai his home was
near Alexandria in Erath county,
Texas. He has lived there two
years, came from San Antonio to that
place, first became acquainted with
James Buchanan Burrows and RUDE Hou5-
ton Burrows in Efath county and worked
for them on 6 farm. Jim and Reuben
Burrows moved back to Alabama, some
time in November last. About the last
of November he received q letter from
Rube Burrows to meet him at
Texsrksna on December l. Brock
arrived here en- time, but it
was several days before the two Bur-
rowses arrived. They put up ct the Co.'S
mopo!itan hotel which is in the immedi-
ste vicinity of the Cotton B 1t depot.
Brock registered in his own proper
name. Jim Burrows registered as James
Buchanan and Rubin as Rubin Houston.
They remained several days and discussed
the proposed robbery. Brock and Jim
Burrows opposed the robbery in this
vicinity for the reason that the country
was new and they were afrsid they would
be caught. Ruoe overruled them, how
ever, and they met near the round-house
and arranged the programme. They had
siY-shooter each, but concluded that
was not arms enough, SO ON the 9th Of
December the three went to Tyler on the
Cotton Belt, but not finding the kind of
guns and cartridges they wanted
they went on to Corsicana. Here they
purchased from G. P. Keener, s merchant
of that city, two nine-shooting Colts
guns. Mr.. Keener is here IS witness
and
C0RRoBoRATEs THIS eTATEMENT.
The party then left for Texsrksna
direct, and arrived here on the 18th, but
only halted long enough for Brock to buy
through tickets for the party to Garland
City, where they proposed to rob the
train. Examining the ground at Garland
City they found a boarding train and
force of men st work near the point they
had selected. They then went TO
LeWisyille Station, only few
miles further and spent the night. They
decided thst WAS not q suitable place on
account Of the water and mud, and re-
turned on this side Of Red river to Came
ron Station, and from there to Genoa
station and csmped on the Sth. The
robbery was to have been committed on
the night of the Sth, and Brock and jim
Burrows were at the appointed place to
board the train, but it went by and
DID NOT STOP.
The party went to camp and spent the
night in lolling around. The plan
was for RUDE Burrows to remain
at the cat where the job was to be COM
mittad, and Jim and Brock were to board
the train when it halted st Genoa, which
plan was faithfully carried out. Brock
states tast when the bell sounded 10
move cut ne and JimgBurrows both
mounted on the engine from ore side,
both masked. Brock held s pistol at the
engineer and Burrows at the fireman and
ordered them TO pull out. Brock says
the engineer
WANTED TO FARLEY,
and declared they would collide with
south-bound train tht was ex-
pected every minute. Brock assured
the engineer that the train
WAS side tracked and that there was nc
danger, whereupon the engineer said all
right and put on steam. When they ar
rived st the cut where RUDE Burrows was
in waiting, the engine wss- halted and
Jim Burrows yelled out to Rube TO know
If that was far enough? Rube said all
right, and Brock and Jim got of the en-
CINE taking the engineer and fireman