New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-20
TRAIN ROBBERS FOILED.
AN EXPRESS ON THE WABASH STOPPED
THE OFFICIALS FoREwARNED ARE FoREARMrD-
SHOOTING DOWN THE LEADER OF THE

THE OFFICIALS FoREwARNED ARE FOREARMtD-
SHOOTING DOWN THE LEADER OF THE
BAND-THE ROBBERS CAPTURED.
ST Louis, Jan. 19.-Train robbers foed last
night in an attempt to rob an express train on jhc
Wabash western road at Cooley's Lake, twenty four
miles east OF Kansas City. The regular Kansas City
and ST. Louis express train No a. left Kansas City at
the regular hour, 20 p. m. 1t was in charge OF W.
o. Beckcy, the regular conductor, when the train
stopped at Missouri City. On the platform OF the
little station a band of men with shot guns. The
conductor was Informed that they were under com
mand of official Of the county, who had received
word that attempt would be made to rob the st.
Louis express at lonely spot little less than two
miles east Of Missouri City. One the officers got In
the cab of the engine with the engineer and fireman,
and the others distributed themselves through the
train.
Cooleys Lake, a fishing resort, Of the loneliest
points the road in winter time, the place where
the attack to be made. None Of the passengers
of the train Informed Of the danger. At 80, as
the point OF attack neared, red light was seen
cleaning ahead. AS the train slowed up the engineer
three masked men armed with rifles standing on
the track
"Get off there" said the leader of the three men to
the engineer.
Morsey, the engineer climbed down out Of he cab.
Just he reached the ground the officer In the cab
pointed his shotgun out of the window and fired.
Whether he hit the leader Of the band Uf robbers or
he could at first tell but both he and the en-
gineer were of the opinion that he had AS soon as
the shot was fred lie and Morsey dropped down out
of sight. The shot from the cab answered with
shots from the guns Of the three robbers which ratified
about the engine but did harm. The three robbers
then retired in a dcmoralized state AS they moved
back a part of the posse up from the woods,
where they had been In cOnccamcnt for some time
and opened fire them. These men had been sent
out from Missouri City In advance OF the train, and
had concealed themselves be in readiness whenever
they should be needed Il
About twenty shots were exchanged, the on
the joining in the pursuit. The posse continued
in pursuit Of the band. All Of the woud-be robbers
were captured. Three OF them werc ovcrtakcn by
the posse and the fourth Barney sweeny the leader,
who stopped the train and who received heavy load
Of shot in the breast from the gun OF the man con
cealcd in the engine cab, was found In the woods
where he had crawlcd after being wounded
The plot given away by one OF the gang named
King, who told Grant Arnold, station agent at Missouri
City, what was going Arnold in turn Informed
mediately organized posse Arnold was one OF the
posse and IT hc who shot the leader from the cab
King remained with the gang aud sgnaled The train
TO stop, but took no other part in the affair.
Swecny Is said TO he d. igerOuSly wounded. lie
has long record of crime this state and Is consid-
cred Of the worst in Missouri since the days
Of thr Jesse James gang Of outlaws lie was member
of that band of d@ pcradOcs. lie has been tried for
killing men, but in way got clear In one
he shot man sitting fence Just 10 see him
drop" and in the other case he killed man on a
Missouri Pacific train Vinita about five years
lie recently served term of two years IN ne
penitcnary for attempting to secure $1,000 by black
mail from the late Colonel A. A. Talmage general
manager of the Wabash Ralrod Thomas S tnriong' n
Sweeney IS the meancst and most dcsplcabe villain
that he met.
John King. who gave the gang away. IS a yorng
the band against his will. and gave the railroad
officials information Of the scheme two weeks ago