The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-09
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.
A PASSENGER TRAIN BOARDED NEAR
DELHI, IND,
By Train Robbers, But the Railroaders
Prove Too Much for the Highway
men-one OF Them Thrown from the
Engine.

CINCINNATI, June Sat little after 10
o'clock tonight the American Express mes
senger, j. ii. Zimmerman, and baggage
master, Joe Ketchum, were alone together
in the express and baggage car of the Gin
cinnati, indianapolis, st. Louis & Chi
cago railway train which is due here at II
o'clock city time. Zimmerman, when the
train left Delhi, n station twelve miles west
of here, called Ketchum's attention to
some tramps that be saw through the glass
window of the car door leading to the front
platform, next to the locomotive tender
Both men arose and went toward the front
door. When within ten feet OF il the
tramps began firing through the glass
window. Ketchum fell shot in four places,
two balls entering his abdomen, one in his
breast and one in his left shoulder. Zim-
hermann tried to draw his pistol, but it
stuck in his hip pocket, and he retreated
to the rear platform of the car, where he
met the conductor. The latter pulled the
bell.rope and stopped tho train. While
this was going on one Of the tramps climbed
on the tender, where he was met by the
engineer and fireman and knocked stiff by
two blows from monkey-wrench. The
engineer and fireman then rolled him of
the tender while the train was at
full speed. Before he was thrown over
board, however, second robber attempted
10 climb on the tender, but he weakened
and lodged back at the sight Of the pros
trate form OF his companion. Before the
train stopped more than one robbcr was
seen to jump OFF and disappear in the
darkness. All of them wore masks COM
pletely covering their faces. Not word
was spoken by the robbers during the en-
tire aflray, and not shot was fired at
them. Indeed, that was not possible under
the circumstances. The night was very
dark, and Zimmerman and Ketchum,
supposing them 10 be tramps, went
with a lantern 10 the front door
and gave the miscreants every ad-
vantage. Had they waited instead of
firing the men would have opened the
door, and would have been entirely in
their power. They fired, Mr.. Zimmerman
and the conductor think, not less than ff-
teen shots. Zimmerman says he saw
four men distinctly, and that all OF them
wore masks. They did not get inside Of
the car, and 80 have become robbers and
murderers without pay. The police,
mounted and on foot, aided by large
force Of citizens, are patrolling the river
front and securing the country 10 inter
cept the scoundrels. The sheriff is out
with large posse.
A train Of thirty policemen went down
from here by rail starting at IL O'Clock.
They will get as many mounts rs possible
down at Delhi. The Kentucky authori-
ties have also been notified to be ON the
lookout At this hour (l2i0 o'clock a.
m. no intelligence has been received in
this city OF the capture of any Of the gang,
not even the man tumbled off the loco
motive tender.
Mr.. II. J. Zimmerman, theexpress mes.
senger, says these men were expert rob.
ber. lie says their pistols were Of large
caliber, and that they seemed cool and
courageous. Joseph Ketchum is now un
der the care OF Surgeons cambridge and
Muscroft II appears his bladder has been
penetrated by a ball, and there is no hope
Of his recovery. Tie man tumbled of the
tender has not been found. Two suspects
have been arrested.