Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-01-27

81. LOUIS, January 19.-Trzin robbers
were lolled last night IN an attempt 70 rob
an express train Of the Wabash Western road
at Iooley's Lake. tWenry-fOur miles east OF
Kansas City. The regular Kansas City q
st. Louis express train No. 4, left Kansas
City at $40 p, m. 1t was in charge Of W. o.
Seckley5 the regular conductor. George
Aorssy was IN the cab Of the engine No.
lf5z- When the train stopped at Missouri
tJlty at 5szO p. m.5 on the platform Of the
little station was band of men with guns.
The conductor was informed that they were
under the command OF an Official OF the
county who had received word that an at
tempt would be made 10 rob the express at a
lonely spot little less than two miles east
of Missouri City. One OF the officers got
into the cab of the engine and the others
distributed themEelve Throughout the train.
COOley'E lake, a fishing retreat, one of tns
lOnllest points on the road IN the winter,
was the place where the attack was to be
made. None OF the passengers on the train
we're notified of the danger.
THE ATrACE MADE.
AS the point of the attack was neared,
red light was seen cleaning ahead. As the
train sleEad mp the engineer saw three
masked men armed with rifles standing on
the track.
sect of there" said the leader of the
three men to the engineer.
"hhat do you WanIf' asked Engineer
MCrsey.
''Nevsr you mind - said the masked ban
dit. ''Get of there, now
MOrsey climbed down out of the cab. Just
as he reached the ground the officer in the
cab pointed his shot gun out of the window
and fired. Whether be nit the leader of the
band of robbers or not he could not after
ward tell, but both he and the engineer we're
of the opinion that he had. AS soon as
shot was fired he and AOrsey dropped down
lut of sight. The shot from the cab was an
sWered with shots from the guns of
the three robbers, which ratified about the
engine but did no harm. The three
men retired IN a demoralized state.
THE POSSE IN COECEALAEEEE.
AS they moved back q part of the posse
came up from the woods where they had
been in cOncealment for some time and
opened IRE on them. These men had been
been sent ont from Missouri City IN advance
of the train and had concealed themselves to
be IN readiness whenever they should be
needed. About twenty-five shots were eL-
changed, the men on the train joining IN
the pursuit. Ihs posse continued IN pursuit
of the band, and when the train reached
Moberly there was a report that two of them
had been captured by tine officers and that in
the struggle one of them was killed. The
robbers are known to be farmers living
in the ueighbOrhOod Of Missouri City.
One OF them IL said to have been a
member of the James gang at one time.
TIKI ROBBERS ALL CAPTURED.
A later dispatch from 81. Louis says that
a telegram to General Manager US from
Division Superintendent MCGEE, says that
all of the Would-bs robbers have been cap
tuFsd- Three OF them were Overtaken by
the posse and the fourth, Barney Sweeney,
the leader who stopped the train and who
received a heavy load Of shot IN his breast
from the gun of the man concealed in the
engine cab, was found in the woods where
he had crawled after being wounded. The
plot was given away by one of the gang
named King, who told Grant Arnold tine
station agent at Missouri City, what was go
ing on. Arnold in turn informed the Shelf
of Clay county and the latter officer
Immediately organized a posse. Ar
mold was one of the posse, and
il was he who shot the leader from
the cab. King remained with the gang and
signalled the train to stop, but took no 9TH
er part in the affair. Sweeney Is said TO be
dangerously wounded. He is a well known
character of the rough kind and was
charged with an attempt to blackmail Cen
araI Manager Talmage two or three years
ago.