The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-20
A Gang OF Bad. Bold Mon Signal,y
Routed by Oflcels.
One of the Banditti Gives the
Scheme Away to an Agent.
The Agent Notifies the Sheriff, Who
Makes Ready to Capture.
Tho Leader OF the Gang. Barney swee.
ney, with a Splendid Record, is
Shot nom tho Engine Cab
Well Done.

ST. LbuIs. Mo. Jan. 19.--Train robbers
were foiled last night in un attempt to rob
an express train OF tho Wabash Western
road at Cooley's Lake, twcnty.iour miles
cast OF Kansas City. The regular Kansas
City-SL Louis express train No. leit
Kansas City at the regular hour, $50
o'clock in the evening II was in charge Of
w. o. Bcclicy. the regular conductor.
When the train stopped at Missouri City,
on the platform OF the little station was q
band Of men with shot guns. The con-
ductor was informed that they were under
the command OF an official OF the county,
who had received word that an attempt
would be made to rob the ST Louis exc
press at lonely spot, little less than two
miles east OF Missouri City. Ono Of tho
officers got IN the cab OF the engine with
the engineer and fireman, and the othera
distributed themselves through the train.
Coolcy's Lake, fishing resort, one OF tho
lonclics, points on the road in winter time.
was the place where tho attack was 10 bo
made None Of the passengers Of the train
were notified Of the danger.
At $3.50 O'Clock, M the point Of attack
was ncared, red light was seen cleaning
ahead. Az the train slowed up the cngi-
nccr saw three masked men armed With
rifles standing ON tho track. Get OIL
there. said the leader OF the three men
Ia the engineer. Moncy climbed down
ont oi the cab. just as he reached tho
ground the officer In the cab pointed his
shot gun out OF the window and fined.
Whether he hit the leader OF the band oi
| robbers or not he could not aitcrward tell,
but both he aud the fireman were of tae
opinion that he had. A soon as the shot
was fired hc aud MOncy dropped down
out Of sight. The shot from the cab was
answered with shots from the guns Of tho
three robbers, which nitled about the en-
gnc, but did no harm. The three men
retired ia dcmomikcd state. As they
moved back part OF the posse came up
from the woods, where they had been in
conccalmont Cor some uuie, and opened
| lire ON them. These mcn hAd been sont
| out from Missouri City In advance oi the
| train, and had concalcd themselves io ho
in readiness whenever they should bc
needed.
About twon,y shots were exchanged, tho
men on the train joining in the pursuit.
The posse continued IN pursuit Of tho
band whom the train reached M0berly
there was icpoH that two Of them had
been captured by the officers, and thai hp
| the struggle one ~ them had been Killed.
| The robbcp, arr known a. be- farmers liy-
| ing In the ncghbOrhOod OF Missouri City.
One Of thcm Is said 10 have been a mem.
her ui the James gang at one time.
kilograms to General Manager llays,
from Division Superintendent Mc,icc say
that all of the wonld.bo robbers have boon
captured. Thrco Of them wcrc oytfiakcn
by the posse, aud the fourth, barney
SWocny, thc leader, who stoppcd the train
aud who pcoi,rd heavy load oi shot IN
the breast lrUm the gun OF the man con-
ccalcd Ia the engine cab, WIS found In tho
woods, whcro lac had ilod after being
wounded.
Tho plpt wps given away by ono oi tho
gang named King, who told Grant Anoid,
station nrrnt at Missouri City, what was
going on. Arnold In turn informed tho
sheriff oi Clay county. and that officer in-
mcdialcly Organized a posse. Arnold Was
one Of the posse. and u was he Who shot
the leader from the cab. King remained
with the gang and signaled the train TO
stop, but took no other part ia the ALTAR.
| TMfiNN ~ hilu W ~ uhilNtIhhrlN NhthN'hs
lie has long ncorl Of crime In this
State. and Il considered one Of the wort
men In Missouri sincc the days Of iho
Jesse aud Prank James gang Oi outlaws.
llc wns among that gang of d,epcmdocs.
lie has been tried for the killing Of iva
mon and acquitted. llo shot man sii-
tinr on q icnco 'just b. see him DROP
anil IN the other ease he killed a man on a
Missouri Pacific train about five years ago.
lie recently served term " two years Ia
the pcnilcnuary for attempting 10 bhck-
mail out Of -, 800 the late Col. \. \. Tm-
mngc. general manager Of the Wabash
railroad. Thomas Furlong, chief oi tho
secret service Of the Missouri Pacific, says
Sweeney II the mcancst and most desperate
villain that he ever met. John King, who
gave the band away, i a young nan oi
Missouri City, aud says he WIS forced To
Join the band against his will, and gave
the railroad officials information oi tho
| ughguo lWO weeks urO.