The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-20
TRAIN ROBBERS COME TO GRIEF.
An Attempt on Wabash Western Train
Foiled and One of the Robbers Killed.

ST. Louis, Jan. 19-Train robbers were foied
last night in an attempt to rob an express train
on the Wabash Western road, at Cooleys Lake,
twenty-four miles east of Kansas City. The regu-
lar Kansas City-St Louis express train. No. A. left
Kansas City at the regular hour. s:20P. NJ 1t
was in charge Of W. o. Beckley, the regular
conductor. When the train stopped at Missouri
City. the platform of the little station was a
band Of men with shotguns The conductor was
informed that they were under command OF an
Official Of the county, who had received word that
an attempt would be made TO rob the st. Louis
express at lonely spot, little less than two
miles east OF Missouri City. One of the officers
got in the cab of the engine with the engineer
and fireman, and the others distributed them
selves through the train. Cooley's LAKE. fish
ing resort one of the loneliest points on the road
in winter time, the place where the attack
was to be made. None Of the passengers
Of the train were notified Of the
danger AZ $3.50, as the point
of attack was neared, red light was seen
cleaning ahead. AS the train slowed MP the
engineer saw three masked men, armed with
rifles. standing on the track. "Get off there;"
said the leader OF the three men TO the engineer
Morsey climbed down out of the cab. just as
poiuted his shotgun out of the window and fred
Whether he hit the leader OF the band of rob-
DerS OF NOT. ne cOulO not aiCerWArQ tell, DuC
both he and the engineer were of the opinion
that he had. AS soon as the shot was fred he
and Morsey dropped out of sight. The shot
from the cab was answered with shots from
the guns OF the three robbers. which
ratified about the engine, but did harm
The three men retired in q demoralzed state
As they moved back part of the posse came
MP from the woods, where they had been in con-
cealment for some time, and opened fire on
them. These men had been sent out from Mis-
souri, City in advance of the train. and mad con-
lad OaA1u To ha in aaAi han
they should be needed About twenty shots
were exchanged, the men on the train joining in
the pursuit. The posse continued In pursuit of
the band, aud when the train reached Mobery
there report that two of them had been
captured by the officers but that in the struggle
one of them had been killed. The robbers
known to be farmers living in the neigh borhood
of Missouri City. One of them is said to have
been member Of the James gang at one time.
A telegram to General Manager Hays from
Division Superintendent McGee saws that all Of
the would be robbers have been captured. Three
OF them were overtaken by the posse, and the
fourth, Barney Sweeney, the leader who stopped
the tram, and who received heavy load of shot
IN the breast from the gun of the man concealed
In the engine cap, was found in the woods where
ne had crawed after being wounded The plot
was oetraye6 by Of the gang named King
VINO told Grant Arnold, station agent Mt Missouri
City, what was going Arnold, in turn in
formed the sheriff of Clay county, and the latter
officer Immediately organized posse Arnold
was one OF the posse, and 1T was he who shot the
leader from the cab King remained with the
gang and signaled the train to stop, but took no
active part in the affair Sweeney is said 10 be
dangerously wounded. He has a long record
Of crime in this State, and is considered one of
she worst men in Missouri since the DAYS of the
Jesse and Frank James gang of outlaws. He
q member of that band of desperadoes. He
has been tried for killing two men, but in some
way got clear. In one case he shot a man sit
ting fence lust TO see him Drop and in
the ofher Gaze he killed man on q Missouri
Pacific train, near ViDit about five years ago.
He recently served term of two years in the
penitentiary for attempting to black mail out of
So, 500 the late Col. A. A. Talmage. general
manager of the Wabash railroad. Thos. Fur
long. chief of the secret service OF the Missouri
Pacific, says Sweeney is the meanest and most
despicable villain that he ever met John King,
who betrayed the plot. is young man of Mis-
souri, City, and says he was forced to join the
band against lis will. and gave the railroad off
Gals information of the scheme two weeks ago.
The names OF the would be robbers are John
B Swlnney mot sweeney as previously reportedl
Inc leader: John Harerave NoaE Drew ard w.
n Harris From the best information at hand
~ TINS writing, John King. who has figured all
day as the nformer. is Noah Drew. The men
have been taken TO the Clay county Jail. Mt Lib
erty' the countyseat HarRrave has made a
fuli confession and will tell his story on the wit
ness-stAnd next Wednesday. when the men Will
pave an examination. 1t is not known mere how
Dadly Swinuey is wounded but from brief tele-
grams from Missouri City. il is said that there
~ an intense feeling against him at that place,
and tnat ne will probably be lynehed.