St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-20
A HOT RECEPTION
Given a Gang Of Train Robbers
By Sheciffs Posse

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 19.-When the regular
east-bound passenger train on the Wa
bash Western railroad reached Missouri
City, twenty-five miles east of Kansas
City, last night at 9:20, the conductor
found Oh the station platform a band of
men armed with shot guns. He was
Informed that they were under COM
mand OF an official of the county, who
had received word that all attempt
would be made to rob the train two
miles east of that point. One OF the
officers got onto the engine and the 9th
erS were distributed through the train.
The train then pulled out for the next
stopping point, Lexington junction.
Between Missouri City and Lexington
are several small stations. The first of
them is C0oley's Lake, about two miles
east of Missouri City. 1t is one of the
loneliest points or the road. None of
the passengers on the train were mott
fed of the danger, but as the train ran
along the lights in the car were lowered
and the trainmen and the posse took
their places at the doors of the coaches
with drawn revolverS. The express
messenger barricaded his car. as did
also the baggageman. AS they neared
COoley's Lake red light was swung
across the track. The engineer slowed
up and as the train came to a StandStill
THREE MASKED MEN
were discovered standing on the track
directly in front of the engine. They
ordered the engineer off the cab, and as
he started as if to obey, the Sheriff's
officer in the cab pointed his shot gun
out of the front cab window and fired
point blank at the three robbers. AS
soon as the shot was fired all within the
engine dropped from sight. The rob
berS fired at the engine, but did no harm
and then started to run. AS they went
down the bank, the posse from Missouri
City leaped from the train and began
pursuit. Another posse had also been
sent out by the sheriff and came up from
the woods behind. A lively fusilade
was kept mp between the two bands as
the train pulled out. 1t is now reported
that the Missouri City posse killed or
captured the whole gang, but nothing
definite is known. The robbers were
known to be farmers living near Mis-
souri, City. One of them, it is said, was
at one time member of the James gang.
The train arrived in this city this morn
ing only fifty minutes late, less than
twenty-five minutes being lost at the
scene of the attempted attack. Tele-
grams to General Manager Hayes from
Division Superintendent McGee say
that all of the wOuld-be robbers
HAVE BEEN CAPTURED.
Three of them were overtaken 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-
cealed 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, station agent at
Missouri City, what was going on.
Arnold in turn informed the sheriff of
Clay county, and the latter officer imme-
diately organized posse. Arnold was
one of the posse, and it 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 in the affair.
Sweeny is said to be dangerously
wounded. He is well known charac-
ter of the rough kind, and was charged
with an attempt to blackmail General
Manager Talmage two or three wears
ago,