The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-06-01
WESTERN TRAIN ROBBERS.

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running baggage on the Union Pacific.
1t was back ten years ago. We were
coming east from Ogden and at q small
station q box supposed to contain a
corpse was put in the express car, con-
signed to Lincoln. Neb. Bill Axley,
now on the Santa Fe, was express mes
senger, and as we elevated the box
into the car he remarked that it did
not fit the coffin well, as he felt re-
acting jar as the article was put in the
car. There were two men fairly well
dressed and showing no sign of sus-
picion, together with what we took to
be an aged woman, who accompanied
the remains. She was represented as
being the mother of the deceased and
the two men we're the latter's brothers.
The woman, or man, as she turned out
to be, was anxious to remain with the
corpse in the car. She also desired that
her two sons might be by her side.
This was against the rules and they
were informed that transportation
would only be allowed the corpse in
the express car, and accordingly they
agreed to take seats in coach.
just before the train pulled out Bill
said to me that he thought the game
was q concocted robbery and was de-
termined to have the box hauled out
and inspected before the train started.
But what If it were real corpseP The
boys would have hooted Bill off the
| fD,, hio 7 &p
Bill, and he finally concluded to let the
worst come, if it must. The conductor
signalled the train to start and Bill
jumped into his car and I got into
mine, but the more thought of the
situation the more found that Billy's
suspicious were not unfounded. FL
nally, at the next station, we stopped
to await clear track, and, Bill not be-
ing in his accustomed place at the
doorway of his car, l decided to ascer-
tain where he was. At the door there
sat Bill with face as pale as dead
person, and with large drops ofprsepi-
ration standing out on his forehead. l
was about to laugh, but a sudden mo-
tion of his hand prompted me to re-
frain. Finally, he walked close to the
door and with one eye on me and the
other on the box, he said: "There's a
man in that box alive, and l know it..
You had better keep your eye on those
other fellows or we're their game sure.
| paused for q moment. | did not
want to make blunder by informing
the conductor and being called ten
derfoot; but supposing that the box
contains a live robber, there was the
point. l meditated, and finally said
to Bill to watch further developments,
but he refused, and said that If / did
not come to his assistance he would
call on somebody else. saw that he
was frightened, and he did not have
much the better of me. Taking hold of
the car-door l entered it, and we both
stood and gaZed at the box. 1t was
sealed, and neither of us had right to
open it. finally called the conductor
and informed him of the case. "Yes," "
said he, "and noticed that the old lady
who is weeping in the coach back there
has a ponderous foot for woman"
But we all agreed to await further de-
velopments, and agreed to ride in the
express car with Bill. We again pulled
out, but we had not gone far before the
bell rope was pulled and the train be-
gan to slacken up. AT this juncture
Bill did not rush to the door to see
what was up, but set both eyes on the
box. A moment of emazement and
suddenly the cover of the box flew of
and heavily armed bandit attempted
to rise, but Bill had him, and in an in
stant a ball went whizzing through the
fellows neck, and he fell over. Guard
the door!" shouted Bill. and the words
had not fully escaped his lips when
the individual in female attire ap.
peared and was about to enter the cal
when l leveled my revolver and said
woman or man, throw up your hands
or I'll shoot" In full range the indi
vidual could not do otherwise, and one
of the hands while suspended clutchec
fine specimen of firearms. Iheld the
strange guest at the point of my re
volver, and was surprised to see lit
tie gray-haired man come out of the
next coach with the two alleged
brothers heavily shackled. The little
man who subdued the two companions
was United States Marshal who wa!
on board the train at the time. The
conductor was covered and ordered tt
pull the bell rope, but before the trai.
was fairly stopped the little officer hat
both men in irons. The supposed fe
male turned out to be man in female
attire. The feigned corpse was con
verted into real one and his compan
ions were sentenced to the penitentiar.
for twenty-one years each and are nov
at Joliet, Ill. The victim of Bill
marksmanship was Utah Charlie, ont
of the most daring train robbers tina
ever infested the plains. We put thu
box and body off at the next station
and they were disposed of in a name
which never learned. Any way, Bill
temerity was the means of breaking VI
band OF train robbers that had ter
rorized the West, and his marksman
ship sent Utah Charley to anothe
home where he could not stay in pin,
box long. Bill had about $35, 900 il
charge at the time, and after making
that trip he turned over his keys ant
abandoned the SERVICE" - Omaf.