Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-07-18
Postofice Inspector Watkins Finds a
Portion of the Money Which
.@ was Stolen
From the Mail Car on the Northern
Pacific Railroad, Near
New Salem.
1t Had Been Dropped Where Two of
the Robbers Separated on
q Stream.
Train Robbers Doodle Found


jamestown Alert: All doubts as to the
identity of the captured New Salem train
robber now lying in the Fargo Jail are set
at rest by the discovery made by Postoffice
Inspector Watkins last Sunday at the
scene of the capture. 1t will be remem-
bered that a confession was reported to
have been made by the man to the inspec-
tor. This was not true. What led to Mr..
Watkins recent trip and successful dis
coveries can only be laid to good detective
work. The prisoner has been reticent and
has stolidla refused to say anything since
his capture on the 10th Of June, by the IN
spector and the posse Of Sheriff Hayes OF
Stark county. The fact of the taking of
the man is yet fresh in the minds Of all,
but the details of his capture have not yet
been published, for reasons best known to
the officials. Briefly, the two robbers after
holding up the long train, terrorizing the
employees and securing their Doodle in
registered mail letters, fled toward the
south from the scene of their daring ex-
plot. One of them carried a shot gun
from the train. They also attempted to
get away with a considerable amount of
specie. They made rapid progress direct
for the Black Hills. The robber who is at
large could not swim, while his partner
could. About thirty miles south OF the
railroad track they were obliged to cross
one of the forks of the Cannon Ball river,
a small but deep stream flowing into the
Missouri. This was entered and safely
crossed by swimming their horses. Fur
Their along a creek was met, which mired
tho hnrca nf thn riInr yuhn uroc hin,cnlf
able to swim, and who had attempted the
stream first. The other robber failing to
find a ford, here separated from his pal
who had reached the opposite bank. Each
went in different directions, the man who
was caught proceeding south and the other
following up the course OF Cedar creek,
which the horse could not ford and which
the rider could not swim, neither could the
animal be abandoned.
The Sheritf's posse followed the track of
the man who went south. About eighty
five miles from New Salem, at Z o'clock in
the morning, he vas discovered resting af-
ter his long ride on the bank of a small
stream under some low bushes. The
horse was grazing at the end of q lariat
rope, the saddle on the ground. On dis
cOvery OF pursuers the fellow quickly
threw the saddle IN the horse, flung away
a bag Of eighty silver dollars, a package Of
flour and one of bacon, and dashed off at
full speed. lie was overtaken and at the
mouth of a Winchester made some state
ment, upon the strength of which the re-
ward o, $1,000 has been claimed. On his
person was found a gold ring and gold
watch taken from the mail sacks and only
about 500 in money. He was taken to the
Jail at Dickinson and kept there for a few
days, and for greater security removed by
wise precaution may be judged from the
escape Of the only two prisoners at the
Dickinson jail on the Fourth of July.
The men had evidently divided their
swag before starting, so that in case Of
separation each would have his share:
Inspector Watkins probably knows by
this time the amount they secured. The
the amount is but the rudest guess. 1t is
believed the robbers got away with nearer
$4,000. The registered pouch was discov-
cred on the trail to have been burned, and
near by the shot gun was found aban-
dOned as too cumbersome to carry.
Believing that part of the none at least
had been concealed by the captured robber
or rather thrown away during his short
flight after discovery, Inspector Watkins
left this city last Friday morning and,
taking one assistant with him, on Sunday
morning last reached the spot on the bank
Of the stream where they got their man:
Recent rains had caused a heavy growth of
grass and the wind been sweeping over
the place since June 10th. But after a
day, search over a space of about four
acres the shrewdness OF the inspector was
rewarded by finding in torn bits and ragged
pieces a large amount of currency. One
wad contained a big b%ill-S1,00O. There
were found numerous tens and twenties
more or less mutilated, in prairie grass
knee high. The whole bundle had been
dropped in one place and in the robbers
haste not securely hid. Coyotes or gophers
had torn and separated the money n the
winds had scattered it. The mount re-
covered the inspector will not disclose but
it runs into the thousands. The other
robber is at large yet, and is the leader
He is Known as a m~arvelously clever
craftsman with a romantic career. He is
daring and self-possessed and has figured
in criminal annals of the west but never
convicted. Has killed his man. The fell
low in jail is also a certain murderer. In.
spector Watkins leaves for Helena to-
night and will then take a lay OFT of thirty
days in Washington.
National &. A. r. Encampment.
The national encampment of the Grand
Army Of the Republic convenes at Boston
~ MI