The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-27
ROAD AGENTS AT WORK.
AN EXPRESS TRAIN ON THE
MISSOURI PACIFIC HELD Up.
uighwaymsn Board the Train and Garry
ON the Money I'm the Express SAFE but do
Not Bother the Passengers - Hood
hounds on the Robbers' Trail
[scdalia ono. } dispatch: ]

Not Bother the Passengers - hiooo-
hounds ON the Robbers' Trail
[scdalia (Mo.) dispatch.l
Missouri Pacific express train No. 3, which
left 81. Louis last night for Kansas City In
charge OF Conductor AL Marsh, was held up
and robbed by seven masked men near Rob-
bers' Cut, thirteen miles east OF mere az
1887 o'clock this morning, and from the best
information obtainable more than sSO,ooo
was secured At either California or TIP
ton two men boarded the front end OF
the baggage car next 10 the engine, ana rode
there until within one mile OF koDDers'
Cut. Three-quarters OF mile from the
cut, and an equal distance from Ottervilie,
station, the engineer ana fireman Wcro
confronted by the two robbers with drawn
revolyers and commanded To stop the train.
The request was complied with, and when
the train came 10 a standstill IL was found
that there were five other robbers impiica-
ted I'm the job two standing ON the south
side of the train and three on the north.
The robbers next commanded the engineer
10 accompany them TO the express car, ana
he did so. leaving the fireman alone on the
engine. An instant later the fireman made
an effort TO go back and notify the train
men and passengers OF what was going on,
but at the request OF one N the robbers
who was guarding the train he desisted.
On arriving at the express car, In charge
OF Messenger &. X. Avery, the engineer ana
two robbers found the door open. stories
differ as TO whether the robbers entered the
car. One report says they did, while an-
other says they compelled Messenger Avery,
under cover OF revolver, To hand out all
the money packages not locked up In the
through safe, which can be opened only at
ST. Louis. Sedalia and Kansas City. AT any
rate they secured an armful of money pack
ages, as was seen by the train porter, who
began accommodating expedition on his
own hook, only TO run up against roboer.
and became so badly scared that he dropped
and lost his lantern.
The money secured, the two robbers es-
corted the engineer back TO the engine and
informed him that he must pull out without
delay, and If he stopped before Sedalia was
reached he would do so at his peril. Less
than ten minutes time had been consumed
In committing the robbery, and majority
OF the passengers knew nothing OF what was
going on. Those who did were IN a high
state OF excitement, and money and valua-
bles were secretcd In all conceivable places.
Conductor Marsh and "A passenger named
James +. Mccormick were In a chair car,
and were the only two persons there who
were armed. They took positions at either
end Of the car and awaited developments,
but were not molested.
As soon as he boarded the engine Engineer
Greyer threw open the throttle and the
train sped on westward, but instead or COM
ing direct to Sedalia IL stopped at Otter
Vile, and information OF the robbery was
city. Half an hour later the train arrived
here and stopped just long enough To change
engines, but Messenger Avery refused To
make any statement as To the amount or
the company's loss. At 4:40 o'clock a special
train carrying Detective Delong, Sheriff
Smith and a party OF picked men left for
the scene Of robbery. Twenty-Five minutes
later they were on the ground, and as 10
had rained nearly all night the work OF
tracking the robbers was comparatively
easy for n time. An examination disclosed
two tracks in the soft mud. One was fol-
lowed some 200 yards up the dirt road that
runs parallel with the railroad and beneath
q rail OF a fence was discovered q piece OF
brown paper neatly folded up. An inspec-
ton showed that IL was the wrapper OF q
package that was taken from Messenger
Avery. 1t was addressed TO J. w. Gilbert,
Nebraska City, Ncb., and was from :. A.
Rider 4 Co, wholesale jewelers. 70S and 10
Washington avenue. II bore the stamp OF
the money order department Of the Pacific
and United States Express Company, ST.
Louis, and judging from Its size had con-
tanned silver plate OF some description. A
few feet from whore the wrapper was dis
covered the imprint OF the pobbers' muddy
feet was found on the fence, and the in
ference Is that they stopped there for a con-
ference. From this point the trail led direct
TO Otterville, where all trace was lost.
After consultation the pursuing party d.
vided itself, as all the indications led to-
the belief that three of the robbers had
struck of In a northerly direction across the
country, while two others had gone directly
south. AS to what became OF the remaining
two nothing Is known. At this juncturo
Walter Monroe, editor Of the Upton Times,
who had arrived with another posse from
the east, stated that Harry Decker had seen
two suspicious characters, covered with mud
to their knees, travelling between Aikens-
willie and Glensted, on the Versailles Rail-
tva hntxr nd AZ Ain IL a.
Docker's description OF the men tailed with
that Of two Of the robbers as furnished the
railway company's detectives. So favorably
impressed was Detective Delong with this
Information that he changed his tactics and
wired TO Superintendent Clark to have a
carload of horses sent to Versailles by
special train at once. The animals were
shipped, but were unloaded at Syracuse and
placed I'm possession OF posse who were in
structed To ride across the country to YER
sailles. Another posse left for Versailles
by train with the understanding that they
would procure horses there and ride north
until they intercepted the Syracuse party.
4. w. walters, route agent for the Pacific
Express Company, visited the scene OF the
robbery to-day and returned this evening.
Speaking OF the hold-up, he said: Il have
no means Of knowing the amount OF money
the robbers secured, but have no idea thau
IL Is anything like $50, 200. AS a rule, the
Saturday might runs out OF st. Louis are
lighter than any other day in the week,
from the simple fact that we do not do any
delivery on Sunday. OF course 1t Is possi-
BILE that the amount may reach $50, 600, but
/ do not believe IL will The through safe,
whore the bulk OF the money Is carried, Is
locked before the train reaches st. Louis,
and the messenger could not unlock IL II his
life depended upon 1t. Upon arrival here,
however, the safe Is unlocked, and then not
again until Ii gets 10 Kansas City"
Colonel j. NJ. Ames, one OF the largest
railway contractors I'm the West, arrived
from Ottervile this afternoon, and SAYS it
Is almost impossible for the robbers to es-
cape.
superintendent Clark. OF the railway COM
pany, has given instructions TO spare no ex-
pense to run the criminals down, aud moro
than one hundred men will put in the entire
night I'm securing the country, II the robbers
are not apprehended before.
Information was received this evening OF
the arrest OF a suspect at Madison station,
on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, ninety
miles from the scene of the robbery. He
will be held for investigation. Superintend-
ent Clark received word tonight that the
farmers and laborers' union of Cooper and
Morgan counties have taken the trail, de-
termined that the robbers shall be caught.
Superintendent Fuller telegraphed from st.
Louis tonight that the loss was considera-
bly, less than $50, 900, but he declined to give
6gures.