The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-22
WANTONLY SHOT.
A CONDUCTOR HELD UP AND ROBBED.
The Brakeman Then Deliberately Shot
Dead on One of the Cars-Thc Rufians
Steal a Boat and Escape-The Vic
tim Ed White, of ST Joe.

tim Ed White, of st Joe.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Aug 21-The
dreary Clay county bottoms was the
scene of a wanton and bold murder.
J. E. White, a freight train brake
man, was shot and killed by masked
train robbers.
At 1870 a. m. yesterday a Kansas
City, St Joseph 81 Council Bluffs freight
train pulled up at Murray's bell house,
about mile and half beyond Har-
lem. Murray's bell house is dismal
place enough. There are no houses
near it 1t is simply signal box,
where the trains stop to ring up the
train dispatcher to find out whether or
not the road is open into Kansas City.
The moon was shining brightly when
the train arrived there, and Engineer
II. Cassie jumped down to use the sig
nal box. AS he unlocked the box he
heard a noise like men walking through
the high swamp weeds behind the box
He had just given his ring and had
not received his ans wer when some one
behind said:
Hold up your hands, we want your
money"
He turned and all the stories of Jesse
James he had ever read flashed through
his mind, as he saw the moonlight
shining on two big revolvers, each held
by man with a black mask over his
face.
Have you got any money!" asked
one of the men.
"A little"
well, you had better have good
deal" said one of the masks tucking in
big oath.
One of them covered Cassie while the
other hurriedly searched his pockets.
He broke his gold watch off the chain
and secured about So in change Just
as they had finished the signal rang out
its answer that the road was clear.
Answer that BELL" said one of the
robbers, and Cassie stepped back and
gave the answer: "All right
The men who were making a new
departure in train robbing by holding
fed with their haul.
is there anyone in the way carp"
asked one of the masks.
No one but the rear brakeman"
said Cassie.
The rear brakeman was J. E. White.
known to all his friends as Ed White.
Marching Cassie before them the rob-
bers walked back along the train.
White was not in the way car. One of
+ba rohhar, d;Soovarad hin, Grc+ Ha
was standing on top of car two cars
in front of the way car.
Here, you," yelled the train robber
with black oath, ''come down off of
therer'
Before White could reply or discover
what was the matter shot was fired,
and he fell.
Get your train out of here as fast as
you can, said one of the men, much
foul words.
Cassie gave the signal and the train
pulled out The two men jumped
aboard the car. on the top of which lay
their victim. The conductor climbed
up the car and peered over. The men
were walking forward on the train.
There were fifteen cars in the train.
About the eighth car they disappeared
Cassie kept out of sight and held his
lantern under the roof of the cars until
he was sure they were gone. Then he
hurried to where White lay. He raised
him partly up and turned the lantern
in his face.
The brakeman was dead.
The one shot fired at random into the
night had entered his right temple, kill
ing him instantly
The train stopped at Harlem and the
body was placed in the station house.
Cassie remained there some time tele-
reports of the occurrence to
the otficialso of the road and then brought
his train into Kansas City.
1t seems probable that the man left
the train about the time that Cassie
lost sight of them, and E. Smith, fish
erman, who lives on the river front not
far from that place, found this morning
that one of his boats had been stolen.
White was 50 wears of age and mar
ried. His home is St. Joseph. When
the officials of the road were mott
fled of the shooting they at once
sent word to Mrs White She arrived
from St Joseph this morning almost
crazed with grief They had been
only six months She was his
second wife. however. and he left a
little three-year-old girl the daughter
Of his first wife. His father. who lives
at Valassca- Ia. was notified of his
sons death this morning. The body
will be taken to St Joseph for burial
Sheriff Linton. of Clay county, or
yanized posse and is beating the brush
Of the Clay county bottoms. but with
poor chances OF getting the men
Condemned to BE shot.
Ell PAso, Tex, Aug. ali. F. Clay
on. the confederate of W. F. Bolton in
bsa .Drrlar ~ - II TawSse in Ir-raz