The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-21
HELD UP A FREIGHT TRAIN.
TWO MASKED MEN COMMIT MURDER
AND ROB A CONDUCTOR
They shoot n Brnk emnu Dead He Starts
to obey Their Ordcrs-Jumpiug on the
Moving Train with Little Booty.

They shoot Brnk emnn Dead ms He Starts
to obey Their Ordcrs-.l umpiuE on the
Moving Train with Little Booty
KANSAS CRY. Aug 2o.-Two masked mon
held up freight train on the Kansas City. St
joseph and Council Bluffs road. murdered
Brakeman j. Z. White, and robbsd Conductor
Hiram Cassc. ono milo and half from Har-
lem. in Clay county early this morning.
They escaped, and the surrounding country
has been secured so far unsuccessfully. Tho
train. which was due at Kansas City at 2
o'clock. pulled UP at Murray's Switch Mt
o'clock this morning. The place is on the
straight track that extends without curve
from the Harlem station to tho bond OF
the Missouri. opposite Quindare. There Is not
a more lonely place In Clay county Thick
growing willows and dense weeds hedge the
track. and there Is but ore little farm house
between the tracks aud the race course two
miles away.
Council Bluffs trains stop at Murray's Switch
to signal for the bridge little box OF Sig
nal house stands beside the track. and therein
is an electric bell connecting with the watch
tower In Harlem.
Incoming conductors always stop their
trains. ring this bell aud wait for an answer
from the tower. telling them that tho single
track on the bridge Is clenr
| the bell house this morning. had trouble with
the signal. He rang II seven or eight times but
got no response from tho tower. suddenly. rs
he started to try the signal again. he heard be-
| hind him q voice.
Hold up your hands !" He whirled quickly
around In the doorway OF the hut and saw
two men. Both wore black SLOUGH hats. pulled
, down over black masfs. The masks had large
eyelets cut In them. and came we'll down upon
| tho woarers' coats. which Cassie noticed were
long. Each man held n revolver. and each re-
volver was pointed ut Castles head. The
conductors hands won't IN instanter.
Have you got any money!" asked one OF
the men.
"A little Bit" replied the railroad man.
| by God! you'd better have . good deal"
| was tho Gruff rejolnder. The robbers thcn
searched Cassle. and took from him q gold
watch md SO in money.
! AS they concluded their search there came
back the rafting answer to tho bridge signal.
and ono OF tho robbers commanded Cassie to
answer. This ho did and proceeded 10 lock
The masked men 1t told the conductor to leave
ready. The middle Of the train was opposite
As the conductor walked down alongside his
train, he saw Ed White. the rear brakeman.
bs t his the ossry
against the sky The robbers saw him. 100.
! and one OF them Yelled
| Come down Of that car"
! The brakeman started to step toward the
iron ladder on the side OF the car; but lust as
| he lifted his foot pistol cracked. md White
| fell without q word or crOan.
! The mnrderous robbers showed neither fear
nor excitement over their deed and still
standing behind Cassie they roughly COM
| manded him to give tho starting signal to tho
engineer and to get on his caboose.
Cassie obeyed. and the two mon climbed
upon the car upon which White lar., Cassie.
going to the rear platform Of his ca
/ boose. climbed UP on top. eNtin.
guished hi! lantern. and lay Mt full
| length on the footbonrd. SO that he might
/ watch the robbers without being seen The
! two we're going forward along tho top OF the
| train after havin presumably examined tho
| body of White for booty.
| About eight cars from the enEine they
climbed down II ladder. dropped from the
! train. and disappeared In the weeds.
Gai+le thon II, went forward to s,e wh M, he
LYING nj fun length on top Of the car dead.
The train was run into, Harlem. where
Whites body was paced in the depot. There
It was examined by Coroner Hill and alter
F., ward removed 10 this city
! White had worked for he Council bluffs
road for some years He married about six
months ago. ii Is wife came down from 81. j o.
seph this morning. and returned with the body
| this evening
i The Sheriff Of CLAY county and the police and
I detectives OF this city are searching. but with
| out o clue for the robbers.