The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24

ton at Syracuse before the train pulled
out, they had not seen him since and the
question of what he was doing at Lyons
and how he got there at once suggested
itself. An attempt was made to seize him
but he pulled out two revolvers, held the
crowd back and backed across the yard
until he reached a coal train, the engine of
which had steam up ready to pull out for
the west. He pulled the pin holding the
tender TO the first car, climbed over the
coal into the cab. drove the engineer and
firemen out with hisrevolvers, pulled open
the throttle and started the engine.
Conductor Lass and one of the switch
men procured a shot gun, freed the en-
CINE from the express and with the fire.
men and engineer started in pursuit OF
the fugitive. 1t will be remembered that
the Central Hudson is four tracked road
and the engines, though both going west,
were not on the same track.
The express engine soon overlook the
robber, who suddenly reversed his
engine and let his pursuers pass him,
pouring perfect rain of pistol balls into
the cab as his pursuers went by. Then
the pursuers stopped and the pursued
went ahead. Another duel ensued, the
shot gun taking part this time. No one
was hurl in either battle.
About two miles beyond the robber
found his engines steam was giving out.
So he jumped off at a cross-road and
started across the country, going south.
He managed TO terrorize a farmer Into
letting him have horse and rode on
about two miles further south. Here he
procured horse and cutter, persuading
their owner, German farmer, to entrust
him with them by firing on him. 20.
~ L., J
turned to Lyons where the sheriff of
Wayne county had organized posse,
which under command of Deputy Sheriff
Collins, started in pursuit. Meantime the
farmers along the robbers line of retreat
had also turned out fully armed in pursuit
The runaway was sighted about five miles
south of Newark. The roads are very bad
and he had made poor speed. He aband-
Oned his rig and ran across lots to Benton's
swamp. But the swamp proved too full
of water to be penetrated and the fugitive
took up his position behind stone wall
and faced his pursuers. After some parley
he surrendered to Deputy Sheriff Collins.
He was taken back to Lyons and lodged
in jail He gave the name of William
Cross, said he was from New Mexico, and
had been boarding in Syracuse for some
time. He admitted that he was the man
who had attempted the train robbery. He
is believed to be the much wanted Oliver
Curtis Perry who robbed Express Mes
senger Moore near Utica last fall.
The story of the attempt at robbery, as
far as can be gathered, is this: Cross
boarded the train when it pulled out OF
Syracuse, and climbed on top of the ex-
press car. He was provided with hooked
rope. Fastening the hook in the slight
cornice of the roof. on one side of the car
he let himself down on the other, and,
resting his toes on the bar that runs across
the car, looked in the glass OF the side
door and saw the express messenger in
front of one of the safes. which was open,
making up his bills. He smashed the
glass with his revolver, covered the mes
senger and shouted to hold up his hands.
Instead of doing so, McInery reached
for the signal cord with one hand and for
his revolver with the other. A bullet
smashed the hand on the cord, but not
before it had given the signal that aroused
the conductor. McInery fred on the rob-
Der and put bullet through his coat.
Then the robber shot the messenger twice,
once in the right leg and once in the left
temple. He climbed into the car and
desperate struggle took place, which did
not end until the train was stopped for the
first time near Weedsport. 1t is evident
that the robber had climbed out on top of
the cars and remained there through the
stop at Port Byron until the train reached
Lyons. So tar as can be learned the rob-
Der secured absolutely nothing. for which
the company can thank the readiness of
Conductor Laass and the pluck Of Mes
senger McInery.