Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-30
DESPERATE ROBBERS.
A Fight to the Death With Train
Robbers.
The Robbers Headed or mt Fort Scott,
Where They Kill an Ofiicer-One
Robber Killed and tho Other
Captured.

FORT SCOTT, Kan, Jan S5.-When NJ
little after o'clock Saturday morn
ing a uorth-bound freight train pulled
into the Gulf depot at Fort Scott, Po-
liceman McLemore, on duty there,
was alertly watching for the APP
pearance Of the two train robbers
who had held up the occupants Of
the Missouri Pacific express car at
Sheldon at midnight. A telegram giving
their description had been flashed
north and south over the wires and he
had mastered its contents. In the grow
ing light he saw stealing from q box
car of the just stopped train two men
who answered clearly the general de-
scription furnished.
McLemore knew the desperate char
acter of the chase but he was brave
and, running up to them, he called out
a loud summons that they throw up
their hands. Before his own half
drawn weapon could speak, one Of the
men fred upon the officer from Az
caliber Colt and the bullet took instant
fatal effect McLemore dropped in his
tracks and the two much wanted ruff
fans disappeared among the freight
cars close at hand. =
Capt Chester, the Gulf detective Of
this city, was at the scene of the killing
of Policeman McLemore soon after its
occurrence and presuming that the
murderers had taken the freight train
going north from the JUNCTION he wait
ed for the fast mail from the south
which was a few minutes late and
boarded it BY this time Officers Abbott
and Mapes had also become convinced
that the men had taken the freight at
the junction and they returned from
their overland chase and took the
northbound passenger with tho Gulf
detectives.
At Miami the passenger train over.
took the freight and the officers werc
informed by q brakeman on the freight
that the alleged robbers were secreted
in a box car. The officers boarded the
freight train at that place just as it
left the station and were Immediately
made acquainted with the exact loca-
ton Of the men. y
When the train reached PleasantoD
the captain at once summoned q posse
Of men armed with Winchesters and
surrounded the car. The fugitives did
not finch at the sight Of armed men
but called to them aad thrsatened them
that they would fight to the death and
would shoot the first man who come
within range. They were, however,
only armed with revolvers, while the
besiegcrs had long range guns.
Abbott remained in the caboose while
Chester and Mapes stationed themselves
on thd car just behind the one contain
ing their men in order to prevent them
from escaping. The brakeman had
locked the car and they, soon after
leaving Miami, realized that they were
imprisoned and, learning Of the pres
ence of the officers, began firing. The
officers returned the FIRE and the battle
was kept mp from Miami to Pleasanton
on the train, the speed OF which the
conductor had ordered increased to
twenty-five miles an hour.
Capt Chester was self constituted
commander Of the posse and called to
than to drop their guns and surrender.
They replied by firing at the officer
and his men. The captain ordered his
men to stand at cross fire range and
pepper the car with bullets About
Fifty shots were fred, the alleged rob
bers exposing themselves TO return the
fire. The car was literally riddled
with bullet holes and when one Of the
men made signs of truce II was found
that one Of the robbeSs had been killed
and the other badly wonIded. y
The latter signified his surrender by
Gfowi2g both guns from tne car.
NORS 81 thS POSSE were hurt The dedG
bandit and the wounded man were
carried frSo the Gulf depot ~ Pleas
anton, where the inquest waS hSld. \
The wounded man says he is Charles
Myers of $50 Reynolds street, Kansas
CITY, Kan. The name of The other man
is unknown, but Is SUPPOSED to be =
man going by the name Of Francis.
Myers is not badly hhrt, having only
a flesh wound in his left leg
Express Messenger Hbucl1 came from
Lamar Yesterday afternoon and identi-
fed Francis and Myers as'the men who
robbed his car near SheldbH Friday
night He had a short conversation
with Myers and seemed perfectly satis-
fed that he was one OF the guilty men
It will be buried in the potter's field 10
m orrow IL not claimed.