Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-25
TWICE In A NIGHT
Bold Robbers Board a Missouri
Pacific Train.
EXPRESS CAR IS PLuNDERED
A Lyncnsng Parry With Mufderef TAks
Possession Bandit and ofheer
arc Killed.

Kansas CiIa, Mo. Jan. e4.-Fridsy
night was thrilling one for the crew
ana passengers Of the souih-oonnd
Missouri Pacific train. ihe train WAS
held up twice-once by . lynchiDg
party that Was eseoriing murderer
Robert Kepier from Nevada, Mo-. TO
lamar. Mo-. where they hanged him.
and second time by tram robbers,
who robbed the express car and its in
mates. The train he'd hardly left Mas
ssu junction. where the lynching party
took possession OF II. whea danger
signal induced the engineer to SLOW up
again. When the train came TO n
standstll two masked men entered the
car and ordered the occupants TO hold
up their hands, keeping them covered
with reyoiyers, while the train travelled
twelve miles TO Lamar. The robbers
rified tho pockets of tho trslnmen, TAX
ing $50 from Bsggagemaster Hull,
some amounts from Express Messenger
Houk and Travelling Passenger Agent
Bardette, of the Missouri Pacific. who
Lad gone to the express car TO find the
gang OF lvnchers IN the rear car. The
express messenger was compelled 10
reveal the combination 10 the Pacific
company's safe and that was also rIf'eo,
the amount secured, however. being
an insignificant sum, less than SIS.
When the train arrived at Lamar. the
destination of the mob, the bandits
mingled III the crowd of lypchers aud
for time were lost sigh, of. One of
the trainmen, however, soon dlscov-
cred them boarding north-bound
freight train.
Opened Fire on Them.
The following dispatch was cent 10
the marshal at Fort Scott; "Watch
for two men, no baggage, rough IN ap-
pearance, one smaller ,han the other.
They are wanted for robbery of the
Missouri Pacific train here thls morn
ing; are coming toward your city on .
freight" The freight train arrived at
Fort Scott att o'clock this morning.
Policeman S. b. Clemer was on duty at
the station. Two SUSPICIOUS looking
individuals of the descriptions OF the
robbers given in the dispatch arrived.
He halted them, when one of them
drew his revolver and fired. The bull
let pierced the pOliceman's shirt and
he dropped dead ON the instant. Ii Sd
happened by this time the freight was
Just pulling out and the robbers board
ed an empty box car and locked them
selves in. Shortly afterwards the pas
senger train from Lamar arrived and
on it Was Detective Chester of
the Missouri Pacific, who was
nf ha ha l..
was accompanied by United
States Marshal, and rs the marshal
boarded the passenger train 1t pulled
out immediately III pursuit of the
freight. At Mlamlstown the freight
was overtaken, but was just pulling out
for pleasonton when the passenger
train arrived. The crew OF the former
train had no knowledge of the danger
Gus freight they were hauling. Detec-
tive Chester and his companion sue
ceedcd in boarding the freight and took
possession OF the Car Immediately be-
hind tho one IN which the bandits had
taken refuge. The latter had seen the
pursuers enter the car and Immediately
opened fire upon them. The officers
returned the fire and shots were con-
hnuously exchanged through the ends
of the cars all the way TO pleasonton, a
distance of five miles. A dispatch had
been sent TO Pleasonton asking that a
poss. meet the tram and when the
tram pulled in the robbers were called
upon 10 surrender.
One Robber Is Killed
They answered with shots from their
revolvers and the posse returned the
fire. Tha two imprisoned men fired
through the sides Of the car and the
posse returned the fire with WIpches-
tiers. The fusllade lasted an hour.
Finally a shot from a Winchester from
one Of the posse struck one of the rob
bers and killed him. The other bandit
then surrendered. He WAS seriously
wounded in the side. lie gave his
name Charles Meyers of Kansas City,
ks. He declined TO reveal the name OF
his companion.
The coroner held an inquest on the
body of the dead robber and returned
verdict in accordance with the facts.
Meyers was taken back 10 Fort Scott.
A reporter called at the pisce Meyers
gave as his address IN Kansas City.
Two women were found there, one of
whom said she was Meyers wife and
the other hrs mother. When ssked
where he was, they said that he left
with his brother-inlav to 20 20 iiarri-
sonyIle 10 trade for farm and were
expected to return tonight The
women exhibited much nervousness
and we're much reserved in answering
questions. When told Of the tram rob-
berry and of the wonnding of Meyers
and the killing Of his companion ihey
made no comment. 1t IS supposed that
the dead robber is none other than :.
q. Francis. Mrs. Myers said her hus
hand had been running Joint or a
Kansas saloon, but no such man il
known 20 the pollbc.