Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-01-28
DESPERATE ROBBERS.
A Fight to the Death With Train
Robbers
Train Robbers Headed Or at Fort Scott
Where They Kill an Oficer-One
Robber Killed and the Other
Captured.

Captured.
FORT ScoTT, Kan, Jan 25.-When at
a little after o'clock Saturday morn
ing north-bound freight train pulled
into the Gulf depot at Fort Scott, Po-
hceman McLemorc, 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 dese ription had been flashed
north and south over the wires and he
had mastered its contents. In the gov
ing light he saw stealing from a 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 a 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
murd erers had taken the freight train
going north from the junction he wait
ed for the fast mail from the south
which was few minutes late and
la - L ~ n
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 the Gulf
detectives.
At Miami the passenger train over
took the freight and the officers were
informed by brakeman on the freight
that the alleged robbers were secreted
in 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
When the train reached PleasantoD
the captain at once summoned a 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 and threatened 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
beSiegers 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 tae posse and called to
them 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 fired. the alleged rob
bers exposing themselves to return the
fire. TIE car was literally riddied
with bullet holes and when one of the
men made signs OF a truce it was found
that one of the robbers had been killed
and the other badly wounded.
The latt r signitied his surrender by
throwing both guns from the car.
None o: the posse were hurt The dead
bandit and the wounded man were
carried into the Gulf depot at Pleas
anton, where the inquest was held.
The wounded man says he is Charles
Myers of $50 Reynolds street. Kansas
City. Kan. The name of the other man
is unknown.
The body of the man called G. n.
Francis, who was killed 10 the box car
at Pleasanton. still lies unprepared for
burial in the undertaking rooms of the
Fort Scott Furniture Co.. waiting for
some one TO claim it, and was viewed
by over 5000 men. women and boys
Myers still AYERS that he never be.
fore Saturday morning saw Francis"
that he does not know his name and
that he will fight in the courts the
charge that he was party in the train
robbery near Sheldon, Mo.
Myers is not badly hurt. having only
a flesh wound in his left leg.
Express Messenger Houck came from
Lamar Yesterday afternoon and identi-
fed Francis and Myers as the men who
robbed his car near Sheldon FRIDAY
night. He had a short conversation
with Myers and seemed perfectly salts
fed that he was one Of the guilty men.
Francis, the dead train rcbber-if
Francis it was-was no novice at the
business and at the time of his tragic
death ne was wanted for participation
in the taking of $40. 900 from the Adams
express on the St Louis & San Fran
cisco road at Glendale, sixteen miles
from St. Louis, about two months ago. |
For this robbery A. d. Slye is already |
in Jail, having been captured by De-
tec,ive Robert Pinkerton-