The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-01-29
DESPERATE ROBBERS.
A Fight to the Death With Train
Robbers.
Train Robbers Headed on at Fort Scott
Where They Kill an Onicer-One
Robber Killed and the Other
Captured.

FORT SCOTT, Kan, Jan. 25.-When at
little after o'clock Saturday morn
ing a north-bound freight train pulled
into the Gulf depot at Fort Scott, Po-
liceman McLemore, on duty there,
was alertly watching for the ap-
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 des riution had been flashed
north and south over the wires and he
had mastered its contents. In the grow
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
and, running up to them. he called out
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 Al
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
murdere 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 aud
boarded it BY this time officers Abbott
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 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
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 mics an hour.
Capt. Chester was self constituted
of the 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. The car was literally riddled !
with bullet holes and when one OF the |
men made signs of truce it was found /
that one of the robbers had been killed !
and the other badly wounded.
The latter signitied his surrender by |
both guns from the car.
None OF 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. y. |
Francis. who was killed in the box car /
ut Pleasanton, still lies uuprepared for
burial in the undertaking rooms of the /
Fort Scott Furniture Co. waiting for
some one TO claim il, 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 ia the courts the
charge that he was party in the train
robbery near Sheldon, Mo.
Myers is not badly hurt having only
4 flesh wound in his left leg.
Express Messenger Houcl1 came from
Lamar YESTERDAY afternoon and identi.
fed Francis and Myers as the men who
robbed his car near Sheldon FridaF
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 robber-if
Francis it was-was no novice at the
business. and at the time of his tragic
leath he was wanted for participation
N the taking OF 81. 900 from the Adams
express on the st Louis Il San Fran
.isco road at Glendale, sixteen miles
rom st. Louis, about two months ago.
For this robbery A. d. Slye IS already
n jail, hlvilg been captured by De-
.ec,ive Robert Pinkerton.
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INDUSTRIAL FIGURES.