New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-14
THE LAKE SHORE ROBBERY


Train robbcricS have not often occurred in
which daring and what might be termed = cold
nerve" have been exhibited m'rc prodIgIouSly
than in the performance on the Lake ohofe
road in Indiana on Tuesday night. Its sue
cess illustrates anew the fact that desperate
crimes are generally the most easily perpe'ra'ed'
If the criminal can manage u Keep Ms WIS
about him and his nerve iniieNble. Inc rob
berry Of train, audaciOuS a. 1T seems Is fesly
a simple matter. 1t is possible to select i spot
along almost every railroad where tram can
Le easily stopped and at least half an hour
afforded for the wJlll of depreciation. 1t IS
only necessary that the thieves shall be Sufii-
ciontly bold. swift and rcsOlute. The Lake
Shore robbers did their work in way that
argues experience. If they were not pro-
fessional knayeS, qualified by long criminal
careers. they at least exhibited the seli-conuol
Of men whom danger does not daunt or unduly
excite. They had made formidable prepala-
tons for their enterprise IT was hO' uhu"r
taken lightly nor executed without system ana
care. Every arrangement had been considered
and securely made. Each man understood his
pant and how to perform it with absolute hdel-
tv to the whole conspiracy. The affair was
handled in SO workmanlke manner rs to argue
a plan of escape equally well thought ON but
it also gives to the police authorities hiht OF
two as to the direction in which their inquiries
should be prosecuted.
The robbers were economical OF both tnc
and labor The main body Of their force was
distributed around the train 50 as TO keep mp
a constant and terrorizng fire 10 prevent any
attempt at interference with the work oil the
three men occupied in breaking into the safe
in the express car. The engineer and ireInan
were in the hands and at the mercy OF two oil
the dcsperadoes especially selected TO cOntrOi
them and the train. The engineer who gal
lantly showed fight was quoted with bullet
in his shoulder. This was plain evidence that
tbe bandits did not intend 10 be thwarted, and
were quite prepared 20 take the life Of any who
might attempt IT, The work of l1iilng the safe
was done in busineSslike and competent man.
ner. The demand for admission INTO the eX-
preSS car having been refused, rs doors were
promptly burS: open by an explosion OF dyna-
mite and the express messenger ana MS As
>i>tant were reduced 10 quiet submission under
the menace of a shining pistol. HE sale was
drilled and opened. and is valuable contents
were handed ont 10 man IN waiting at inc
door who having received them all, without
nausjnp for his companions, dashed away INTO
the woods. lie evidently knew whittier he
was going and what he WAS 10 do when he got
there and the others making their escape more
leisnrclv. wore evidently satisfied 10 depend on
him. From all these proceedings the elements
Of chance and risk were eliminated a. far is
L.. 4 l. fan
snmption that the robbers were men who make
crime a business. who understand the adVan-
tagc Of collaboration. and who are alive 10 the
fact that IN such an enterprise making way
with the booty is quite Il, difficult job Is
obtaining it in the first place
Their" haul 10 u~c the technical expression
was less than $40. 600, but II was more than
an express company can afford 10 lose. THIS,
however does not constitute the chief reason
for their capture and punishment. II travel
between Naw-YCrh and Chicago = 80 insecure
=, that any night train is liable to be stopped
and the passengers subjected 10 indgniy and
personal danger il is time for the police 10
show Of what account The, are. Since the OPP
pOrtuniticS 10 stop and attack tram are 50
many in thi, land Of long distances. il can only
he rendered an impossible scheme by the new
table conviction Of those who attempt H. The
chase after these bandits is hot and earnest.
Searching parties are now at work III all dl-
roC1ions. and the police Of the cities wherein
refuge might be had are dong their best 10 aid
i'm the capture. The authorities cannot afford
10 make failure Of it. l. Is great and press
ing duty To convince indicators that the road
IA psc1,,n t,p consequences of such high handed
yillany i, closed and full Of pitfalls and I'M
pedlmcni>.