Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-19
TRUST BETRAYED
Explains the Train Robbery
Near Hancock, Mich.
EXPRESS MESSENGER IN THE JOB

Probably the Leader of tie Gang, a Dozen
Members of Which Are Now in the
Clutch of the Law-One of the Robbers
Confesses the Plot-Disappearance o.
Most of the Money, Only $4,000 OF
Which Has Been Recovered.
DULUTH, Mimi, Sept 10 General Man
ger Philbin, of the Messaba road, has re-
turned from Marquette and tells an in
teresting story of the capture in Marquette
Sunday evening of the robbers who held
the Mineral Range train up last Friday
morning. The case against the robbers
says Mr.. Philbin, was worked up from a
clue furnished by the engineer of the train.
The man who covered him with revolver
while the robbery was going on showed a
familiarity with the working of the engine
that proved that one of the robbers at
least was an old railroad man The en-.
gin' er W IS unable to see the mans feat
ures II the mask which co, cred them,
but recognized the mars voice and in his
report stated that he was sure the man
had formerly been employed on the road.
Led to Well Grounded Suspicion.
Suspicion fell on a young Frenchman
named George La l-iberte, who
was formerly fireman on the
Mineral Range road 1t was discovered
that he had been missing from his home
In Marquette for two days at the
time OF the robbery, and that on Wednes-
day he borrowed a revolver which he re-
turned on Saturday On Saturday-search
h,,f h.,
found. When the officers inquired at the
house they were told by his mother that
she dld not know where he was The gen
eral manager of the South Shore evolved
the plan by which Liberte was captured.
The young Frenchman only a week or two
before had applied for position on the
road rs brakeman and call boy was
sent TO the house, as is done when a man
is wanted for any train crew. The boy
left word that Liberte was wanted to go
out on train and that he was to bring his
dinner pail ready for work.
The Fly Walks Into the Parlor.
Liberties mother denied that he was at
home when the boy called, but few min
utes before the time set for the departure
OF the train Liberte came to the office of
the general manager and was arrested by
the marshal, Who was in waiting Iiberte
at first denied all knowledge of the affair
and 1t was decided to take him to Houch-
ton. a special WAS made up and he was
put on IL with the officers, but before the
train was out of the yards Liberte weak
ened and said that if the officers would
take him back to Marquette he would
make full confession. In Jail at Mar
quette Ne told story which implicated
the express messenger, Hogan, who was
in charge Of the money; jack King, the
wrestler; brother of Hogan, who was
formerly an express messenger: the bag
gage master of the South Shore road at
Marquette; Il Marquette saloonkeeper and
a llveryman of the same place
Headed by the Express Messenger.
The two latter were not present at the
time of the robbery, but knew of it and
gave aid to the gang. According to the
story told the express messenger was one
of, if not the ringleader of the plot. 1t is
believed that he furnished the informa-
tioD as to the train the money was on and
pointed out the place where it could best
be tagged and then robbed He made n
pretense at resistance to deceive the rest
OF the train crew, but gave up the money
willingly. Liberte stated that after the
money was taken from the car it was put
into trunk and checked as baggage from
Houghton to Marquette. The baggage
master at Marquette, while not originally
in the plot, knew of the contents of the
trunk very shortly after its arrival and in
this way was made party to the crime.