New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-26
TRtIy EOBBERS WE'LL CAUGHT

Dick, Turin has been Outwttcd and brought
IN Garth in Missouri The gang of marandels
that held M a train near st. Joseph was com
pletcly taken by surprise by sixteen police
officers. who had been sent out on secret IN
formation 1t was n most successful MI OF de-
tcctive work, ntelligcntly planned and boldly
executed Upon the arrival OF the express tram
from Kansas City at midnight dummy IRAN
of the same number of ears with the police
concealed and fully armed was substituted Tor
If. Three of the robbers were Gagged IN the eX-
press car AMI two of them Shot down. Inc
two marauders on guard outside were easily
,aptnrcd and the last member Of the gang. the
desperate covering the engineer and the ire
man. escaped tn the woods only 10 he made
prisoner. 10 is one Of the most thrilling cpl
scdcs of Western detective service The rail-
way officials and the police are 10 be highly
commended for the vigilance, warncSS ana
courage which enabled them to outmanocnve
and defeat the train robbers
While the details of this successful onslaught
upon knight, Of the road will be read with an
intense feeling of relief by the public which
has been startled by recent revelations OF the
insecurity of travel. II l. an open question
whether the recurrence Of outragcs VIII bc
prevented by the collapse Of a single plot. The
railway officials in this instance received timely
warning Of the impending attempt to hold up
the train, and were able TO adopt defensive
measures. The warning was an indication Of
treachcry on the part Of some acc0mpicc OF
the gang. and full advantage wa, taken OF the
opportunity for teaching bandits sautary los
son. Railway corporations and the police au-
tboritics are seldom favored by circumstances
~ they were in this case. Despcradoc> engaged
in such plots can count ordinarily upon the iidel-
ity Of their confcdcrafcs and stand in no fear of
premature betrayal Of their secrets. 1t is ~
be apprchendcd that railway bandits instead
Of being deferred by the fate of these Missouri
outlaws from making fresh attempts. VIII only
be rendered more cautious IN planning their
work. 1t will be serious error OF judgment
if railway officials relax their vigilance IN con
sequence of the good work done near It.
Joseph The facility with which trains can be
stopped at night BY the display of red lights
and left at the mercy Of bandits has been de-
monstratcd The initiative instinct is strong in
criminals. II is not improbable that similar
outrageS will be attempted on the trunk lines.
For wears after the introduction Of railways
in Mexico it was necessary 70 have armed
guards of soldiers on the trains for the pro
lection OF passengers and treasure Indeed,
the practice has not vet been wholly abandoned
there. although travel is now as safe on the
main lines as it is in Europe. II * Illuminating
TO American pride that it has suddenly become
necessary to increase the guards in express cars
and t. send out dummy trains with dctach-
ments of police to battle with doSpcladocs in
the vicinity Of large cities. 1t seems like a
lapse into Mexican conditions Of laWleS'nosS
and insecurity The situation must. however,
be faced with courage and intelligence. Travel
lnrs must have the assurance Of security from
the raids of train robbers, even if il becomes
necessary 20 have an armed guard in attend
ance upon every train. Is for the dc>pcradocS
themselves ~ mercy should he Shown TO them.
The bandits captured near st. Joseph ought 10
suffer with a. little delay Is possible the full
ponalty for their mudcrOuS crime. While
railway corporations and the police are called
upon - take every pfccaution for the pre-
yention Of additional outrage, the courts have
il in their power. whenever a Baclhcath runian
is brought up for trial and sentence t. enforce
with the utmost Iigor the tcnorS Of the llw.