The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-21
THE STORY IS OUT.
HISTORY OF THE TRAIN ROBBERY
FROM ITS VERY INCEPTION.
Since Last October the Officers have Known
the Holdup Was on the Tapis and Have
Been Watching the Men Now
Under Arrest.

Among the arrivals on last nights
International and Great
Northern train was Sheriff Jackman |
of Hays county. At the depot await
ing his arrival was Sheriff White,
and after consultation they gave out
to the press the following history of
the inception of the Duval train rob-
berry:
Early in last October, while Jack
man was waiting at the depot on a
Sunday night in San Marcos, he was
approached by young man by the
name of Matsou, who wanted to know
what reward there was for the arrest
of train robbers. Jackman gave the
desired information and asked him If
he knew where there were any. He
replied that he was going to San An
tonic that night and would see him
when he returned. On the following
Tuesday he came into Jackman's
office and told him that Dick Wal
lace had come to him and proposed
that they rob train, and he asked
Jackman for advice in the matter.
He was told to go ahead
and play in with Wallace,
but to- keep him (Jackman) posted.
The following Thursday Jackman
came to Austin and laid the matter
before Mr.. White. Matson was fuI-
nished with money by Jackman and
came to Austin on two different oc.
casions to confer with Wallace and
went back to San Marcos and re-
ported that it had been agreed that
the robbery was to be committed by
himself, Wallace, Shelton and Brun-
SOD, There appeared to be some
hitch in the plan, however,
and the robbery was put
off from time to time. In the mean
time Wallace continued to make trips
to San Marcos on which he was con-
stantly Swallowed by White. Finally
Shelton came to San Marcos with
Wallace and steayd at Matson's house
several days and said that he had
come for positive understanding as
to the time of the robbery. No I'M
Outstanding was reached, however,
but Shelton told Matson that il the
scheme flashed in the pan he must
remember that dead men tell no tales.
Shortly afterwards Wallace came
down again and told Matson that he
had written to another man to go into
the scheme with them, and gave him
the reply he had received. 1t was
from Frank Mackemson who lives
near Georgetown. The reply does not
show that Mackemson agreed to take
part in the robbery, but he did come
to Austin and confer with Wallace
and Shelton and was shadow
ed by White, On the Thursday
preceding the robbery Wallace went
to San Marcos again and tried to In
duce Matson to come on with him
right then but the latter demnrred az,
he could not leave then without at
tracing attention, but agreed to 60
Saturday. This seemed to satisfy
Wallace. He told Matson, however,
that another man namedLum had been
taken into the game. This was COM
municated to Deputy Sheriff Thorp
by Jackman with the additional in
formation that Lum was dark
man with black mustache
and that his mother is a widow
Thorp Immediately recognized the
description as fitting Lum Deaton and
placed him under surveillance. Wal
lace never cane back on Saturday
however, as was expected and this ex-
plains why the robbers were no
caught in the act. it being supposed
that the scheme had been. once NOR
put off.
AS soon as Sheriff White heard o
the robbery on the morning of Decem
Der / he Immediately called the turf
and ut once sent Jackman the follow
ing dispatch at 8 a. m:
"Train robbed last night at DIVA
at same place we suspected some tim
ago. Am satisfied same party did II
Go out to place near San Marcos ths
, we spoke Of and catch those that ma
| come in there"
At5a. m. he sent the following:
81 am satisfied this robbery wa
done by our men. You get all VIII
may come in there today or ton light
! 1t was the scheme after the robber
was committed for those engaged ia