The record-union., 1893-09-22
THEY GOT NO BOOTY.
A WELL-PLANNED TRAIN ROB-
Berry FAILS OF SUCCESS.
A New Orleans Limited Held Up-The
Bandits Meet Warm Reception
Two Under Arrest.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oS.

CENTRALIA Ill.), Sept. 2l.-It goes on
record for once that well-planned train
robbery failed of success. At midnight
last night the New Orleans Limited from
Chicago reached here. Four men had
secreted themselves on top of the express
car, and when the train stopped at the
coal chute, a short distance further on, to
take coal, the robbers climbed down and
over the tender, calling on the engineer
and fireman to throw up their hands.
Instead of doing so, they made for the
robbers, who fired, wounding both Sc
verely.
The robbers then attacked the express
car, firing numerous shots through the
door, the express messenger and con-
ductor, who happened to be in the car,
replying in kind till the door was shot
full of holes.
The robbers finally broke open the
door with sledgehammers. and letting
themselves down over the top of the car
with graphing irons, renewed the fight
ing with the messenger and conductor,
who meantime had barricaded themselves
behind the boxes and hampers.
While this was going on, brakeman
warned the passenger, who proceeded to
conceal their yaluableS.
Among the passengers was an old-time
brakeman, Jake Sanders of Duquoin,
who had shotgun. He went to the ex-
press car and succeeded in shooting one
of the robbers. Seeing the game was up,
the other three robbers fled, having se-
cured nothing.
1t is understood a large amount of
money was in the express safe.
The wounded robbers name is d. L..
Jones, from Oxford Mills, La. He is evil
IDENTIFY a railroad man, as he carried a
card from the Order OF Railway Train
men, issued at Chicago, and SWITCH
mans card from the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe, at Kansas City. He was
hit with a monkey wrench by the fire.
man, and so badly hurt that he soon fell
exhausted. The robber shot by Sanders
escaped with the others.
Engineer Young received bullet in
the shoulder, coming out at the elbow,
and another in tho back, lodging in the
hip. Fireman Mcdowell was also twice
wounded, once in the leg and once in the
neck. Conductor Odum was wounded
slightly in the hand.
After the robbers fed the train was
backed up to the station, new train crew
was put on board and it then proceeded.
The whole city was aroused by the
ringing OF fire bells and the captured
bandit was threatened with lynching un-
less he made full confession. He said
the OlHer lnenD6rS oI Ine gang were
named Charles O'Dwyer of this city,
James Harding of Danville, ILL.,, and a
man named Nichols. He also implicated
a man named Martin of Duquoin in the
plot, though he took no part in the rob-
berry.
O'Dwyer's house was Immediately sur
rounded and his surrender demanded.
His mother refused to surrender him and
the party watched till daylight, when
N Ia Il
Jail with Jones. Searching parties are
securing the country for The other two.
ODwyer bears hard name.
Jones said this morning to an Associ-
ated Press reporter that O'Dwyer learned
the train would he the most profitable
hold up" of any coming into the city.
Arrangements were made to meet at
O'Dwyer's after the robbery and divide
the swag. Jones was to have the most, to
give his father, who is poor. Jones is
switchman. He came from ST. Louis
Monday with other members of the gang.
This afternoon Mayor James Benson
was notified that movement was on foot
to lynch the two bandits Immediately
after sunset. The Prosecuting Attorney
and Police Magistrate accompanied the
Mayor to the City Jail. Jones and
O'Dwyer were handcuffed and, accom-
panied by officers, buried to a carriage
in waiting, and before anyone was aware
of what was going on, the conveyance.
closely followed by the Mayor in
buggy, were speeding across the country
to Salem, the county seat. An Asso-
ciated Press correspondent had private
interview with the prisoners just before
they were spirited out of the city.
O'Dwyer positively denied completely in
the crime, but while he leaped from the
train he dropped his mask and was
recognized.
James Harding was overhauled near
Nashville late this afternoon and brought
to this city at 10 o'clock on the Chicago
express. Mayor Benson went to the
train with several resolute men to see
that the prisoner passed through un-
harmed. The prisoner was taken to
Odin, and from there TO Salem over the
Ohio and Mississippi Railway and
landed in jail with O,Dwyer and Jones.