The record-union., 1895-05-03
Story of the Attempted Hold-Up
on the Alton Road,
IN WHICH ENGINEER HOLMES WAS
SHOT TO DEATH
Deny That 1t Was the Work Of
Train Robbers, But That the KILL
ing Was Done by Tramps-Four
Suspects Under Arrest.

| Special to the RECoRD-UNIOH.
CHICAGO, May 2.-Of1icials of the Alton
road deny emphatically to-day that there
was any attempt to hold up tho train at
! Carlinville last night when Engineer
Frank Holmes was killed. The shooting
they say was done by tramps. The OFF,
cials OF the road think that they have the
murderer of Holmes in the man canght
leaving the tender. However, Mail Clerk
j. p. Keevers tells the following story:
"The train left Carlinville at 11:40.
Hardly had the train got under way when
two tramps, lying fiat on the coal in the
tender, were startled by the appearance
OF two masked men crawling over the
tender. Poking two big revolvers into
the faces OF the tramps, the newcomers
enjoined their silence and strict attention
to their own business. Passing on to the
engine cab. one of the armed men or
dered the two firemen-one man was an
extra learning the road-to put up their
! hands, while the other covered Engineer
| Holmes and ordered him to shut off the
steam. The engineer complied. Then
the desperate ordered him to give her
| full head and be lively about it.
Holmes made pretense OF doing 80,
|
stepped back step or two. Engineer
/ Holmes was on the alert for the opportu-
nifty presented, and seizing the freman's
/ pick, dealt the robber two blows on the
head. Both robbers opened fire, aud
plucky Frank Holmes fell dead in the
gangway of his engine with at least three
| bullet-holes IN his breast. The fireman
Shut off steam and put on the air brakes,
and the heavy train slowed down to a
standstill. AS 1t did so the two robbers
! swung Oft.
"A number of man had been riding on
the rear platform of the mail car and at
| the first report the two mail clerks heard
one exclaim: There, they are shooting.
| Let US get off, Jumping OF, the robbers
/ realized that their plans had miScarried.
After moments indecislon. they started
| to tlee
1.-The mail clerks, who at first supposed
| that the nring was done by brakelDen, as
a menace TO defiant tramps, heard the
fireman shouting: Holmes is shot dead
Mail Clerk John Il. Conefrey and
| Baggagenlan Logan. in charge of weigh
| ing the mails for the Government and
the Railroad Company, respectively, pro-
ceeded to assist the trainmen in a search
for the slayers of Frank Holmes.
'Hurrying around the engine, Logan
STUN bled over g man lying prone in the
| grass, and commanded him TO rise. Re-
| luctantly complying, the man protested
| earnestly against his arrest and claimed
to be in no way connected with the
trouble. Conefrey pushed on and came
| upon man with repeating rifle and
belt full of cartridges. His back was
! turned, and Conefrey covered him and
ordered him to come along. The man
demurred strongly, claiming that he had
been on hunting expedition. Conefrey
refused to parley, and, getting his re-
| volver in line with the suspects heart,
convinced him that he had an earnest
man TO deal with. Logan and Conefrey
| turned their men over TO Conductor Con-
| lin and the passengers. Coniln, III the
meantime, secured two tramps who had
| been on the tender.
1.-The man with the rifle put up SO con-
| vincing story to account for his pres
ence that Conlin permitted him TO 60"
The passengers believe that Conlin
made serious mistake. The man with
the Winchester was counterpart of the
| ideal desperate in appearance and attire.
| The three mon detained were turned
over to @ Deputy Sheriff when the train
| backed down to Carlinville. distance of
| a mile.
Train No. is said to carry at times
! large sums of money, and the object of
the bandits was probably to loot the ex-
press car. Chief Agent Kane of the G.
and A. is prosecuting vigorous search
for the robbers
| TWO TRAMPS ARRESTED.
| SPRINGFIELD (Il,), May 2. Two
tramps, suspected of completely in the
murder OF Engineer Holmes of the Alton
| fast mail, were arrested here to-day.
| They gave their names as E. j. Lund and
| Charles Lange. report from Carlinville
states that two other suspects have been
| captured there.
NEW YORK'S RACING BILL.
It Passes the Senate and Now Goes to
the Governor for His Signature.
ALBANY IN. ", May 2.-The Gray rae
ing bill, the Wild anti-poolselling bill
and the Judiciary Committees bill de-
| filming tax on racing associations was
passed by the Senate to-day. and now
goes to the Governor for his signature.
By the combined provisions of the
three bills horse racing is allowed under
the supervision of a commission of three
members to be appointed by the Gov
/ ernor TO serve for three years, the racing
/ to be under the rules of the Jockey Club
or National Steeplechase association.
Poolselling is absolutely forbidden, and
unrecorded bets or wagers between pri-
! vate individuals are the only thing in
| that line allowed. The tax on racing as
sociations allowed to operate is to be
| levied upon the gross receipts, and before
| obtaining n certificate full paymeDt of