Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-08
BOB TERRELL TELLS OF THE RE-
CENT ROCK ISLAND HOLDUP.
TERRELL IN JAIL AT ARDMORE
HAS TOLD OFFICERS THE NAMES OF
HIS ASSOCIATES.
PO<tOfiice Inspector Beebe Leaves st.
Louis for the Indian Territory to
Effect the Capture of the
GanE-StOrH of the
Robbery.

morning and departed last night for the
Indian Territory. His hurried mission TO
st. Louis WAS to consult with Chief Post
office Inspector Dice and secure all in
capturing Il gang of outlaws who held up
IL train and robbed the mail car He had
the confession of one of the gang. VINO is
at present in Jail for another crime. and
who was sick at the time the train was
held up. The party who gave the confes-
sion is Bob Terrell. at present confined in
the Ardmore. l. T.. Jail for horse stealing.
The confession of Terrell duplicates five
members of his gang. whose names he
gives, in one of the boldest train robberies
that was ever committed in this country,
although the robbers received but little for
their trouble.
1t was the holding up of the west bound
Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific passenger
train near Chickasaw. i. T. IN broad day
light by five masked men.
Colonel Beebe gave information to his
chief that has never come to light before.
1t appears that Il few days before the day
set for the robbery. October l. the federal
officers and state authorities received in
formation that the robbery was to take
place. 1t was the night train that was TO
have been held up and, accordingly. before
that train started out, armed officers We're
placed in every car. The robbers were evil
dcntly aware of what was going on. and
instead of waiting for the night train they
approached 4 siding near Chickasaw on the
afternoon of October l and found Il gang
of section hands at work. They made the
gang prisoners. and turning to the fore
man of the gang. said they wanted him TO
order his men to tear up Il portion of the
track right away. as the day tram was due
fireman m refused. and this ansersd the
leader of the outlaws, who 1eve1ed re-
voiver at his head and said he would blow
his brains out if he did not comply with his
request.
The foreman said he would rather die
than cause the death of a hundred or more
of the outlaws was finally persuaded not
to commit murder. One of his men suS-
gested better schems 1t was to run the
train into the siding. The switch was OPEN
ed and when the train came along it was
run into the siding and Immediately the
outlaws began firing.
of the outlaws TO the engine. where they
Were made prisoners with the engineer,
while the fireman was taken by another
car. and under Il threat of blowing up the
car the messenger was made to open the
door
While another of the robbers stood guard
over the messenger and fireman the third
robber entered the car. and placing two
sticks of dynamite under the door. blew it
open.
During this time the fourth and. fifth
robbers kept up Il constant firing to intim-
idate the train crew and passengers. Aft
er an entrance had been made in the safe
the robbers found only several hundred
dollars in money and IL lot of packages
When the robber who had this booty
in sack jumped to the ground from the
express car and informed his confederates
Of what he had secured it displeased them
and one of the gang ordered second raid
to be made. this time on the mail car. This
was done and they carried off several hun
1rafI Let tors nd Ia M MT roo
tered mail. addressed to banks.
When the mail car had been ransacked
the robbers gathered at the engine and
place where they had their horses hitched
became known. the large force which was
to leave armed on the the train de-
parted by a special train for the scene of
search for the robbers. but were unable
to obtain clue of any kind. Colonel Beebe
was with this party. and after they were
out on quiet hunt by himself. The sup
position at first was that the OMalley and
Jennings gang had committed the robbery.
had heard of these two gangs operating
elsewhere. many miles from the scene of
the robbery.
Shortly after the robbery he arrested Ter
reil ON a charge of having been implicated
In pOstoffice robbery in the Indian Ter
ritory. Terrell lived but Il few miles from
an alibi to the postofiice robbery. having
been sick at his home at the time. he
was rearrested on charge of horsesteal-
charge. He was still sick at the time
of the train robbery and. with the Skill
that he always possesses in securing con-
ftssons. Colonel Beebe used his powers on
Terrell. and after several hours of hard
labor secured from him full confession
az to who, the robbers were and their
headquarters. Terrell said he was to have
been one of them. but was too sick to ride
AS stated above, an effort will now he
made. since the men are known to cap
ture them. and it was Colonel Beebe's mis-
sion to 81. Louis to lay before Chief Dice
Terrelrs confession! Ever since the rob-
berry 1t has been mystery to the govern
mcnt officers how the outlaws secured the
iEfoi nation that the night train was h.av-
ny armeds' The officers received the tin
that the train was going to be held up on
the certain night from Il relative of one
of the outlaws. who was to take part in
the robbery. Terrell will be used as a
witness against the outlaws when they are
CaDtEreG -~' ~'~