The evening times., 1897-12-07

New York, Dec. ALFRED Cheney, ',ne
Of the famous Cheney brothers, is making
an effort to get out of the Kings county
penitentiary, where he is serving life
sentence. The brothers were well known
I'm the West several years ago, but since
the Indian Territory train robbery fo-
his alleged connection with which Cheney
is now in prison. they have been almost
forgotten. Cheney's two brothers were
hanged for their snare in the train roo.
3ery and he CAME, pear sharing their fate.
There was some doubt M TO his actual
participation in the robbery, however,
and this 50 we'd him from the scaffold.
A number OF prominent men have inter
ested themselves In Cheney during the
past two yea rs and are doing their utmost
to get the President to pardon him They
have looked carefully into his case and
say that It looks very much as though
Cheney was victim OF the prejudice
against his family In Indian Territory.
His claim. that he was twenty miles away
from the scene OF the robbery on the night
It occurred seems To be true. and there
is possibility that when the President
has chance 10 weigh the evidence he
viii pr'don Cheney.
The hold-up took place at F.yos's Greek
in the fall Of 1893. Il was one Of the
famous train rOblseries of recent yea rs, not
on account of the amount Of money stolen.
but because OF Its humorous features. At
least two of the Cheney boys, and n
desperate known ~ Dynamite Jack. x.rt
engaged in IL. TIE trio hU8r,led the ira ain
at small way station, and began OPERA
tions when Pryor's Creek was reached.
but Dynamite Jack thought IT would I've
fun tc bluff the passengers instead cf
intimidatng them with real firea rms. lie
had glass bottle made in the shape of a
revolver and full OF whisky He whipped
this out and made the passengers throw
up their hands. Then the Cheney boys won't
down the aisle relieving the passengers OF
their vauables.
When they had secured everything OF
value in the car, Dynamite Jack pui'ed
the bell-rope. and, as the train siOw.-i up,
he threw the glass revolver on the floor
and smashed il. Then he laughed in the
faces Of the passengers, called them n lot
of ours and towards and, with the Cheney
boys. jumped from the train.
When Officers got on the trail OF the
robbers they suon ran them own. They
caught all three. after a fight in which
shots were exchanged. Alfred Cheny was
the next day at his home. He
was planting corn i'll n field when the
marsiials caught him. His brothers and
Dynamite Jack protested against A:frc'i's
arrest. They insisted that he not only had
no hand in the robbery. hut didn't even
know ii was going To take place.
The people OF the Indian Territory We're
getting little tired of desper ADDE'S, how
ever, aud all four men had TO suffer. Dyna-
mite Jack got I'm. came sentence as Alfred
Cheney. although the brot hers W hile on the
svore that the latter was Innocent.
Both men We're brought East and placed In
tn, Kings County PcnItentiary about fOIr
years ago.
Cheney is hroken down physically and
Twicesince he has been In Brook
yn Ii has bcen taken to The Flatbush Ins,ne
asylum the last time about four months ago,
and the ph ysicians say that unless lie is re-
eased sopn his mind VIII give way entirely.
N1dtthch = n FsOOkiyn
iealer. Postmaster Wilson, and Charity
Burtis, OF Brooklyn, have all
AIKEN an interest in Chcney's case and
ire using their influence to secure him 4 par
Ion. Warden Hayes. of tn, prison, is also
helping Cheney's case along. He believes
he man to he the victim OF bad reputa-
ion. He says that since the day Cheney |
uttered :he prion he has persisted in |
his innocence. Dynamite Jack, |
vho liar little or no chance OF ever getting
outside OF the penitentiary, declares that |
'heney had nothing to do with the train |
obbery. His afficavit Is part OF the evil |
ience u. he presented to the President.
Cheney's wife is coming East soon She |
las made an affidavit to the effect shat |
Ter husband W as at home with her when he
obbery took place. It is asserted that her
videncc and other evidence adducn.l at the
rialest ablsbed an absolute aiibi for Cheney,
ut that 1t was not needed.