The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-18
WRECKERS FoILED.
THEIR PAL RETEALED THE PLOT
AND THEY WE'RE CAUGHT.

Oniciais watch Them NJ They Pile Ties on the
Trnck-Ono OF Them shot in the Ensuing
scrimmaEo-Thcy Meant to Wreck the Fast
Mall ON tho n. ana O. Southwestern
SALEM, ILL.,, Juno 17.-An attempt to wreck and
rob the fast mail train on the Baltimore and
Ohio Southwestern Railroad last night was
frustrated by Sheriff Barnes and a number Of
local officials. Their presence was due to tho
betrayal of the would.be train robbers by a pal
and resulted in the capture OF both of the cul-
prits after one had been shot and probably
mortally wounded.
For several days II had been known TO n few
persons that States Attorney G. f.. Jennings
and other officials know OF a plot to wreck a pas.
songcr train, and that they were on the alert to
Illustrate tho criminals. John Etter. who
worked at Sandoval. revealed the plot and told
the Sheriff and States Attorney that he and two
others had made an agreement to wreck tho cast
bound passenger train on the Baltimore and
Ohio Southwestern at a point near odin. Ettcr
asserted that no entered into tho plot with the
sole object Of frustrating II and to effect tho
capture OF the others. Yesterday afternoon he
gave Information that an attempt would be
made to carry out the plot last night.
Thus warned, the sheriff, his deputy, City
Marshal Tully, and A. c. Garner, at about 10
p. NJ. went to a spot near whore the obstruo-
tions were to DO placed on tho track, secreted
themselves, and awaited developments. They
had not been long waiting when three men made
their appearance and at once proceeded to col
lect railroad ties, which they placed on the track.
Four ties were thus placed when one of the OFF,
cials cried out to the trio to throw up their
| hands and surrender.
The demand was not Immediately complied
with. and Garner, with a shotgun, fired at one
OF the three, who foil severely wounded. Tho
men offered no. further resistance and were
Samuel Tweed, Andy Shumaker. and John
Etter, the informer. All had formerly resided
G eerG, : ref III, T wee dFs' w s~S nnni %re P belie eSed s to
back and hips. He and shumakSr have both
State and Shumakcr in Indiana.
The would.b be wreckers assert that it was not
their intention TO wreck the train. but to flag 1t
and make 1t appear that they had discovered
the distractions on the track. and by this means
they hoped that they would be literally reward
cd by the railroad company for their timely dis
They also assert that Etter was the leader in'the
his plans and By his direction: He denies nj these
s msn Wsivsd nr E5f9T wSs ,r rsiSSsedjj The ta.s, Sth her
fore Justice S. NJ. Marshall and each was held to
bail in the sum Of $1,000. and In default they
The place where the ties were placed on the
trestle. and II the plot had not been foiled the
loss OF life and destruction OF property would
nave Deeh appailhR. Sixty rect west OF tho
preaching. the, ~trestle, runs on an embankment
about ten feet high.
General Agent L. S. Orr of tho Baltimore and
Ohio Southwestern said to-day: This attempt
was one OF the most dastardly in the history of
railroad hold.ups. The tracks are on q high
bank, with.a deep ditch on both sides. Had tho
train struck the obstruction the cars would have
rolled down the embankment.'
d. Z. Frates was the conductor OF the train.
1t left st. Louis at $3.50 =. NJ. last evening. and
arrived at 0din at 10:46. Salem lie only a flag
station, and the train was scheduled to pass at
1923. This train usually carries valuable ex.
press packages. At the st. Louis headquarters
Of the United States Express Company the
amount OF money carried on the train was not
known. 1t was estimated. however. to have been
about $40. 900.
At the railroad Office 1t Is believed that the
two men arrested are not the only ones i'm.
plicated in the attempted hold-up. 1t Is thought
that at least two other men are connected with
the scheme, and both the United States Express
Company and the railroad have set their detec'
tiyes at work to ferret out the other men.