People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-07

and ugly-lOUkiug six shooters tie
trainmen, the express messenger, aud
all Of the score or more vi passengers
were made TO climb down from the
train and stand 10 line, hands up, on
the prairie along The railway. While
three Uf the robbers covered the badly
frightened crowd with Jheirgun The
other two cUOlly ana carefully robbed
them, passing from one passenger 70
another down the line. The bandits
secured about $500 in cash and sue,
other vauabes, in the way OF watches
pins and jewelry, as were in sight.
The passengers and the trainmen
having been thoroughly plucked,
three Of the bandits turned their at
tentiOn to the express and mail
coaches, the Others standing guard
over the hapless crowd on the prairie.
The registered mail pouches were
quickly rifed, but the through safe
In the express Car resisted all the
force and ingenuity Of the road
agents.
When the messenger had convinced
the bandits that he could not open
the strong box, they resorted to dyna-
mite. Several heavy charges were
exploded, but the safe proved bandit
proof and though 1t was badly bat.
tered, its contents were saved to the
express company.
Having taken fOrcible possession of
everything that they could carry
away, the bandits mounted their
horse aud rode of tow ard the west.
A soon as the trainmen could col
lecL their wits they got their scared
passengers aboard and hurried on to
the next station south, Chickasha,
from which point the railroad officials
were notified If the hOld.up. At
Chickasha posse Of citizens WAS
hurriedly formed. These citizens set
out in pursuit If the gang, and Off
GERS have been dispatched from Ell
Reno and other points in this section.
1t is hardly possible that the bandits
can be OVertaken in the prairie c0un-
try, and they will probably be able to
reach the Wichita mountains, TO the
west Of The scene of the hOld-up.
Officers here believe the gang to be
the same one that held up Santa Fe
trains at Edmond twice during last
month.
Al Jennings is said to be The leader
of the gang. Conductor Dacey rec0g
nzed one Of the men when his mask
slipped from his face, and he is posi-.
tive that it is Jennings. He was,
during lSS3-S4, county attorney of
Canadian county. His father is now
the probate judge Of POttawatOmir-
county, in this territory. The Jeu-
hinges all nail from Kentucky, and
are connected with some of the best
families il the state. Al was educated
at West Point, where he was cOnsld
cred an exceptional student. He is a
civil engineer, besides having been
admitted to the bar. The family are.
we'll known all over Kansas, OkIaho-
ma and eastern Colorado, the three
boys and the father having practiced
law at various points in these states
Conductor Dacey was the heaviest
loser, the robbers relieving him of a
fine gold watch and $50 in money.
When the robbers ordered the passen.
gers to get out Of the cars. Rev. Roe,
an invalid, crawled on his hands and
knees and took his place along with
the rest Of the passengers. When
the leader saw him he apOlogized and
told him to get back into the car, as
they were not molesting sick men.
, John Wright, one of the passengers,
was looking out Of the window before
they were commanded to come out.
He was told 10 pull his head inside,
but he did not pay any attention TO
the robber until he pulled up his
Winchester and took shot al his
head, the bullet striking near the
window and splinterins the wood.
work.
Al Jennings, the supposed leader
was shot in the arm about two year,
ago by Temple Houston In a shooting
scrape at Woodward. At that time
Mr.. Houston killed Ed jennings. A
Jennings killed couple of men in Of
near Denison, Tex, some years ago