The San Francisco call., 1898-04-21
COLD LEAD
 FOR ENGINEER
 AND OUTLAW Two Masked Men Rob the Santa Fe OVer-
 land. One Mortally Wounded d by a Brave Express
 Messenger. Member of the Trains Crew Killed by the Same Charge
 of Shot. STEPS BEFORE A GUN. Life Sacrificed In the Defense ot
STEPS BEFORE A GUN.
Life Sacrificed In the Defense of the Wells Fargo Express
 Car.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

 Santa Fe overland No. 1 westbound was held up at the Mojave River bridge, two miles west of Gro Grande, this county, at 2:40 o'clock this morn ing. Engineer Clifford was killed by Express Messenger Mott, stepping in front of one of the robbers just as Mott fired. The outlaw was mortally wounded by the same charge.
 The hold-up occurred at a sharp curve, with a high cut on one side and an embankment on the other, ending in Mojave River. The train slackens it's speed to about ten miles an hour over this stretch. The overland reached Orc Grande on time. There the two rob- bers must have boarded the mailcar steps, and when the train reached the curve they climbed over the tender. In the cab were Engineer A. c. Gif- ford, Fireman c. H. Hicks and c. F. Clark of Barstow. A tapping on the tender attracted their attention. Look ing around, they saw the muzzles of two guns held by masked men. They were ordered to stop the train. Then the robber, who Is now known to be Tolbert Jones of Orc Grande, march ed the fireman and Clark back to un couple the express and mail cars. While they were thus engaged A. c. Mott, the express messenger, looked out and was shot at.
 The train bein9 on a curve. 1t was impossible to uncouple the baggage car. The mailcar, which was on the straightest track, was taken to a spur some distance ahead by the two rob- bers and the engineer. After it had been ransacked the robbers came back on the light engine for another try at the express car, but in the darkness hit the train heavily. tanning the couplings.
 While the robbers were away with the mailcar the messenger came out, and, with Clark, took up a position on the steps at the rear of the express car. The robbers, unable to couple the car, ordered the engineer down to help them. When he was between the en- zine and the car Mott drew a bead on one of the robbers, but as he pulled the trigger Clifford stepped out, receiving the charge in the head and breast, dy- ing instantly The outlaw was wound ed in the neck and chest and rolled over the embankment.
 
 and. finding the other robber had fled, he went between the engine and the car and found Clifford. About twenty | feet down the bank was the wounded bandit, unconscious. In his hand was a bloody mask, and In one of his coat pockets were found six sticks of dyna- mite, with fuse and caps. His first question on gaining consciousness was:
 Why did they shoot me? I was only hunting stray cattle"
 Conductor Platner at the first inkling of the hold-up, had stolen back to Orc l Grande, and about the time the outlaw recovered consciousness Platner arrived with a Constable and four men. The body of Clifford and the wounded robber were put into the baggage car and the train ran to Victor. While at Orc l Grande the conductor telegraphed to ' this city and a special was sent out at 1 5:10 with a Sheriff and posse aboard ! Engineer Morgan of Victor took Gif l ford's place, and the overland arrived 1 here a little over an hour late. Jones was left at Victor for medical l assistance There he was recognized as an Orc Grande butcher and an old resi- dent He is very well known, but has 1 borne an unsavory reputation and been regarded as a cattle thief.
 1 During the forenoon another special was dispatched with District Attorney Daley. Assistant Sprecher, stenogra- pher Benjamin, Deputy Sheriffs Wha- l ley and Heap, United States Deputy 1 Marshal Pourade, Special Santa Fe De- tective King and Sheriff Johnson of Riverside, with bloodhounds.
 Tonight at 9:15 the special train ar rived from Victor with District Attor- ney Daley and party, who brought the | .loI oh ct f,,+ +I,o neck and chest, the charge ranging downward into the pleural cavity. It is supposed his backbone was injured as he is paralyZed from the chest down. When told of the evidence against him he claimed he was out hunting horses. He saw the engine standing and went LID to see what was wrong. Just then he received load of buckshot He says that if a mask and dynamite were found on him some one put them there.
 Sheriff Johnson with his bloodhounds also returned, a high sand storm hav- l ing destroyed the scent.
 Coroner Keating met the overland on it's arrival here, and with jury viewed inc remains of Clifford, and then per mitted the body to be taken to his home | in Los Angeles. The inquest will be held tomorrow.
 Clifford was well educated and well to. do. He was insured for about $5000 and was member Of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges. His widow resides in Los Angeles. The run which cost his life was not his regular run, 1 he having taken the place of an en- gineer whose locomotive needed minor repairs.
 Express Messenger Albert Clarke Mott. who saved the company many thousands, is a Colton boy about 2s years old and runs between Los An geles and Albuquerque. He formerly was assistant to w. s. Bulls of Wells Fargo, now general auditor for this section. He is grief-stricken over Gif- fords death. Both he and Clark de- clare Clifford was out of sight wher the gun was aimed, and no blame is attached to Mott.
 R. E. Bledsoe, a local attorney, was on the train and his face was bruised when the engine was bumped against