The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-12-08
MADE A BUNGLE OF THE JOB.
Train Robbers Had Figured on
a Successful Raid.

3
0ne-West Becomes EntanEIed in q Barbs,
Wire Fence and His Companion, Stu55Ie,
field, Holds the Officers At Bay Until His
Pal Can Release Himself.
Sedalia, No, November 30-Tbe
attempted Eo'dup CT the Missouri
| Pacific passenger train on the Lex
ington branch read, five milas north
Of Sedalia, last night was made by
oaIy two men, James l. West, &
Missouri Pacific engineer. and E. J.
| Stubb!efeld, a former Missouri Pa.
oifc freight conductor. but more
recently Missouri, Kansas and
Texas Ewitchman in the Sedalia
yards. Both are now in the Pettis
comfy jail and are held for attempt
ed train robbery. Stubb.efeld's
right elbow was badly mangled by a
charge Of buckshos fred a. close
range by one Of the tIo Pacific
detectives. After being wounded,
| Stubblefeld went TO negro cabin
to get bandages for his wounded
arm, claiming to have been accident
ally sho. while hunting coons. Fail
ing to secure a team 10 take him to
Sedalia, lie walked the distance, five
miles, ard was arrested by Sheriff
Williams and deputies just as he
was about to enter the residence of
his brother, John Stubblefield, on
North Washington avenue Il have
been betrayed" he exclaimed, when
surrounded by the officers. He was
taken to jail, where his arm was
dressed, and it is probable that it
viii have to be amputated above the
elbow. The capture of West furn-
ished q thrilling incident of the
holdup.
TANGLED N BARBED WIRE FENCE.
When the railway detectives
opened fire with Winchesters loaded
with shot and ball the robbers fsd
and West became tangled up on a
barb wire fence. StubblefeId stop
ped and held the officers at bay with
a revolver, firing as fast as he could
pull the trigger, until his pal freed
himself from the barbs. The officers
quickly overlook West, but he
fought like a demon aud had to be
dubbed into submission. Then he
feigned drunkenness. West has
stood well III this community and
was a member of the Broadway
Christian church. Both men declin
ed to be interviewed to day. but
West told his pastor, Rev. Cook,
that be was drunk, did not know the
plans for the robbery and does not
remember what happened last night.
Originally there were three men in
the plot to rob the train, West,
Stubblefeld and Robert z. Cunning
ham, the latter an East Sedalia
butcher. Cunningham nerve failed
at the last minute and he did not
show up at the appointed rendez
v3us, and West and Stubblefeld
attempted thu Job without his aid
Cunningham was arrested at his
home at 2 o'clock this morning and
taken 10 jail. Later he was removed
ID Hotel Sicher, where he furnished
a strong aIbi. He then made full
confession. Four men were origi
nally in the scheme 20 rob Missouri
Pacific trains, the gang being organ
lied last May, but no date for action
was set until last Friday. Then
Cunningham feigned sickness, and
the Lexington branch train was not
disturbed that night On that oc-
casion the Missouri Pacific was also
well prepared to receive the robbers,
the officials having received a nys-
ferrous tip from some one in Sedalia
or Kansas City. Cunningham was
not held. It is strongly suspieioned
that Cunningham Is the party who
gave the tip to the railroad officials,
aud that his arrest was only a by
play of the officers.