The record-union., 1898-04-21
A Santa Fe Passenger Train Stop
ped by Robbers.
Nail Car Searched, But Little Plu1Gsr Was
Taken.
Engineer Clifford Shot Dead and
One Of the Bandits Badly
Wounded, Both Receiving the
Contents OF a Shotgun Fired by
Express Messenger Mott.

LOS ANGELES, April 20.-The
Santa Fe westbound passenger tram,
No. l, due in Los Angeles at $50 to-
day, did not arrive until $40 o'clock
When the train pulled in the cause Of
the delay turned out to be a tragic one.
On the train was the dead body of the
engineer, E. A. Clifford, who had peen
killed at the bridge over the Mojave
River, two miles south of Orc Grande, at
a little before daylight. The killing WAS
the sad outcome of an attempt to rob
the train by bond of train robbers.
c. A. Mott, the express messenger,
tells the following story: AT 2:3O a. IN
Wednesday morning our train had just
pulled out of ORC Grande, and was near
the Mojave River Bridge, about two
miles south of the station We had just
left. l was conscious that the train
was backing pretty fast, and opening
my door, l called to the brakeman, II.
T. Thorn, What's the matter He re-
piled: Why. we are held uo.'
"At this moment q rifle bullet took
effect in the jamb of the door, and a
surly voice sang out, Get into your car,
with additions more emphatic than po-
lite.
Il slammed the door to and put out
the lights. The train stopped, and after
awhile l got out, and found the engine
and mail car gone. l waited some time,
several passengers being about. At asst
the engine came back and pumped INTO
the express car. l was standing on the
rear platform of my car, and at once
got on the ground. A Mr.. Clark was
by me. l had my double barrel shotgun
in my hand. Looking toward the en-
gine, [ saw the figure of a man with
rife in his hand. Clark said to me,
That is the fellow who uncoupled the
mail car / asked him if he was sure,
and on being assured of the fact, | threw
up my gun and fired one barrel. The
man fell and rolled down the embank-
ment some sixty feet to the edge of the
river. The other robber, Who was try
ing to couple the engine to the express
car when he saw his partner was shot
turned and fled
When we went to get the man who
wasshot we found Engineer Clifford had
He died in few minutes. The robber
came to, and was brought to Victor,
where we left him still alive"
Mott says he has no knowledge of
how Clifford could have received part
Of the shot. He is positive that he
saw but one man when he pulled his
trigger, and thinks Clifford must have
been crouching behind the bank, and
rose up just as the shot was fired
Before the shooting occurred the rob-
! bers uncoupled the engine and mail
car, which they ran a short distance up
the track The mail clerks were or
dered out of the car, and the robbers
searched the mails, but little plunder
was taken. They returned with the en-
gine for the purpose of looting the ex-
press car, but being unable to un-
couple the car, the engineer was COM
manded to do so. While attempting to
do SO it is believed he was shot by the
messenger.
When the train reached Victor the
wounded rObber was recognized as
COLI or Paul Jones. son OF rancher
near ORC Grande It is said that Jones
has made a confession duplicating five
others as confederates, two living at
! San Bernardino and three near the
scene of the hold-up. The officers of
| San Bernardino refuse to divulge the
names CT those implicated, and expect
to have them in custody within few
hours.