Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-08-24
HIGHwAYMEN MURDERED WIN.
BECKUM IN A BOX CAR
NEAR THIS CITY.
STATEMENT OF An EYE WITNESS
The Robbers Boarded the Train and
When They Accosted Beckum
the Latter Resisted and
Was Shot Down.


Elmer IT. Minnis, q discharged SOL
dier who arrived in ST. Louis yester-
day morning, told the police thrill
ing story of murder in dark box
car on the Chicago 4 Alton road, a
few miles out Of Mexico, Mo-, In the
early part of Tuesday morning.
William Beckum, a native of Vir-
gInia, ILL.,, was shot down in cold
blood before the eyes Of four COM
paniops beaanse he refused to be
robbed by three hIghwaymen who
boarded the freight just out Of Mex
leo. 1t was SO dark that the mems
faces could be seen only in the flashes
Of the revolvers, which were fired
four times in rapid succession until
Beckum fell dead on the floor. After
the shooting the three bandits re-
NAMED on the train nearly two hours
beside the body Of their victim. When
the train slowed up in the coal yards
q few miles out Of vandalla, Mo. over
twenty miles from the scene Of the en-
counter, the trio dropped of and
disappeared. Since then they have
not been heard of and the authorities
have but meager descriptions by
which to apprehend them.
The station agent at Vandalia re-
fused to receive the body and 1t was
carried to Roodhouse, III, where Cor
oner Squlres conducted an inquest,
finding that Beckum came to his death
from a gunshot wound In the hands OF
parties unknown to the jury.
The police are of the opinion that
the bandits made Immediately for
some large city, probably St. Louis
and all the detectives and specia
officers OF the city have been notified
to look out for them.
MNNIs BOARDS THE TRAIN.
MInnis is a resident OF Princeton
Ind, to which point he is now er
route from Fort Reno, Ok, where be
I, was recently mustered out of thu
Sikh United States Cavalry, TrooI
lD. When the wave Of patriotism
struck the country he joined th'
army. He saw service in Cuba an'
Porto Rico and returned to the For
lIast spring, where he was shortly
mustered out. On his way home hl
stopped at Kansas City, where h
remained until Monday afternoon
Having only afew dollars in his pock
ct, he resolved, like true soldier, h
trough 1t" and that is how he hap
pened to be riding In the freight Ca
, when Beckum was murdered.
On Monday eveRing while freigh
! train No. 3, of the O. & A., was bein
made up, he climbed in box car an
, secluded himself in dark cornel
! where he remained hid. While th
/. train was speeding slowly throug
, the suburbs of Mexico, Mo-, at MID
. night Minnis was Joined by Williai
: Beckum and William Mahoney, tw
Virginia, ILL.,, youths, % and II yea
3 old, respectively, who had gone
h KansasClty nine days before In scare
d of employment. Failing in their .
q tempt and being without means the
too, had resolved to ''beat" the
. way home. Three other youths, wi
n had been secreted in cattle OF
n ahead, moved down to the box G.
! where they had heard the voices.
a As the train was slowly climbing
a hill few miles east of Mexico, thrI
v men swung on the car and climbed
o with the six boys. For time thu
said nothing. Presently, before al
one realized what was going on, q
trio covered Minnis with revolve
, and compelled him to give up bis ID
T. cent, in all s4,10. Robert Johnson,
! Bowling Green, NO., one Of the bo
!. from the forward cattle car, was t
next victim. When the highwaym
had searched hin, they covered Bee
10 um, who must in some way have
Is sisted them, for four shots were sc
be at him. One Of the bullets stru
him in the shoulder, ranging dow
c ward, and lodging in the lung, cal
y. ing almost instant death.
md RODE WITH THEIR VICTIM.
he CONSERVATION reigned among
at six remaining men In the car, "
les y were absolutely penned in at
EE mercy of the bandits. None but
trio we're armed. 1t was so darh
the car that one could scarcely
ne bis hand before him. All wonde
OF who was next. No one else was
ar Tested, however. The robbers W
ian about as if nothing out Of the ordin
oil had happened. AS the train sloV
er' up at the coal yards at Vandalia, !
ar at 3:45 the robbers jumped OF.
in "I was never more relieved In
az life," said Minnis. SIT was no
BILE scence when Beckum was .
down, and 1t was q continuous tort
nan while we were shut up in
,oe. tight box car. I could only see
rhe men by the flash Of the revolver.
the OF them were heavy set, smo'
shaven and wore dark clothes, !
. soft felt hats. The other was
and thin, wore a black coat,
light trousers aud tan shoes.
wore a brown Derby hat. His
was brown and he had light \
tache.
can inquest was held at Roodhc
- lIn., where the body was put OF
verdict OF murder at the hand
II unknown men was the result. A
81 us we're excused. / managed to
4 enough money In Roodhouse to G
to st. Louis. On the train this m
ing q man told me be was goiH
have me arrested and 80 came
to report the matter to the pol
Captain Reynolds released M
n after learning his story, and he
" on his way. Beckum has a wife
NV father living in Virginia, Ill.
rest We solicit your orders for hard
priosa and ounlifv of coal ouarau