Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-23
BOLD AoLDUP
North Western Passenger Train No
II Held Up and Bank Cashier
Relieved Of a Package
If Money
BJldGst Robbery Ever Committed In
This Section,

.BJldtst Robbery Ever Committed In
This Section.
After being beaten into insensibility,
II = Balch, assistant cashier of the
Omaha National bank, one of the lead !
ing financial institutions of Omaha, Neb, !
was last night robbed of package of 4
money and small parcel of drafts, etc,
while enroute home TO Omaha after a
business trip to Chicago.
Just how the robbery happened no
one knows, and in all probability
never will know unless the perpetrat-
ors of the deed are apprehended and
make confession, as without single
doubt the robbery was one of the
smoothest pieces of work ever per-
formed,i in this section of the country.
Some time, early this morning,
highwayman boarded the Chicago &
North Western passenger train, No II,
due in Missouri Valley at 7:05 a m and
proceeded directly to the sleeping car,
Hera, which was the last car on the
tram. After gaining access to the
sleeper, the hlghwayman went directly
to the berth in which Mr. and Mrs
l5alcl were sleeping, and after putting
aside the curtains, beat Mr. Balch.
across the head three times with some
blunt instrument, presumably billy,
usually carried by tho footpad profess
sion. After rendering Mr. Balch in
sensible the robber, performed his
work with the qnietness of a cat, rifled
the berth without awakening Mrs
l5alch, who slept on the inside of the
berth next to the window. Just what
the robber secured MIR Balch declined
to state. saying the physician, who was
/, then in attendance, warned him against.
speaking or exerting himself in any
manner. In view of the fact that Mr.
l5alch was enroute home, having in his
possession money and drafts from
Chicago bank consigned to the Omaha
bank, it is supposed the sum of money
} secured by the footpad was consider
able. After securing Mr. l5alch's valu-
ab!es, the robber then passed across
the isle to berth which was occupied
by man and his wife enroute from
Chicago to Wyoming Here, as in the
former case, the robber worked with
skill and quietness and succeeded in
removing from in under the pillows of
sleeping occupants of the berth Sa5 in
cash and q gold watch. Notwithstand--
ing almost every berth of the car was
. occupied the robber did not molestany
one else, but apparently satisfied with
his work left the car III the same mys-
terious manner In which he boarded
it. How long time elapsed before the
robbery, and the condition of Mr.
B4lch, we're noticed is unknown, the
first alarm being given by Mrs Balch,
who was awakened about 3:05, when
the train was near Boone, by the viol-
ent vomiting of her husband. When
the curtains OF the berth were drawn
and the light admitted into the interior
of the berth, a most horrifying spec
j, tacle was presented. The wood work
: and bed linen of the compartment
were besmeared and despatched will
3 blood, which was then flowing profus
ely from three long and deep gashes il
Mr. Balch's head. A partially success
f,,l LOFT rt odd a N cto I'm
of blood from Mr. Balch's wounds, af-
ter which q telegram was sent to Car
a roll for physician, who boarded thu
train at that place. A hurried exam
ination of Mr. Balch's condition re
IS vealed the fact that he was suffering
$ from three deep gashes on the top o
his head and huge confusion on TIL
) right side of his head near the ear.
!, A careful search was made for M
~ Balch's coat and the packages contain
- ing the valuables, which Mr. Balch hat
a in the berth with him, but the mos
i, careful search revealed neither. l',
. this time all the passengers In the ca
- were awake and search for valuable
commenced. So far as reported TIN
, two passengers for Wyoming, who dc
clined TO give their names, were tn
only losers besides Mr. Balch.
II The company employees, who ha,
charge of the train, and the authorize
i along the line, between this city an,
!, Clinton, are at loss where to com
mence searching for the perpetrator
~ of the decd. Several suspects are al
ready under arrest at different point
= along the line, but the matter of iden
tifying the proper persons will be al
extremely hard one, inasmuch as n
one was witness to The affair, and tn
officers hayenot the slightest clew updl
) which to work. The theory is gener
ally advanced, however, that M
Balch was followed, or at leas
) notice of his coming was sent out fron
Chicago last night, some of the foot
pad gentility becoming aware that b
} he was the representative of wester
bank and would leave the city on las
nights train.
The Missouri Valley Juniors" I
, base ball team composed of the youth
full talent in this CITY will play the