Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-29
Postal Telegraph Office
f. E. Balch Tells the story of the
Train Robbery.
au14-42d

An Omaha, Neb., special to the New
York Tribune says: E. E. Balch, the
Omaha banker, who was robbed and club
bed by bandits at the time Of the North
western hod-up last week. regained con-
seriousness for the first time today and
told thrilling story of the affair which
has proved such puzZing case to the de-
tectives of Omaha and Chicago alike
Balch's statement indicates that at least
two bandits were In the car, If not more,
in spite OF the statement of the trainmen
that the sleeper was locked and no one had
entered 1t in the early morning hours
Balch says he awakened by one ban
dit and ordered to surrender his money.
He grabbed at the man. who cutched him
By the throat, and they were struggling In
the berth. when another bandit came for
ward and began to beat him over the head
with pistol. This was the last he remem-
bered.
When seen today by a reporter Balch
spoke freely of the occurrences on the
sleeper. In his opinion, the robbery was
the work of two men,. who entered the
sleeper from the day coach. 'These men"
he said, had probably been through the
sleeper during the day and had formed
their own idea to what passengers had
money and valuables. Our berths were
nearest the day coach. The berth of Mr..
Amoretu was separated from mine by sec
lions Nos. and o. In these sections were
several young women, plainly dressed, who
displayed little or no jewelry. Mrs. Amor
ETH. however, had on her fingers several
beautiful diamonds which she concealed
between the mattresses when she went to
bed. The robbers had doubtless decided
during the day to rob me and to secure the
diamonds of Mrs. Amoretti They sue
ceeded in their first design. but failed to
get the diamonds, and obtained only q
small sum Of money from Mr.. Amoretti.
1t IL my theory that one man took one side
OF the car and the second highwayman the
opposite side. The man who attacked me
met with a stout resistance. He clutched
me by the throat and the finger marks are
still to be seen. The thumb mark on the
left side of the neck is now as large and
as definite as at first. My arms are black
and blue. and the muscles are swollen and
knotted. showing that j struggled desper-
ately with my assailant
Finding that he could not secure the
pocket book he was seeking the robber
probably urged his companion to come to
his assistance. i think II was the second
man who struck the blows that inflicted
the wounds in my head. After beating me
into insensibility the robbers secured all
my money, but II was not large sum.
Mrs. Balch, who occupied berth across
the aisle, heard a slight sound at about the
time the robbery was committed. 1t was
like some one breathing with difficulty or
struggling restlessly In a nightmare. but
she paid no attention to ii then. and did
not recall the circumstance until after
ward
The police have been puzzled over the
affair because they have found no one who
saw a suspicious character aboard the
train. 1t is commonly supposed that the
robbers boarded the train in Chicago hay-
ing seen Balch around the First National
Bank, and supposing that his valise con-
tanned a large sum of money The bank
officials say that the bandits secured a
large amount