The times., 1900-12-19

robbed the Illinois Central train within
the city limits of New Orleans Thursday
night, was a willing suicide rather than
be captured and he turns out to be Chan
ming B. Barnes, one of the most noted
of train robbers in the country.
II was openly proclaimed by the police
that the robber. or robbers. were anna
teurs. A professional would not have
been guilty. they said of the folly of at
tacking train on which the express com
pany carried no money, but would have
informed himself thoroughly on all points
before he moved. The robbery was, they
argued. committed by tramps, men out of
employment. or negroes.
1t has been certain that the -obbers
would be captured sooner or later. Never
before has such q search for train rob-
Der been made. The United States. the
railroad, the express companies were all
cooperating to effect the bandits cap
ture. He made grave mistake when he
robbed the United States mail. and this
gave the Government a direct interest in
his capture. The express companies and
railroads were frightened by so bold
robbery within the city limits, and were
put to great inconvenience and consider
able expense by 1t. The express compa-
MES, for instance, have sent out heavily
armed guards with each car ever since
the robbery. 1t was felt by all that un-
less this robber were run to earth the
very fact that single man could rob a
train inside the city limits would lead to
the recrudescence of the train robbing
in the South which cost the railroad and
express companies so man, thousand dol
lars few years ago.
The Illinois Central Railroad brought the
head of its detective force TO New Orleans,
and the territory around the scene of the
robbery was covered with officers and de-
tectives so that escape was impossible. II
was when he saw that he could not es-
cape that Barnes killed himself in the
swamps in which he sought refuge. He
had been hunted night and day since the
robbery. and had not rested or slept He
bad had nothing TO eat since last Thurs
day, and was greatly emaciated with hun
ger fatigue. and lack CT sleep.
He was suffering too. from severe
wound in his wrist. inflicted by Officer
Lucich. who encountered him Friday.
Finally, resting day after day and night
after night amid the malaria OF the swamps
probably SO filed his mind with gloomy
visions that realizing the hopelessness
OF escape. weak and wounded as he was,
he had pulled his razor from, his pocket
and cut his throat. He had been dead but
few minutes when 4 professional hunter.
Cantrelle by name, came across his body
lying in the swamp grass, with his throat
cut from ear to ear.
The railroad people were at once noti-
fed An examination showed that the dead
man was the robber who held up the Iiii-
nois Central train. In his pocket were
found the watch which he had taken from
Conductor Rinnebrew and stolen papers.
Several sticks OF dynamite were lying near
him. further examination proved that
be was Claiming B. Barnes. alias John or
Jack H.. Nelson. one Of the most notorious
1awbreakers. in the country
1t was he who. with his brother Charles.
and Richard 0'Leary. robbed an Illinois
Central train at wickliffe. KY, last July.
Charles Barnes and O'Leary were arrested
but when Special Agent George C. Murray
attempted to arrest Claiming Barnes the
latter drew his revolver and shot him,
escaping in the scrimmage. By a coin
cidence Murray had charge of the detec5-
i've force which was pursuing the train
robbers this time. ard was able to iden-
tify the body. 1t INV seems that after
leaving st. Louis, Barnes came to Louis
lana with the purpose and intention Of
robbing the Illinois Central train He
stayed there three weeks and made all
the necessary arrangements and laid in
supply of dynamite.
He finally concluded to rob the train
at the city limits of New Orleans 1t is
now believed by the detectives that Barnes
committed the robbery alone and had 10
accomplices. The other men whom the
train hands thought they saw were sim
ply Barnes in different places. They were
badly scared.
Barnes was thirty-three years old and
was a native of Austin, Tex, where lie
stood high. Both he and his brother were
educated in the University of Texas.
What were the reasons OF their taking
to crime is not known. On January 4,
1895, Barnes and a companion robbed In
brosd daylight the State Bank of Ontario.
San Bernardino, Cal, getting away With
Sc, coo. 1t is generally believed that
Barnes killed his pal and took all the
money
He was captured some time later and
sentenced to six years in the California
He was released on June
is. 1899. Not much is known of his career
since, but 1t must have been n stormy one
for he has bullet hole in the back of his
head, a large bullet scar in his back, and
several on both legs. On July IL he
robbed a train on the Illinois Central
Railroad at Wickliffe, Ky. He and his
brother Charles escaped to st. Louis.
where Charming Barnes severely wounded
Officer Murray.
Barnes wife supplied him with money
and IL was with this money that he pur
chased the dynamite and other parapher-
malta for the New Orleans train robbery.
After his experience in the California pen
itentiary at San Quentin. Barnes always
asserted that he would never be taken
alive. While his last train robbery was
one Of the boldest ever perpetrated, for
he did it single-handed, in the limits of
great city. aad with several hundred peo-
pie on the train. il was a failure as a rob
berry. Only a few hundred dollars were
taken from the registered letters he had
stolen and opened Barnes wife is living
in Texas with his parents.
The great demand for pure and wholesome beer
brewed Of the best malt aud hops demonstrates
the fact that Huerichs MaeTzen Senate and