The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-05-10
WERE OUT FOR THE STUFF
Desperate HighWaymen Rob and As
sault Five Men on
Freight Train.
BRAkEMEN UNDER SUSPICION
The Story of BROKER and Cleman-Heavy
Haul of "Swag'-The Victims Forced
from the Moving Train.

One of the most sensational holdups
that has ever been recorded in this part
of the state occurred on Friday last when
| five men were robbed on the east bound
| freight from Ellensburg and forced from
the train, which was moving at rate OF
from fifteen to twenty miles an hour.
| Two of the men who were robbed were
Hon. John Cleman and Fred Brooker.
The other three were laboring men who
were working their way to Spokane.
MIR. Cleman and Mr.. BROKER had been
in Elensburg for the purpose OF buy
ing horses and not caring to wait for the
regular passenger train had boarded the
freight in hopes of making time. 1t was
one Of those trains which is not sup
posed to carry passengers without a
special permit from the superintendent
of the road, but Mr.. Brooker says he told
one of the brakemen that when he came
along they would pay their fare. They
boarded a fiat ear loaded with lumber
and the train moved along. 1t was dark
when they reached the Umtanum canyon
and they had no unpleasant experience
until couple of men climbed over the
lumber on to their car. One was large
powerful fellow and the other short and
stocky. Their suspicious were not aroused
until couple of guns were thrust into
their faces and they were ordered TO
throw up their hands. Then they knew
they were up against dead sure thing.
MIR. Brooker says the smaller man
went through their clothes while the tai |
one kept them covered with his gun.
Mr.. Clemans' pockets yielded about eight
dollars and watch of no great value,
but MIR. Brooker proved mine OF wealth
he having between $l75 and $3.50, and a
costly gold, stop watch and gold chain
The robbers left a percentage of the
money with their victims, overlooking
five cents on Mr.. Cleman and dollar on
MIR. Brooker. At the time of the rob
| berry the men were unmarked, but shortly
afterwards they covered their faces with
handkerchefs through which holes had
been cut for the eyes. For about three
miles Cleman and BROKER rode under
the muzzles of the guns and then one of
the men said 1--WE are coming to a siding
and the train will slow down and you
must jump" Soon afterwards they were
ordered to jump. Cleman jumped or
was pushed off but Brooker demured.
Jump now or | will kill You" said one
of the men. Brooker replied that he
might as we'll be killed on the car as
killed in jumping and that he was not
afraid of their shooting him. He had 10
sooner made the remark than the gun
was fred and bullet grazed his head
and singed his hair. With that he
Jumped. He landed on his feet and
rolled over and over but received no in.
juries. Mr.. Clemans experience was
little rougher, his wrists being sprained
and his face badly bruised and battered.
The marks OF his rough treatment still
remain with him.
MIR. Brooker also had on his person
couple of checks which the highwaymen
took but they were unendorsed and the
banks were instructed, the next day, to
stop payment. When they had gathered
themselves together Mr.. Cleman and
BROKER walked to Roza station where
on the promise OF a payment OF ten dol
lars they induced some section men to
bring them to this city on hand car.
Arriving here they notified the sheriff
and the wires were put in use.
This was supposed to be the extent of
the crime but early next morning three
weary and bruised men dragged them
selves into the city and soon made known
that they had suffered an experience
similar to that of BROKER and Cleman.
They were on the same tram and had
their encounter somewhere in the neigh
borhood of Yakima city. They offered
resistance and in consequence were bad
ly battered up, one mans face being
hammered almost to the consistency OF
heel sausage. The three were taken to the
hospital where one of them still remains.
Their description of their assailants tally
with that given by Messrs. Cleman and
BROKER. After their fight they were
robbed and forced from the train. One
man claims to have lost about fifty dol
lars, another six or seven, and the third
fifty cents and a watch.
After comparison of notes suspicion
attached to portion OF the ira in crew AN
John Anslvn. known as Long John. and
Louis Mcneil were placed under sur.
VIGILANCE. being held here a few hours by
the authorities. Later Anslyn was ar.
rested at Ellensburg, where the cour,
proceedings will be held, the robbery oil
Cleman and BROKER taking place in Kit
titas county. A circumstance in connec
ton with this case is that a similar hold
up occurred about year ago on the train
on which these same brakemen were
/ apnlnyod