Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-29

Detectives Believe 1t Was the Work
Of an Amateur, Tho Clev.
erly Done
Omaha, May 29.-Five passengers, oc-
cupants of the Pullman sleeper on the
Missouri Pacific train from Kansas
City, which reached Omaha at 6:15 Mon
day morning, were victims Of the hold
up committed by a lone highwayman
while the train was running between
Nerdon and Stella, shortly after 2
O'Clock Monday morning, as reported in
the dispatches Monday. The passengers
We're j. w. Orr of Atchison, assistant
general attorney of the Missouri Pacific;
IS. G. Sprague of Atchison, travelling
auditor of the Missouri Pacific; Mr.. and
Mrs. Simon G. Aver of Omaha, and O..
j. Frederick of Kansas City.
The net proceeds of the highway
mans venture We're about 500 in cash
and u handsome gold watch and chain,
the property OF Mr.. Sprague. Shortly
after leaving Nerdon at 2:10 a. M, the
Missouri Pacific train slowed up at the
crossing of the Burlington tracks. "A
moment later the rear door OF the Sleep
er was opened and the robber entered.
He had the appearance of a young man,
aitho his face was concealed behind a
white flesh mask and his hands were
3encassd in gloves. For this reason It
was impossible to tell whether he was a
white man or a negro. He was about
five feet four inches tall. and weighed
apparently 100 pounds
The Pullman conductor. John Finner-
fty. Was the first man encountered.
Thrusting a big revolver in his face.
the robber commanded him to turn on
the lights and lead the way thru the
ear, throwing back the curtains from
the bertha having occupants. Mr.. Fin
.nerty complied with the command,
Which was made extremely eloquent by
sbers revolver.
MIR Spraguess berth was the first
reached and that gentleman was rudely
awakened from his sleep With the COM
mand To dig up your vauables. and
be quick about it, Mr.. sprague payted
With his valuable gold watch and chain
handed therefrom $40 in money.
Is that all?" questioned the high
wasman in a nicely modulated voice,
the avoidance of harshness and pros
family being particulurlyanot
Well, here's my pass book. said
Mr.. Sprague, drawing 1t from his vest
pocket, but the transportation won't
do you any. good.
No. IN pass that. said the robber,
proceeding to the next berth.
Mr.. Snrague breathed q sigh of re-
lief, for besides his passes the small
wallet contained $50 in currency.
Attorney Orr was the next victim.
He parted with his pass book contain
ing a number of railroad passes and
i5about s. in money
Thru! the wonanly foresight and dis-
cretion of Mrs. Ayersthe robber did not
reapsas rich a harvest from the Omaha
man and his Wife, as the night before,
prior TO retiring, Mrs. Aver had Sc
GREETED in the berth all of the valuables
and money carried by her husband with
the exception of s2.35, which was
handed over to the bandit without pro-
lstest,
BY this time the bandit had appar-
i7ently become nervous, as the train was
proceeding at a rapid pace. and he evil
! IDENTIFY feared that he would be carried
past the point where he intended ID
laiight. Because OF this nervousness Mr.
4 Frederick, the last passenger in the
car. was roughly handled. Arriving a,
1 his berth. the robber shook him vigor.
lousy. but Mr.. Frederick was in a deer
/ slumber and the rough treatment
sdazed him. He didn't respond immedi
lately to the robbers command that h.
dig up. and the hlghwaSman pushed
A his revolver into the berth and fired ii
1 The report of the explosion was terrific
4 and the other passengers We're horri
/ fled. fearing that tragedy had beer
a enacted. Whether Intentionally or not
the bullet missed Mr.. Frederick
sI.conple of inches and went crashin,
thru the window. The bandit made n,
/ further effort to extract any bount,
Il from the Kansas City man, and hur
4 riedly retreated to the rear of the car
covering Conductor Finnerty with hi
& revolver and compelling him to proceed
4 him.
4 He showed familiarity with the oper
sation OF Il train. for he commanded tn
4 conductor to turn off the air. The or
q der was complied with and as tn
5train gradually slackened its speed tn
4 robber disappeared to the rear plat
4 form. Turning suddenly, he discovere
THAT the conductor had followed him
! I1eveling his revolver at Finnerty'
head. he demanded that he return in
side the car and lock the door.
AT a point half mile south OF Stell
q the robber allghted from the train an
Disappeared in the darkness. The hold
n up had consumed less than fifteen min
utes and only six miles OF distance wer
!, traversed from the time of his entr
i into the car until he made his escape.
The secret service department of tn
Missouri Pacific began operations wit
!, a view Of early experimenting the rob
Der. Special Agent John DeLong ha
charge of the case. and from the infor
nation collected, believes that the rob
berry was the work OF an amateur
prompted by reason Of similar sue
cessful hold-up which occurred on
Missouri Pacific sleeper few month
. ago.
MAIL NEWS FROM ORIENT.
Censorship of the Press-Russian Ne
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a frnt,, ~, ~,