The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-04
Attempt to Rob a Burlington
Train Ends Disastrously.
Express Messenger Shoots One
of the HighWaymen.
OTHER ONE RUNS AWAY
Had Blown Open Express Car
With Dynamite.
Was Preparing to Open Safe by
Same Means.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, Oct. 1.-Two men
held up the Kansas City passenger train
on the Burlington road three miles south
of this city at midnight Express Mes
senger Charles Baxter shot and killed one
of the robbers and his body now lies in
the morgue in this city. He was about
six feet TALL powerfully built, apparently
about 40 years old, and had black hair
and mustache. The two men boarded the
train at Union Pacific transfer ana
climbed over the tender just as the tram
was crossing the Mosquito creek bridge
Engineer Donelly and FRANK Holman,
fireman, who were in charge of the en-
Rine, were ordered to slow up as soon as
the train had crossed the bridge. While
fhe man who was afterWard killed held
revolver on the engineer his companion
went back and cut off the baggage car,
leaving the day coaches and sleeperS
standing on the main line .,,.,
Acting under orders, the engineer pu1ed
the train half a mile down the track,
where a stop was made Here the rob-
bers approached the express car and or
dered Messenger Baxter to open the door.
He refused to do Under compulSlon
Engineer Doneily attached a stick of
dynamite TO the side door of the car and
blew it open. In the meantime Messenger
Baxter seized his gun and escaped from
the door on the opposite side of the car.
he r9bbers entered the car while his
companion marched the engineer and fire.
man back to the engine.
CINE and seeing the robber standing guard
fne him insfantIv. As soon as the shot
was heard the r0bber IN the car Jumped
to the ground and fed through a corn
field.
The dead man was picked up, placed on
board, and the train backed into this city.
The body was searched, but nothing was
found on it by which it could be identi-
fed The dead robber was dressed in a
neat suit of black clothes, over which
overalls and jumper had been drawn. In
the pockets was found about S15 in money
and a watch and chain. Conductor Will
liam McGreat, who was in charge of the
Hra4n. thinks the dead man is one George
Of st. Joseph
taller than the dead man. being appar-
emily above six feet in height. Both men
were masked and both wore overalls and
Jumpers The door of the express car
was badly shattered by the explosion of
dynamite. The robber inside the car was
Preparing to blow the safe open at the
time his companion was killed He ceased
operations at once, and no damage was
done to the contents OF the car, nor was
anything taken. After putting on new
express car and transferring the freight
the train proceeded to Kansas City.
DEAD ROBBER WAS A BARBER
Omaha, Neb, Oct 4.-The only de-
velopment this morning in the Kansas
City train robbery is the Identification
OF the dead robber as a man who work
ed for a short time about a. month ago
in the barber shop of Fritz Bernhard
of Council Bluffs Little can be learned
Of his past life or antecedents. Sheriff's
posses are still in pursuit of his COM
pauiOn but have not succeeded in cap
turing him.