Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-05
ROCK ISLAND HOLD Up
Further Particulars OF the Elk.
press Train Robbery at
Dupont, Ill.
Messenger Reghal Tells Story OF
the Hold.Up...Little Money
Secured.
Express Messenger Kane Shot
Thru the Groin and
May Die.

| Chicago, July with half nun
dred men on their trail and the prom
Use of a desperate battle and probably
death for their portion if they are
oyertaken, the two bandits who halted
| the Rock Island Railroads Denver
limited express train at midnish'
Thursday and escaped after MORALLY
wountling one of the express mcssen-
gers. are still at large. All during
the night and thru the long, hot hours
| of Yesterday they pushed on thru the
| farming country, stealing a buggy OF
| a wagon here and there, and abandon
| ing the teams when they We're too eX-
ha,lsted to carry them farther. Farm
ers and residents in the little towns
that abound in the vicinity of the scene
of the raid swept over the surround
Ing fields and prairies in the hunt, but
never Il glimpse was had of the fug1-
tives. Occasionally a rumor of their
Whereabouts obtained, but the utmost
haste in organizing a pursuit failed
to overhaul them.
james Kahn, the veteran express
messenger who was shot down by the
robbers while he stood with his hands
elevated above his head, was brought
to Chicago on a special train and is
being cared for at the Englewood Union
Hospital The doctors who are at.
tending him think there is a chance
for his recovery, but his age and the
nature of the wound leave slight
margin of hope for him.
Nt,.> n,l.
Island & Pacific railroads thru express
train, No. 5 bound for Omaha and Den-
YER, and which left Chicago at 10 o'clock
Thursday night, was held up by rob
bers at Dupont, H.. an hour later. EN-
press Messenger Kane was shot thru
the groin by one of the robbers and is
in a critical condition. The local safe
was forced open, but the amount of
booty secured is not known. Charles
Nessler, who climbed over the tender of
the engine and told the engineer and
fireman TO stop the train, has been ar
rested. Nessler. however. is believed to
be the unwilling accomplish OF the rob-
bers, as he obeyed their commands at
the point of q revolver.
The detectives are hot on the trail of
the robbers. A special train is waiting
at Coal City for pair of bocdhounds.
which are to be rushed to the scene of
the hold-up.
According to Nessler's story, only two
robbers were concerned, tho the detec-
tives think there We're more. Nessler is
about % years old, of frank appearance
and intelligence and claims to be of re-
spectacle parents. He says he went to
Niles Center recently to visit cousin.
Last night he started home. and. hav-
ing no funds, was beating his way TAX
ing the train at Chicago. AT Englewood
he climbed on the bumpers back OF the
tender, and had scarcely secured this
position when two men also climbed up.
They said nothing in particular until
Midlothian station was reached. Then
one of the men climbed over the end
of the tender upon the coal and ordered
Nessler to follow. Both men had adj
iusted black masks to their faces. AT
the point of a revolver Nessler as told
to go forward to the cab and tell the
engineer to stop the train half mile
beyond. Thoroughly frightened, he did
So The engineer and fireman regarded
the request as a Joke and laughed.
Look up there" said Nessler. The
trainmen did so and saw two revolvers
pointing toward them.
'"This is no joke" said one robber.
stop the the train or I'll kill YOU"
The engineer shut off the steam and
brought the train TO a standstill near
the Dupont switch. The engine crew
were taken back under guard. Nessler
being commanded to remain in the cab
and keep quiet. Demand was made on
the express messenger and baggage
man to open the door of their car under
threats to blow 1t with dynamite. The
dor was opened and the robbers rushed
in. struggle ensued and Messenger
Kane was shot thru the groin. The rob
bers attempted to open the thru safe
but were unsuccessful. The local safe,
however. was forced open. 1t is not
known what amount of money was talk
en-.