The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-05
THEY'RE AFTER THEM
EXCITING PURSUIT OF ROBBERS IN
ILLINOIS.
HELD UP ROCK ISLAND TRAIN
but ROBBERS ARE TOO SWIFT FOR
FARMERS.

Were After the Big Safe Containing
%9O.O0O, But Only Took Away Some
Cheap JeweIry and Patent Medi-
cine Cntalogucs-Express Messen-
ger Shot Through Groin and May
Die-ChurIes NessIer Found steal
ing IA Ride, Made to Help Them in
Their Work, But Is Now n willing
Prisoner.
Chicago, July with half a hun
dred men on their trail and the promise
of a desperate battle and probably
death for their portion if they shall be
overtaken, the two bandits who halted
the Rock Island Railroads limited ex-
press train at midnight Thursday and
escaped after mortally wounding one of
the express messengers, are still at
large. All during the night and through
to-day they pushed on through the
farming country, stealing a bug
gy or a wagon here and there,
and abandoning the teams when
they were too exhausted to carry
them further. Farmers and residents
scene of the raid swept over the sur
rounding fields and prairies on the
hunt, but never a glimpse had they
of the fugitives. Occasionally a ru-
NOR of their whereabouts was obtain
ed but the utmost in organizing a
pursuit failed to overhaul them.
The detectives engaged in the in
vestigation and the pursuit move be-
ing pushed all over Illinois, are salts
fed that the robbers hoped to force
the big safe which contained some
where in the neighborhood of 100000,
and only the shooting of the messenger
defeated them in this project. When
they fed they carried with them sew
eral packages of cheap jewelry, valued
at about $780, and a number of cata-
logues and patent medicine books which
they apparently thought were bun
dies of valuables.
NessIer's story of Robbery.
Joliet, ILL.,, July 4.-As result of the
| hold-up on the Rock Island road last
night, the police of this city have in
| custody Charles Nessler. He climbed
over the tender of the engine and told
the engineer and fireman that they
must stop the train under penalty of
| death. Nessl&r, however, is believed to
have been the unwilling accomplice of
robbers, as he obeyed their commands
at the point of revolver. In the event
| of the capture of the thieves he will
make a good witness.
| According to Nessler's story only two
| robbers were concerned. He was beat
| ing his way on the bumpers back OF
| the tender and had scarcely secured
this position when two men also climb
ed up. They said nothing in particu
lar until Midlothian station was reach.
| ed. Then one of the men climbed ovel
the end of the tender upon the Goa
and ordered Nessler to follow Boil
men had adjusted black masks to thef
faces. At the point of revolver Ness
Ter was told to go forward to the cal
and tell the engineer to stoI
the train half mile beyond
Thoroughly frightened. he die
so. The engineer and fireman
regarded the request as a joke anC
laughed. Look up there" said Mes
sler. The trainmen did so and two
revolvers pointing toward them. "Thi,
is no joke" said one of the robbers
stop the train or I'll kill you
The engineer shut off the steam anc
brought the train to standstill neal
the Dupont switch. The engine crew
were taken back under guard. Nesslel
was commanded to remain in the cal
| and keep quiet.
Demand was made on the express
messenger and baggageman to oper
the door of their car under threats tc
blow it up with dynamite. The door
was opened and the robbers rushed in
A struggle ensued and Messenger Kane
was shot IN the groin. The robbers
attempted TO open the through safe
| but were unsuccessful. The local safe
however, was forced open 1t is not
known what amount of money was
taken. 1t is reported that a bag OF
| jewelry and some money was found in
the safe. but the railway officials say
practically nothing of value was sc.
| cured The robbers dis nneared