Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-05

Rock Island train No. ;, which was
held up near Chicago by masked rob
bers Thursday night. arrived here at G
O'Clock yesterday morning in charge
of Conductor Coffin and Engineer
GoOdall. the crew being apparently
none the worse for the thrilling ex-
periences of the night before. All
the members of the crew, including
Messenger Kane. who was shot and
badly injured, reside in Blue Island.
The train was delayed about three
hours.
Charles Nessler, the Rock Island
young man who is held in connection
with the affair. lives with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Nessler.
al 212 Third avenue. He is 2f years
of age and has always borne n good
reputation. He is regularly employ
ed at the Cornplanter works in Mo-
line. but left for Chicago five days
ago To meet a cousin who was com
ing here on a visit.
HIS parents have had no word from
him since he lefs and they have en-
tire faith in his innocence of being
voluntarily implicated in the crime.
Declares He Is Innocent.
Nessler declared he was innocent
of any willing participation in the
crime. lie says he was forced to do
the bidding of the holdup men and
was himself stealing ride on the
front Of the express car when the
robbers boarded II.
Il got on the blind baggage of the
train at Englew ood. intending to
beat my way To Rock Island eN-
planned Nessler. Before the train
started two other men jumped
aboard and l supposed they were GO
ing TO bum their way the same as
/. I didn't pay much attention TO
them until we had passed Blue ISL
and. and then one of them turned to-
ward me and ordered me to climb
over the engine tank 20 the cab.
Il noticed then that both of them
wore masks, and : knew something
was wrong. The one who addressed
me said: Young fellow. you hike
over the coal. there and tell the en-
gineer TO stop this train a mile and
"A half from Midlothian He pointed
"A gun at me and ! did as ordered.
when 1 got close To the cab the
engineer saw me and turning quickly
wanted TO know what / was doing
there / told him he was held up
and he laughed. Then the robbers
covered him and the fireman with re-
volvers and ordered the train stopped.
II knew that the train was stop
ped, but anything further / can't tell,
because l was so scared that | didn't
know what was going on
Nessler is locked mp at the Harri-
son street police station. Another
man under arrest is tramp. on
whose capture little Importance is
placed.
Members OF Curry Band
Chicago. July st is officially
stated today by an officer of the
United States Express company that
the robbers who held up the Rock
Island express at Dupont. ILL.,. Thurs
day night secured only $50 worth of
jewelry. 1t is believed by detectives
the robbers were members of the
hlu NuEIF Ddlitl VI II am
robbers wanted for alleged compiled
ty in the recent Union Pacific hold
up.
Good Place for a Robbery.
The spot selected by the robbers at
which to stop the train is peculiarly
adapted for holdup purposes. The
double track extens3s between two
high banks which are heavily wood
ed. The surrounding country is COW
cred with timber and extends fully
mile on each side % the right of way.
The Wabash railroad extends
through the country eight miles
north of the Rock Island, while four
miles to the east is an electric car
to Harvey, and it is only three and n
half miles TO Blue Island, with sew
eral means of connection with Chi
cago. There is only one station be-
tween TinIey Park and Dupont. and
that is Oak Forest. milk station.
The robbery recalls the train hold
up about 10 years ago on the Rock
Island line near Morris, Ill, when
Messenger ISichols was shot to death
and robbed by two former employees
of the railroad company The two
robbers escaped with their plunder.
but afterwards were captured and