The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-18
WAS CAPTURED
BY LOCAL POLICE
James A. Black Wanted for
Highway Robbery at 0swegO.
HELD UP IN FREIGHT CAR
Dryden Bros. Lost Sl66 and
Two Watches in the Affair.

James A. Black was arrested by the
police on the charge OF being mem
Der Of the gang which held up and rob
bed the Dryden brothers at Congdon
station, three miles south of Oswego.
on the morning OF March 5th.
There were four Of the robbers. one
was killed by one OF the Dryden brothers
two were captured by the train srew and
the officers anege that James Black.
alias Blackley. was the fourth one.
The officers here were notihed by the
Labette county officers to look out for
this man. as they had a tip that he
was one Of the gang. The officers kept
the city and finally found the man the
Oswego ocers wanted. Undersherifr
Disch of Oswego arrived here yesterday
morning and took his man back 10 Os
wego last night.
The two men captured by the train
crew were bound over TO the district
court at Oswego last Thursday and Mr.
Black viii be given preliminary hear
ing on the same charge some time this
week. The story of the robbery as given
b. the undersherff to reporter for the
Eagle last night is as follows:
The robbery was committed Wednes-
day, March 9Th at about o'clock in
the morning in a box car of north
bound NJ, z. & T. freight train. at
Congdon sidinf. three miles south OF
Oswego. Two young men. J. W. Dryden
and J. T. Dryden, brothers. Of Everton
Mo-, on their way home from the Indian
Territory where they had been working
f1r h. 4 ri
pany. entered the box car at South Nc
Alester 10 go to Parsons and We're joined
by party Of four tramps- The freight
train ran in on the siding at Congdon
TO allow passenger train No. / to pass.
and while on the siding one OF the
party OF tramps drew a revolver and
forced the Dryden brothers TO throw
up their hands and stand faces 10 the
side OF the car. while another member
Of the gang lighted matches. ] by the
light OF the burning matches third
member went through the pockets Of
the young men. securing sl01 from J. T.
Dryden and $50 and two watches from
]. W. Dryden.
GAS soon as the robbery was COM
mittsd the Dryden boys were forced
from the car. and under the escort of
a robber who held a pistol pointed at
rear of the train. J. ". Dryden. who is
the older of the two, was in advance
under the guard Of the largest member
of the gang, and when he passed the
caboose he made an effort to climb upon
the caboose for help. AS soon As he
grasped the hand rail. the robber threw
his arm around him in an endeavor 70
pun him away. In the struggle Dryden
turned until he faced the robber and
when his hold on the hand rail was
finally looseened they both fell TO the
ground. Dryden on top.
"A terrible struggle ensued and the
robber made an effort to draw a re-
volver. but as Dryden was watching
carefully his hand touched the revolver
almost as soon as did the robbers and
10 the struggle that followed for the
possession of the gun, it was discharged
while each had hold of It.
''The bullet pierced the left arm Of
the robber above the elbow, breaking
The arm and the shock caused him TO
oosen his grip on the revolver and Dry
len then fred another shot which
passed through his left breast and the
-obber completely released Dryden, and
Is he had supposed that the second shot
had killed the robber he was starting 10
cave the place. when the robber raised
himself upon one elbow and called 10
him to come and get his money. Fear
ng that ne might mean that another
lttempt would be made on him Dryden
shot him again. This time the bullet
pierced his chest and caused instant
leath.
by this time Conductor Ryser and
Brakeman Deigh of the train crew. who
lad heard the shots arrived, and 70
hem Dryden told his story. They
-tarted back to the caboose after as
ertaining that the robber was dead and
,efore they had gone very far two other
men ran into their arms and Ryser. who I
lad armed himself before leaving the /
aboose. pushed his GA in their faces. /
rdering them to throw up their hands +
nd go with them 10 the caboose. where +
he robbers were disarmed and a large /
eVolver taken from them.
During this time J. r. Dryden, who (
as II charge of another one q the gang (
Z hiehwaymen. alleged to have been +
his man Black. was taken 20 a point I
urtheT away from the caboose. where, 4
fter discharcing his revolver I'm the .
round the rober ordered him ~ leave. +
. A. Dryden. after hearing the third I
hot discharged IN the fight between his /
rother and the roher. supposed that i
hs- r0laCt that MS br0rneT W1s islaei-
con Else arrival q tire train ~ o.
-cgo. the two men captured ~ the /
rain crew were termed over 20 me and 4
AIKEN H. the county jan Dryden. in
ornra-v with another officer. returned /
. the scene of the night They arrived 4
here fuet at the time Dryden's brother.
a company. With some farmers. arrived
% TIRE scene.
s'Ths DRYDEN boys were able p give
IS pretty fair description - The other
ather 80 we spotted .3'acleT. - ttc
aan we wanted ard @onr police got
l-n-"