The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-09-02
L. & N. TRAIN
Is HELD UP
e. r.
Robbers Get Away With
AbOyt $500.
HYATT oNE THE BANDITS
Messenger Surprised and
Mdde to Assist Thieves.
yfhe Two Big Through Safes in the
Express Car Not Molested.
Police Have No Trace of
Highwaymen.

Nashville. Tenn, Sept. 1.--Early to-
night, between this city and Franklin,
Tenn. eighteen miles south of here, the
local safe on the express car of Louis
Vile and Nashville through train No. 2.
northbound. was rified of its contents by
two masked men, while Messenger A. B.
Battle, covered by a revolver. stood in
the corner of the car with his hands
above his head.
: The robbery occurred Just after dark,
and, according to his own announcement,
one of the principals was Gus Hyatt,
who made a sensational escape from the
Tennessee penitentiary here August l.,
last, where he was serving a fifteen-year
term for train robbery.
Express officials estimate the loss at
about $500, it being In packages taken in
since leaving Montgomery, Ala. The two
big through safes were not molested.
The men forced the messenger to ring
the train down just before it was enter
ing sthe South Nashville yards. and
quietly took their departure. No clew as
TO the direction gone has yet been
discovered, though the police are hard
at work on the case.
The story of the robbery as told by
Messenger Battle Is substantially as fol-
lows:
Messenger Battles Story.
1--WE pulled out of Franklin at 6:45, for
ty minutes late, and I began to prepare
TO check up my business for report at
Nashville. / had got the safe open and
had gotten good at work setting at
the safe when I heard some one behind
me. Turning, 1 looked into the barrel OF
a big revolver, held by a man with a
red handkerchief tied over his face,
holes being cut for eyes. nose and mouth.
Get up and hold up your hands, he said,
or will put hole in your head
Right behind him was another man
wearing a black handkerchief over his
face and also having me covered with
his pistol. got up and he ordered me
to stand in the corner of the car with
my back to him and my hands above my
head, saying, If you dare turn round
Ill shoot. Keep your hands up / didn't
look around to see II he had his gun on
me. but obeyed him. Both men had sacks
attached to their belts and 1 could hear
them putting the packages away. The
man who did all the talking said once,
Hurry up. George, we are getting close
to Nashville.
Pulled the Bell Cord.
Finally he called to me to pull the bell
cord, but not to look around. I obeyed,
but the signal was not answered, and,
with an oath. he ordered me to pull 1t
again. This time the train slowed down.
but L don't know exactly when the men
got off, as l did not dare look around.
Finally the trainmen came to see what
the trouble was. and 1 told them of the
hold-up. The man who did the talking
was about five feet ten inches tall and
weighed perhaps 1870 pounds. When or
dering me to pull the bell cord. he said:
Tell them you saw Gus Hyatt
Before they got off they made me help
them put out the light and then stand in
the corner again. The man who said he
was Hyatt had on overalls and a blue
jacket and wore a black SLOUGH hat
His companion was taller and thinner
He wore jeans trousers, a blue flannel
shirt and n blue and black cap. l can
mot say how they entered my car as
had my back to them"