The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-04
Wound the Express Mes
Senger, But Capture
Little Booty.
ONE OF THE MEN CAUGHT
Bravery of Crew Defeats Purpose Of
Blowing Up Safe in the Express Car.
Deed Done Nineteen Miles Out
From Chicago.

CHICAGO, July 4.-The Denver Ex-
press. known as the Big Five" on the
Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific, was
held Up shortly after 1880 o'clock last
night about half mile west Of Dupont.
nineteen miles out from Chicago, On the
route 20 Joliet.
Express Messenger Kane was shot IN
the groin and two of the three robbers
escaped with a bag OF valuable Jew
elry
One of the Trio Locked Up.
The third robber, Charles Lesseler.
was captured by the train crew and was
taken to the police station in Joliet.
The train was delayed two and one-
half hours.
Driven Of by Train Crew.
It was only the bravery Of the train
crew that prevented the blowing Of the
safe and the theft Of the thousands OF
dollars which it contained. The crew
gave battle to the robbers ard succeed
ed driving them off after they had Sc
cured the jewels.
Boarded Cars Hear Chicago.
The train left the Grand Central sta
ton in Chicago at 10 O'Clock. Three men
boarded the blind baggage" at Engle-
wood Their plans appear to have been
carefully laid. The train had lust
whirled through the little town of Du-
pont when the trio began their work.
Ordered Engineer to Stop Train.
Lesseler crawIed steaithiIy ever the
rear of the tender and slid down over
the mass Of coal. The engineer and fire.
men were engaged in their duties and
were unaware OF the robbers presence
until they heard the sharp order 20
raise their hands Both turned to see
;hs muzzles OF two revoIvers at their
heads The train robber ordered the en-
sineer to shut Of steam and apply the
brakes. He did so and the train came TO
a stop.
Prepared to Attack.
When Lesseler elambered over the
tender his two companies prepared D
attack the express car As soon as the
train came to a stop they Ieaped to the
ground and made tteir way to the plat
form Of the car containing the valuables.
Lesseler then commanded the engineer
to aid in breaking open the car. He
hesitated, but the threatening look of
the robber urged him to obey and he
went back 70 the car, the fireman march
ing by his side under the cover OF the
two revolvers-
Tell the messenger to open the door"
whispered one Of the robbers, savageIY,
TO the engineer.
Express Messenger Wounded.
Again menaced by the weapons. the
engineer shouted for Kane to open the
door. Kane recognized the voice and
unlocked and opened the door. Instant
ly the robbers covered him with their
weapons and threatened to blow the car
up with dynamite They began shooting
and Kane drew revolver and returned
the fire A bullet from one Of the rob
bers' weapons penetrated his groin and
he fell.
Two of the men rushed inside the car.
Just then the train crew. massed for an
attack. appeared and began firing Hast
lily seizing a bag of jewels. the robbers
fed. As they did so Lesseler was seized
and held while his companions fed IN
the direction OF Chicago.
Captured Robber Mere Youth
The train drew into Joliet two and
oue-hah hours late. and LesseieT was
turned over to the police He said that
ne was tweDty-one years old and that
his home was IN Moline. From appear
ances he is an ironworkeT. He declared
that he did not know his companions.
He said he met them in Evanston q few
DAYS ago and the plot to rob the train
was hatched there. He would not say
what he was doing in the North Shore
town Kane, the wounded messenger, was
brought to the city at o'clock this
morning. and taken from Englewood
union depot to the Union Hospital His
wound was reported to be serious, but
the railway surgeons thought he had
chance for recovery.
On the way tc the city Kane told the
story of the robbery He said the rob
bers, at the points of revolvers. CON-
PEELED the engineer to leave his engine
and open the door OF the express car
Whe5 Kane vas confronted with the
nluzzles OF the bandits weapons. ne
threw up his hands in response TO their
demand IN spite OF this fact, they shot
HIM
Missed Gold Shipments.
There was an unusually large amount
Of cold n tho sy0-sss Safa owing IN rho