Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-25
Manager Goodnow Makes Official
Statement of Robbery.
FIVE MASKED MEN COMMIT DEED
Davenport and Rock Island Police
Render Prompt Service - 6lood-
hounds Are Used-Express compa.
MES Loss is Given at $1,000.


Goodnow, of the Rock Island road to-
day gave out the following official
statement of the Davenport hold up:
Our passenger express leaving Chi
cago at 6:05 p. M, yesterday, was
stopped about mile and half west
of Davenport by man displaying a
red light and using the switch lamp
taken from a switch for that purpose.
Cut Off Mail and Baggage.
Five men compelled the engineer
and fireman to cut off the mail and
baggage cars and run the two cars
further west about a mile The en-
gineer and fireman were then com
PEELED at the point of revolvers to go
to the express car and open the door.
Trainmen Under Guard.
( The baggage-man and the express
man were taken from the cars to the
engine and three men left to guard
them and the engineer and the fire.
safe Of the United States Express Co.
All the contents of the safe were taken.
The roof and the side of the baggas
and express car We're badly damage
Train Delayed Two Hours.
The train was delayed two hours
and ten minutes.
Robbers All Masked.
The men engaged in the robbery all
wore masks, dark clothes and SLOUGH
hats and kept in the dark as much as
possible, so from that cause and ow-
ing to the excitement the employees
are unable to give any description of
the men except that one was a very
tall, slim and raw boned man, posi-
bly, six feet tall, three were medium
sized and rather heavy and one was
short, heavy man.
Police on Scene.
The police at Davenport and Rock
islam were promptly notified and were
very quickly on the ground, but could
find no wagon tracks leading from the
scene of the robbery. The SUPPOSE
ton is that the robbers left the road
and went to the north.
Use Bloodhounds.
The sheriff at Rock Island, with
bloodhounds, was promptly on the
scene and every effort is being made
to trace the robbers.
Near Davenport.
The robbery occurred just outside
the city limits of Davenport and was
one of the boldest that has ever taken
place on the company's line. There
was no one injured.
Offer Big Reward.
The railroad and express companies
offer a very large reward for the ap-
prehension and conviction Of the rob-
bers.
Say Loss is $1,000.
At the offices Of the United States
Express Co. it is said that the loss to
the company will not exceed $1,000.
which consisted of four packages, the
value upon which their liability is lin.
tied to $50 each, $50 package orig
mating at Rock Island, one package
the value of which cannot be accurate
ly determined, and quantity of Rock
Island Railway tickets.
Say Loss Is $4,000.
Des Moines, Nov. 22-The United
States Express Co. officials have, it is
asserted, been formally apprised that
the loss in the Davenport holdup APP
proximates $4,000 The Davenport
officers of the company in sist that
there was but $500 in the afe.
Stole Team.
Davenport, Nov. 22.-It is reported
that the supposed Rock Island train
robbers stole a team and wagon from
! farmer mile from the scene of the
robbery. and that the robbers drove
northwest on the run and about day
light passed farm house three or
four miles away Farmers descrip--
ton TALES With that Of the trainmen.
| The police have arrested Richard F.
Ridley and Luther B. Hayward, both
/ Sfran gesfS on SllSnicion.