The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-02
Daring Robbery Of Express Car
on l. & n. Railroad
MEN GOT AWAY WITH MONEY
Covered Messenger With Revolvers
and Forced Him to Turn His
Lock and Then Ring the
Train Down.

Nashville. Tenn, Sept tember 1.-Early
tonight, between this city and FranAlin,
Tenn, eighteen miles south OF here, the
local safe on the express car of the
Louisville and Nashville through train
No. 2. north-bound was rif1ed of It's con-
tents by two masked men, while Messen-
ger A. B. Battle, covered by a revolver.
stood In the corner of the car with his
hands above his head. The robbery oc-
CURED just after dark and according to
his own announcement one Of the prin-
cipals was Gus Hyatt. who made a SEN
sational escape from the Tennessee peni-
tentiary on August 4 last, wnere he was
serving a fifteen-year term for train rob-
berry. Express officials estimate the loss
at about $500, 1t being in packages taken
in since leaving Montgomery. Ala This
two big safes were not molested.
The men forced the messenger to ring
the train down just before it was enter
ing the South Nashville yards, and quiet
ly took their departure. NO cIue TO the
direction taken 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:
I'VE pulled out of Franklin at 645 for
ty minutes late and began to prepare TO
check up my business for report at
Nashville. had got the safe open and
had gotten good at work sitting at the
safe when I heard some one behind me.
Turning. I looked into the barrel of big
revolver held by a man with red hand
kerchief 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. I 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 around
I'll shoot Keep your hands up 1 did
not look around to see II he had his gun
on me, but obeyed him. Both men had
sacks attached to their belts, and 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.
Had to Pull Bell Cord.
FINALLY he called me up 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
it again. This time the train slowed
down, but l don't know exactly when
the men got off, as 1 did not dare look
around. Finally the trainment came to
see what the trouble was and l told
them of the hold up. The man who did
the taking was about five feet ten inches
tall and weighed perhaps 100 pounds.
When ordering 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 lights and then stand
in the corner again. The man who said
he was Hyatt had on overalls and
blue jacket and wore black slouch hat
His companion was taller and thinner.
He wore Jeans trousers, a blue flannel
shirt and a blue and black cap. I can't
say how they entered my car as had
my back to them"