Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-22
Car Barn Bandits
Pay the Penalty
Police Beaten.

two wounded detectives, and finding
the fire falling short, decided 10 give
mp the fight temporarily and send q
Chicago for reinforcements. The ban,
dts continued their flight.
a special train with fifty policemen
armed with rifles was rushed TO the
scene and the hunt renewed.
Although escape VAS nov iinppssi'
bic, the men showed no signs q sub,
mission. They had not halted since
firing their last Yolley. and arrived q,
Toiliston exhaused but still determin.
"a 10 avoid capture.
Stealing q Train.
On the side track at Toiliston, where
section men we're working. stool IN
engine md 4 train of cars. Then
followed the execution ~ d quickly
formed plan b aeiaa the train AID cs
cape. The three outlaws iittpea ista
the cab and confronted Fireman Frank
colfey. thu engineer being away AZ the
time. AT first coyffey did not notice
that they were armed. brakeman John
Sovia did. however, and crawied over
the tender evidently 70 warn him. 50.
via attempted 10 take the revolver
from N~eldemeier while the other two
bandits pointed their revolyers at Cot.
fey. rho scuffle was short and Sovia
pitched head foremost out pf the cab
with Il bullet Ii Ills brain, dying al.
most instantly,
With their guns stIll pointed ut Gof.
fey's head the trio ordered him hastily
to take tho train out Of the siding.
and Il started On 4 wild run to Liver.
pool.
Iii the woods d short distance away
were d number Of armed farmers, who.
having heard Of the escapaie and es.
cape Of the outlaws, had started to III
tercept them. The posse reached Tor
llston about noon, just as the train.
passed. They rushed across the prat
RE 10 d point where the road curves
md where there was q locked switch,
compelling Fireman Coffey to stop.
The posse opened fire as tho train
stopped. and the trio fled to a corn
field. exchanging shots as they ran.
Charges from the guns Of the farm
ers. under the leadership Of Charles
Hamilton, struck Neidermeier and
Van Dine, but did not seriously wound
The bandits, who had nov made
their last stand and not deferred
and fired frequent yolleys At their
pursuers.
The Surrender.
Knowing they were surrounded and
that further resistance would be use
less. the criminals some minutes later
to surrender. N~aidermeier,
tho leader Of tho gang, being the first
to do 80. A few minutes later Van
Dine abandoned the fight.
While Van Dino and Neldermeier
were giving themselves up, Roeski es.
capped 10 the woods beyond Liverpool.
The posse found him later III q rail,
road station at Asena, waiting for q
train % Chicago. He made no resist
ance, was dlsarmed and brought 70 tho
city with the other two bandits.
Detective DrIaeoil, who was shot III
NeidsrmeIcr. died four days Inter.
Boasts Of Crimes.
While ID jail Neidermeler smiling
n boosted 81 having killed. twenty.
three men. Marx asserted that NJ had
murdered five, Investigation proved
the statements 10 be untrue. 1t de.
ycloped that these confessions had
been made 81 ahtain ~noioriety. Or for
IS small consideration ns d chew Of
tobacco. OF the eight known Victims
of the bandits. four are thought 10
have been killed BY Neidermeier alone.
On January 6 the trial OF Neider-
meier, Van Dine and Marx. who had
been indicted the day after the cap.
turc, began. nut little testimony IA.
vorabla 10 them was offered, No de-
Tense at Ill wax made for Neider-
meier.
IN The case of Van Dino evidence
va introduced 10 show that no had
been since birth afflicted with 4 form
of epilepsy. which had made him IRE.
sponHible ii times. Tho state intro.
duced expert testimony ID the effect
that Van Dine was mentally responsl.
bic when ho took part III the DELHI.
erately planned crimes.
efateiy planned crimes. A plea foi
cIcmcnes FOR Marx was made On the
ground that his confession had led 4
the capture % his companions.
The case went 70 the Jury Oh Marcel
II, and then next day Marx, Neider