Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-12-08
MESSENGER SHOT
EXPRESS LOOTED
Bold Holdup of Express Car on
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.
THE WAY-SAFE WAS RIFLE0
The bandit, After MOrtaIly Gun
ing the Express Messenger, Calm
Iy Looted the Safe and Then
Lenped From the Train.

Los Angeles, Cal, Dec. 6.-The
Wells Fargo express car on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over
land passenger train No. l, west
bound, was entered early Monday
morning, somewhere between Needles
and Daggett, and Evan o. Roberts,
the express messenger, shot and ia
tally wounded and the way safe ri
fed.
The Wells Fargo company was X
pecting a large shipment of United
States pension money, totalling $780,.
900, it is said, and is is possible that
this shipment may have been on the
train. 1t was shown that the local
officials were greatly exercised owe
the robbery, and at Barstow placed a
sub-messenger on board the car, with
orders to guard everything in it with
the greatest secrecy. Officials re-
fused to discuss the reported ship
ment of pension money in any way.
The shipment, ii sent. would have
been in the main safe. 1t is not GER
tain, however, that this safe was en-
tered, as the robber riled the pockets
of the messenger as he lay on the
floor of the car and took away his
keys to the two safes.
It is also reported that more than
one man was concerned in the hold
up.
Assistant Superintendent Pridham,
of the Wells Fargo, stated late Monday
afternoon that the amount taken from
the express car will not exceed $500.
| He would not say that the United
| States pension money was not in the
car, but stated positively that the
main safe was not entered at all.
M~essenger Fatally Wounded.
The robbery was not discovered I'M
til the train reached Daggett. Con-
ductor Halves opened the door of the
express car at Daggett and found Mes
senger Roberts lying on the floor OF
the car in a semi-conscious condition,
and the contents of the rified safe
scattered about the car. Roberts was
so seriously wounded that he was I'M
able to tell how the robbery oc-
Cured, except to say that he had dis
covered some n on the blind bag
gage shortly after the train left Nee
dies, and had started to open the
door when the man, whom he took to
be a negro, sprang inside. Before the
messenger could draw his revolver, the
bandit opened fire, wounding Roberts
m~ortally. The bullet struck Roberts
in the left breast, passing through his
body. Roberts fell to the floor, and the
robber Immediately went to the open
way-safe and took what he wanted out
of the contents. Hh then opened the
door and leaped out. Roberts was so
badly hurt that he was unable to
make an cutlery.
Made Game Resistance.
The bolt on the door at the end OF
the express car vas broken, showing
that the robber had used force in
gaining an entrance. The interior OF
the car indicated that the messenger
had made a game resistance and
grappled with the robber before be-
ing overpowered and finally shot by
him.
After rifing the safe the robber
leaped from the car while the train
was running at full speed.
The bandit is believed to be n OF
a number of colored tramps who have
around Daggett since the construction
work of the Salt Lake road reached
that place.
The way-safe contained envelopes
holding money and checks. which
were being sent to the general offices
by station agents along the line.
Messenger Roberts was brought te
this city on board the train, which
arrived Monday afternoon.
Roberts was a resident of Los An
geles, and was one Of the oldest ant
trusted employees of the Wells Fargo
company.
Word was received here that 6
colored tramp was under arrest al
Barstow, who is believed to be the
man who committed the robbery.
Assistant Superintendent Pridham
of the Wells Fargo company, stated
that the amount taken from the way
safe was only a few hundred dollars
The principal treasure safe, he said
was locked, and the robber was un
able to force an entrance.
J stranger Killed by a Train.