Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-28
Fight Takes Place a. Train
Through Central Illinois,
MESSENGER TAXES FRIEND FOR
Latter Says They Were Drink
Began to Quarrel.
BOTH IN HOSPITALS IN BLOOMINGTON
ExDressman John =. Ryan Lives In
Chicago-Edward c. Greene, the
other Man, was Formerly I'm
Employ of Company.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Sept H.-One OF
the most desperate encounters that ever
happened on a Wabash railroad train took
place last night between John E. Ryan,
$500 sixty-fourth place. Chicago, a mes
senger on train No. 49, due in Decatur at
S:1S this morning, and Edward Greene,
5101 South State street, Chicago, former
express messenger and later employed with
y. s. Betz & Co., Hammond, Ind
Both men are seriously injured and cannot
live, each having received three bullets
in the hght In the car which lasted for
miles.
Greene says that he got on the express
car at Forty-seventh street, Chicago, in
tending to go TO his home at Pittsfield, to
visit relatives He was an old friend Of
Ryan and the latter. he claims, permitted
him to ride. He claims that he assisted
Ryan on the trip with the express matter
and that the two began drinking. Jokes
led to quarrel and Greene says both drew
guns at the same time.
Ryan claims that the shooting began
west of Bement, while Greene AYERS that
the hrst shot was fred before the train
reach Cerro Gordo. Ryan claims that he
did not see Greene in the car until the
train reached Cerro Gordo and he believed
that Greene jumped In for the purpose
of robbery. Ryan also says that when
ne told Greene that he was visiting in Chi
cago, the latter told him It was none of his
business and pulled a gun.
shoot At same Time.
Tho men clinched and both with re-
volvers drawn rolled about on the car
floor. The men then separated and each
sought shelter in the car, while waiting
for the other to appear in order to shoot.
Just as the train was nearing Decatur both
men fired and both went down. but were on
their feet in a short time and the duel
continued. When the train neared Decatur,
Greene opened a door and jumped from the
car. He was unable to run and was found
an hour later by the police. Ryan says
that he believed robbery was the motive
when he shot. Greene's father Is the agent
OF the Pacific Express company at Pitts
field and his brother, Arthur Greene, ID
the a9ept for the same company az Chi
caKo. s@NSssesfifh
Greene has an ugly bullet wound in the
breast. smother In the right lung, while
a third bali lodged in the fieshy part OF
the abdomen.
Ryan was shot in the left jaw, behind
the left car and in the left shoulder, the
wounds all having been inflicted during
the few moments that they stood up from
behind their shelter in the car before reach
ing Decatur Both Of the men are in diff
forent hospitals.
The of1ciais or none OF the trainmeT
were aware OF the terrible fight that wa
being waged on the train until 1t reached
Decatur. when the car door was seen opei
and the trainmen found Ryan in a pool o
blood on the floor
Report at Headquarters.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. T.-At the genera
onices OF the wabash Railroad compan,
ana the offices OF the Pacific Express com
pany only measer reports had been re
ceived this forenoon concerning the pisto
duel early today between Messenger Johi
f. Ryan and former messenger Edward
Greene on the Wabash train entering De
catur. III. What caused the duel was no
known at either ONCE, but investigation
49,