Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-21
Hoboes Rob John Lunger, Of
Cedar Rapids and Then
Throw Him From Train
WERE RUNNING AT HIGH SPEED
One Man Held at Waterloo Has Been
Identified as One of the Hold Ups
Lunser and Companion Had Marrow
Escape From Death-officers Are
Busy.
pecial to Times-kepublican.

,
Waterloo. July PA suspect held in
the city Jail here has been identified
by John Lunger, of Cedar Rapids, as
one of the men who robbed him and
threw him off fast freight near
Shellsburg. Thursday night, while he
was unconscious from being struck
on the head several times with the
butt of revolver. The leader of the
gang is under arrest at Vinton Lunger
boarded freight car at Cedar Rapids
intending to go to Vinton, where his
wife is visiting her parents. He was
accompanied by Roy Emler. aged IL,
of Vinton. who was going home. Lun-
ger was beating his way, hoping to
save money. His trip from Cedar Rap
ids to Vinton cost him $11 in money,
several cuts on his head and he mirac-
ulously escaped with his life.
While in the yards at Cedar Rap
ids three men, evidently habitual
toughs, entered the stock car in
which the two men were riding. Shortly
after leaving the city the leader OF
the trio approached Emler and told
him that if he did not jump off the
train he would shoot him. Emler
refused to jump and the tough, with
the help of his two pals, threw the
17-year- old boy from the train which
was going about 80 miles an hour.
Emler fell in a pile of bushes ana
outside OF few scratches and minor
bruises was uninjured.
The hoboes then asked Lunger il
he had any whisky and were offered
a bottle After drinking Lunger's
booze and talking awhile with him,
the leader Of the bunch asked him II
he had any money Lunger said that
he hadn't and the leader said. We'll
see." One of the men, whom Lunger
says is the one captured here, grabbed
him by the arms and held him tight,
and another started to go thru his
clothes and the leader pointed a gun
close to Lunger's head. Lunger resist
ed and remembers nothing more until
he picked himself up beside the track
about a half hour later.
Wiping the blood from his fore
head Lunger rose and managed to
walk to Shellsburg, a short distance
away. He telephoned the sheriff at
vinton what had happened and the
sheriff and his deputy did some quick
work. The train was almost due
and hurriedly dressing they ran 20
the Rock Island track, arriving just
as the freight pulled in. The train
stopped just long enough to take VA
ter. Beginning at the engine Sheriff
w. C. Youel and Deputy Seeley each
walked down the length of the train
loking for the highwaymen. The
leader of the gang must have seen The
approaching sheriff for he jumped from
the car almost in front of him.
He ran down the track with the
sheriff in pursuit, and was seen to
throw something into a clump of bush
es. Sheriff Youel pulled his revolver,
and at the sight of the gun the tough
JAIL where he has maintained
sphinx-like silence, refusing to say
one word. The train started just after
the leader jumped from it, and the
deputy did not see the others until ZOO
late.
The sheriff notified the police at Wa
terloo to search the train. Searching
the freight quickly, the police found
three men and notified Sheriff Youel of
their capture. The sheriff in turn no-
titled Lunger at Shellsburg.
Emler, who was thrown off the train
south of Shellsburg, walked to that viii
lage, where he met Lunger. The two
left Shellsburg for Vinton, and calne
from there to this city.
THE man held here gives his name as
James Smith, and says he left Nichols
Junction Wednesday. He states that
he comes originally from Kentucky,
and talks with a southern drawl. He
denies that he was with the three men
who assaulted Lunger. He has been
kept in ignorance of the capture of his
pal at Vinton.
The deputy, the victims and prisoner
left yesterday afternoon at 4:40 o'clock
returning to Vinton Smith will be
placed in the sweat box, as will also
his pal, held at Vinton.