The Glenwood post., 1907-11-09
CANNOT TAME THIS MAN.


New York, Nov. Tho news re
ceived from Danncmora prison this
week that Oliver Curtiss Perry is slow
ly starving himself to death in that in
stitution has revived memories of this
daring and noted criminal, who seven
teen years ago startled the entire coun-
try with the boldness of his train rob-
bing exploits.
The crime for which Perry is now
serving practically a life sentence was
the robbery of the American Express
companys special train on February
2l, 1892. One ear of the train was
known as the money ear. In it was
sent the specie from the United States
treasury for western banks.
On the day of the robbery the train
left Syracuse at clock in the morn
ing. The money car was next to the
rear coach. When they were nearing
Weedsport, Perry, who had ridden on
top of the money car from Syracuse,
let himself over the side of the car by
means of rope. He smashed in the
glass with his revolver and and or
dered the messenger to throw up his
hands. The messenger shot at Perry.
Then Perry shot him twice. Perry
climbed into the ear and there was a
desperate fight.
The conductor heard the row and
stopped the train. Then he looked out
Perry looked out of the express car
when the train stopped, saw the con
fuctor, and shot at him. The conductor
sent brakeman back to the next sta
ton to telegraph along the line that
they had a train robber on board. Then
they went on to Port Byron. They
stopped at the station and took care of
the messenger, who was badly wounded.
Perry had disappeared. At Lyons
where the next stop was made, there
was big crowd. Perry was in the
crowd. He had evidently got off on
the further side of the train when it
stood at the station.
The conductor recognized him and
made a rush for him. Perry kept the
crowd back with his revolver and ran
ran across the track to where coal
train was standing. He uncoupled the
engine and jumped into the cab and
ordered the engineer and fireman to get
out of sight. Then he pulled the throt-
+nl al Ton,
express trains engine was uncoupled
and party started after him.
When they were about to overtake
him he stopped his engine. reversed 1t,
and started back. AS he passed his
pursuers. who were on another track,
he fred two shots through the cab win
dow. The pursuing engine was reversed
and backed after him. Perry went
ahead again. AS he passed his pursu-
ers this time he shot through the cab
again. The men on the pursuing en-
CINE found they could not catch him,
and went back to Lyons. Perry found
the steam giving out and abandoned
the engine. He then started across
country. Finally he was captured at
Newark.
He was afterward convicted and SEN
fenced to Auburn prison for long
term of years. He had served about a
wear and half when he was trans
ferred to Mattewan as incurably in
sane. When he had been in Mattewan
about two years he and four other in
mates escaped from that institution at
late hour in the night. 1t was sew
eral weeks before he was again re-
captured and he was then transferred
to Dannemora.
He has been source of constant
trouble to his keepers, and the news
that he has refused to eat for four
years and that it has been necessary
during all that time to force nourish
ment down his throat through tube,
does not surprise those acquainted with
the desperate character of the man.
One of the most remarkable features
of the ease is that lie is stone blind,
having himself ruined his eyes in the
hope that his relatives, who deserted
him years ago, would come to his aid.