The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-03-20
MAIL CAR
ROBBED
BANDIT TURNS TRICK
ON GREATNORTHERN
ENTERED CAR AT BONNER.
FERRY, IDA, AND RIDES TO
SPOKANE, WASH.

Opohduc, MdTCu 1O.-ln the gu1Se OF
a postoffice inspection, bandit obtain
ed admittance to the postal car on the
Great Northern Oriental Limited at
Bonners Ferry, Idaho, at an early hour
Sunday morning, overpowered the two
clerks at the point of a.gun, locked
one in closet, bound the other and
put him under the table, and then.
coelly smoking pipe all the while,
calmly rifled the through registered
mail pouches while the train was pro-
ceeding to Spokane. During the run
to Spokane OF 100 miles, which requir-
ed over six hours, the robber received
the mail at the three stations where
the train stopped, and threw off the
paper mail.
yards of Spokane, the bandit leaped
from the car and with his booty in a
small satchel, which he carried when
he entered the coach at Boomers Ferry,
made his escape Harry Diapers
bloodhounds were taken along the right
of way of the Great Northern and
picked up the scent within the city
limits less than mile from the Great
Northern station. They followed it
several blocks to car line, where the
scent was lost. 1t is supposed that
the robber boarded car and rode
downtown.
Six registered mail sacks were cut
and their contents rified. All were for
points on the Coast, the sacks for Spo-
kane not being disturbed. 1t is not
known how much money and valuables
the bandit obtained, but he is supposed
to have made big haul. In opening
the sacks he sustained severe cut
on his hand, supposed to be the third
finger of the right hand. He bled
freely from the wound and the mail
he touched was covered with blood
1t was from this blood that was not
yet dry that the dogs were given the
scent
When the train reached Spokane
John Nystuen, postal clerk in charge
was found locked in the clothes closet
while Benjamin Stumpf, the Other
clerk, was under the table with g
jumper drawn over his head, and his
arms tightly bound with clothes line
rope that the bandit brought with him
doubtless for this purpose. 1t was ther
that the story of the robbery was frs
learned.
When the train stopped at Boomers
Ferry about 4 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, a man came to the door of thu
postal car and threw in a mail sacl
and small grip. announcing that hi
was w. G. Bennett, postofiice inspec
tor
81 will return in few moments ant
ride with you to Spokane" he said t.
Nystuen, the clerk in charge. Stumpl
the other clerk was asleep under
table covered with mail sacks.
Nystuen glanced at the mail sac
and observed that it bore the name Q
Bennett 1t was paper mail sac
such as railway postal employees carr
their belongings in.
Just before the train departed fror
the Idaho town the man entered tn
car.
rs there any mail for me?' he IL
Quired of the clerk. There ought
be some for me- Please look"
Nystuen ran over some mail an
when he turned around to inform tn
supposed inspector that there wa
none he found big revolver pointe
at his head.
Locks Clerk in Closet.
After warning the clerk to make
cutlery and learned that another cler
was aboard, he directed Nystuen
get into the clothes closet, in whic
there is barely sufficient room for
man to stand erect.
When the pseudo inspector first a
peared Nystuen awoke Stumpf and Il
formed him that an inspector was
ride with them to Spokane and tn;
he would awake him again shortly.
Ignorant of the daring robbery th'
was going on in the car Stumpf CO
tinued to sleep lightly. When tt
train was leaving Standpoint Stun
thought it strange that he had NJ
been called and, looking up from u
derneath the table where he was res
ing he saw the stranger opening letter
AS he was crawling from undernea
the table the bandit turned aroun
whipped a revolver from his overco
pocket and commanded him to rema
silent or he would blow his head
He then threw jumper over u
clerks head, bound his hands BENZ
him and seated him in chair TO e
far end of the car, with his race
the wall.
Pouches Cut Wide Open.
Most of the pouches were cut ire
top to bottom, and an examination
the contents showed that the ban'
had been careful to make a thorou
search for plumber. Every packa
or envelope addressed to bank sho
ed signs of having been carefully
amined.
Heavy Penalty.
A report reached the police aoe
week ago that several mail pouch
had been stolen from the Northern
cific depot platform at Sprague' wa
Inspector Linn says that the pena
for placing mail clerk in Jeopar