Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-11-30
TRAIN RObBER
TO BE TRIED
OFFICIALS KEEPING A CLOSE
WATCH ON NOTED DESPERATE
WHO is KNOWN TO HAVE
BEEN IMPLICATED IN SCORE
OF ROBBERIES.

Minneapolis, MINI, Nov. SO
The officials of the Hennepin county
Jail are keeping close watch on
Frank Shercliffe. the noted despera-
| do, who Is about to .e tried on the
(, charge CT having heer ir'nlica ted in
the robbing Of Northern Pacific
train at Northtown Junction, on
April 16 OF this year. Shercliffe, who
| is "A man of many aliases and has q
long record of crimes In all parts of
the country, was arrestes at Knox
| Vile, Tennessee, a short time ago.
! The authorities of Colorado and Min
| nesota made requis.tiun ~. "a "ris-
oner's requisition and the request of
| Governor Johnson of Minnesota
| was hOnored.
The charge upton which Sher-
cliffe Is about to be tried is based
upon the confession of Owen Ball,
now serving sentence at Saltwater
who stated that Shercliffe had been
his par ,ner in committing the rob-
berry of the Northern Pacific train
in April. 1t is charged that Sher-
cliffee and Ball boarded the train at
Minneapolis. and, after the train
had covered few miles. entered the
Pullman sleepers and held UP the oc-
cupants. Ball was arres ed at Mar
shaltown, Iowa. charged with the
holdup. He confessed and impli-
Gated Shercliffe.
In Colorado Shercliffe is wanted
on the charge OF having murdered
and robbed John Walsh. saloon
keeper in Leadville. He was arrest
ed In Lansing. Michigan. when he
tried to dispose OF some OF the stol-
en- goods in May OF this year He
was taken to Colorado. tried and con
vic.ed of murder and sentenced to
rs years in the penitentiary. On the
way to the penitentiary at Canyon
City Shercliffe escaped from the
sheriff and was rot heard of again
Until he was arrested at Knoxville.
The Colorado autorities are await
ing the outcome Ut the impending
trial with great deal of Interest.
as 1t is understood that Shercliffe
will Immediately be extradited tol
the Colorado authorities. In case he
should be acquitted OF the charge In
connection with the Northern Pa
cific train robbery.
Shercliffe, alias Cummings, alias
Reynolds, etc, began his criminal
career at the age Of II. by robbing
safe in Aurora Illinois. He shot
at the officers pursuing him but was
captured. He was convicted at &C.
neva. Illinois, August II, 1886, and
sentenced to two years imprison-
.ment in the Joliet penitentiary un-
der the name of John Cummings. He
was discharged August 4. 1888.
According to the statement of the
police authorities. Shercliffe was ar
rested at Gallatin. Missouri. under
the name Of Charles Reynolds. on a
charge Of robbery. but he escaped
FROM the sheriff by holding him up
with q revolver.
His next sentence was one year
In the Utah peniten larry, December
3, 1890, for burglary committed
In Ogden. He later escaped. but he
was recaptured and served his time,
being discharged March II. 1892
Shercliffe will also be remember
ed In connection with diamond
robbery on Sioux City & Pacific
train on November 4. 1892. He
boarded the train at Omaha and as
1t neared California Junction. Iowa.
he entered one of the coaches and
attacked William G. Pollock. travel