The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-19
BANDIT OVERpOWERS
POSTAL CLERKS; WORKS
AND RIFLES THE MAIL
Bold Piece Of Thieving on
Train---H -hwaymen Treats
caplrvss Kindly.

Spokane, Wash, March ia lone
bandit boarded the mai! car on the
westbound Oriental Limited, the fast
Granscontinental train. at Bonner's
Ferry, Idaho. before daylight. bound
the two mail clerks and robbed the mail
and express cars. The robbery was not
discovered until the train reached Spo-
kane at $3.50 o'clock a M, more than
ave hours after the bandit boarded the
train. Employees at the station opened
the car ana found n of the mail
clerks lying bound on the mail sacks.
The other clerk was locked in a closet.
The clerks said the bandit held them
up, bound them and went through the
registered mail He then said he would
work the regular mail, and proceeded
10 do so. AT all regular stops he threw
on the mail and took the outgoing,
gacks. though at some Of the smaller
places where the train does not stop he
did not throw off the mail. He stayed
on the train for nearly five hours,
jumping off ut the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation junction, two miles east Of
Spokane.
The robber is described as being six
feet tnll. He wore a red sweater and
overalls and had a three or four days
growth of beard.
AZ Inspector.
The bandit secured admittance I'M
der the guise or a p~ostoftice inspector,
giving the name OF G. W. Bennett.
John Nystrun, one OF the postal clerks,
was on duty 1t that hour, while the
other clerk, Benjamin Stumpf, was
asleep under a table.
Us there any mail for me?" the
bandit inquired. There ought to be:
please look"
Nystrun complied with the reuues,
and when he turned to inform the pre-
tended inspector that there was none
he looked into tho muzZle OF a revolver.
After warning Nystrum not to make al
outcry the bandit directed him to get
into the closet and proceeded to rife
che mails. ..
rad awakened when the bandit first
entered the a and had gone to sleep
again when Nystrun informed him
that an Inspector was aboard, had
again awakened. Thinking II strange
that he had not been called Stumpf
hooked toward the mail table and saw
Che stranger sorting letters. AS the
derk was crawling from beneath the
table nde which he a slept the
pandit drew a revolver and ordered
him to be still. He then threw q jump
er over the clerks head, bound his
hands behind him and seated him I'm
rhe far end OF the ar.
When the train arrived at Spokane Il
was discovered that six sacks OF regis
tered mail bound for coast points had
been cut open and their contents rifled.
'Che sacks for Spokane were not dis
Gurbed.
In cutting open the mail sacks the
bandit slashed his hand and much OF
The mail IN the Car was covered with
blood. 1t vas from this blood stained
mail that a scent was obtained which
bloodhounds followed as soon as the
robbery was discovered. The scent,
after being followed through several
Spokane blocks, was lost.
Treated CaptiVes Well.
Stumpf and Nystrun tell q remark
able story OF their experience. Locked
IN the small closet hardly tHo feet
square,, the latter almost tainted from
guffocation after the train had pulled
into Sand Point, thirty-four mikes west
Of Bonner's Ferry, and, rapping on the
door, pleaded with the robber to allow
him some fresh air. The bandit re-
sponaed willingly, and leaving the dooI
ajar about an inch, secured 1t with o
piece OF rope. Twice later on the way
to Spokane the robber ceased his work
Of rifiing the mails to go to the door
OF h closet to inquire as to how Ny
strun was feeling.
When Stumpf demonstrated with his
Captor that h cords which bound hin
were cutting into his wrists the rob.
Der generously loosened the letters and
made every effort to make ii as com.
Portable as possible for his prisoners.