The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-04
BANDITS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
LONE ROBBER HOLDS UP EN-
PRESS TRAIN.
Gets Several Thousahd Dollars in
Currency and 10000 Pennies,
Thinking Coppers Are Dollars.


Lewiston. Pa, Aug. 31.-One Of the
most audacious and startling holdups
Of a railroad train In the East for
years occurred in the eastern slope Of
the Allegheny mountains early today.
when a lone highway man stopped q
Pennsylvania railroad express with
dynamite cartridge and at the point
Of a revolver compelled the crew to
carry thousands Of dollars In coin and
bullion from an express car to a spot
in the wilderness.
When the conductor, Of the train
attempted to interfere with the rob-
ber's plans he was shot in the hand
and the bold bandit succeeded in
making good his escape
In the darkness. however, he mis-
took bag containing 10000 new Lin
coin pennies for gold coin and stag
gered away with It, leaving the real
gold bullion to be recovered.
When the news Of the robbery
reached the railroad and express
company officials they Immediately
ordered every available detective from
the East and West to the scene in
an effort to capture the audacious
bandit. Bloodhounds were also put
on his track, but up to a late hour to-
night no trace Of the man had been
found.
The looted train was made up Of
an engine, three express cars and two
sleeping coaches filled with passen-
gers. At about 1880 a. m. it was run
ming through Lewistown narrows,
whens uddenly a dynamite cap ex-
ploded and the engine driver brought
the train to a standstill. Then he was
confronted by a masked man with a
gun pointed at him.
Are there any mail cars on this
train?" demanded the highwayman.
NO." was the reply Of the start
leu engineer
The engine crew was then forced at
the point of the gun to accompany
the robber to the first exprass car. A
revolver was pointed at the messen-
gers head, and threatening to blow
up the car, the robber forced the mes
senger of the two express cars and
engine crew to carry all the gold apd
bullion stacked in the first car to the
side of the tracks.
Conductor 1. r. Poffenberger of
Harrisburg, Pa, who came up while
this work was being accomplished.
was ordered back by the bandit. who
emptied one of his revolvers at him.
one of the shots penetrating his hand
and the others grazing his body.
Despite the appearance of three
passengers who had been awakened
by the shooting, the robber calmly or
dered the crew back on the train and
compelled them to steam away, leav-
ing the bullion beside the track. It
was recovered later by a posse sent
on a special train. When the train
was leaving he called out: Good
bye, an good luck; l hope to see you
again."
1t was reported tonight that in ad-
dition to the missing pennies several
thousand dollars in currency was
missing, but the express company Of
fcials refuse to announce the exact
amount of their loss.
Agent Hammaker of Lewiston sent
a safe to the scene Of the robbery 10
receive six bags of pennies on which
the seals had not been broken, but
which had been cut open with sharp
knife to ascertain the contents and
abandoned by the robber in disgust.
With practically every detective and
officer employed by the railroad. as
sisted by special detectives EMPLOYED
by the Adams Express Company. en-
gagged in search for the lone bandit.
the prediction was made tonight by
railroad officials that his apprehen-
sion is but few hours off.
The highwayman, it is said, took
$4,000 in bullion and 5000 i'm pennies
from the car and all OF this has been
found along the rails but s65.
JUSTICE MOODY SERIOVSIy III