Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-24
ROBBERS ELUDE
MANY SLEUTHS
TRAIN LOOTERS NEAR OMAHA
DEFY POSSES
Two Empty Mail Pouches Are Found,
but No clew as to Where-
abouts of Bandits Who
PIundered Them

OMAHA. May 23-Although the po-
lice department of this city and the
sheriff have had large forces of men
securing the country in the vicinity of
the scene of last nights holdup on the
Union Pacific railroad, three miles west
of the city, little progress has been
made toward arrestlng the robbers.
Two empty mail pouches taken from
the train were found some distance
from where the robbery occurred.
They had been cut open and their con-
tents removed, the outlaws overlooking
only one package.
The highwaymen dropped from sight
so completely that not a single person
has been able to give a clew.
Every town in the county has been
notified and the sheriffs' offices of
surrounding counties have been keep
ing a lookout for strangers. The post
office department has taken steps to
aid in the search.
Rode in an Auto
1t is believed the robbers rode in an
automobile to the scene of the holdup.
1t has been learned that a fire was
burning on the bank near where the
robbery occurred, and 1t is believed to
have been used as signal for the rob-
might know where to begin operations.
The police believe the outlaws went
to a rendezvous already selected either
in Omaha or South Omaha and devot-
ed Sunday to dividing their loot. Their
principal efforts, therefore, are being
put forth in the two cities where the
robbers are believed to be in hiding.
Conductor Wallace says he was more
surprised at the boldness of the rob-
bers than anything else.
Il got out of sleeper at the rear of
the train when l heard the shooting"
said Wallace, land the robbers prompt
ly began using my lantern as a target
| walked forward to the next car when
one of the robbers yelled at me: oct
inside there before you get your head
shot off, 1t did not take me long to
obey.
Had Finished Job
Il went forward inside the train and
when l got to the dining car just be-
hind the baggage car. the robbers had
about finished their job. L found the
colored walters in a panic.
"They were all up expecting to leave
the train at Omaha. Two or three of
the dining car men had stuck their
heads out and the robbers sent few
bullets in their direction. None of the
passengers knew what had happened
because nearly all were asleep"
Chief Clerk Whitmore of the mail
car says the pouches stolen were con-
sidered among the less important regis
tered mail. One of them was foreign
pouch, four were destined for Chicago
and the other two to New York.
A number of secret service men ar
rived in Omaha from Kansas City to-
night to join in the hunt. Sheriff Bau
man of Fremont has notified the local
police that three men had hurriedly
left saloon near the depot at that
place Just as the Overland Limited
was getting ready to leave, and he be-
lieves they boarded the train. He has
supplied good description of the men.
Thrilling Experience
John p. Maurer, representative of a
New York firm, had a thrilling expert
ence and gave the sheriff an exciting
five minutes after the holdup occurred.
Maurer had not gone to his berth
when the train stopped and hearing
the shooting. he got out on the rear
platform to investigate. He surmised
that a holdup was going on and hav-
ing large sum of money in his pos
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