The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-23

"A NUMBER OF OlneF people came Out
they were curiosity Seekers so far as
1 could determine. The man was I'M
dressed and rolled up in the sheet of
the berth. He had a cheap az cali
Der gun of the Bulldog type, pack
age of cayenne pepper and a small
flashlght In his belongings was a
claim check from the Oxford hotel
! in Denver, soft felt hat and a cap
which was in the pockets of his
trousers.
my presence. He grunted when 1
told him to get out of the bunk and
that was the only sound he made. He
did not seem to be excited, but real
lied that he had no chance to escape
and attempted to kill himself rather
than submit to arrest
Officer Saunders has been appointed
member of the Topeka police depart
ment since ]. B. Billiard became mayor.
He is a big husky fellow and probably
the youngest man on the force.
He takes the affair rather as a mat
ter of business and did not stop to con-
slider the danger that confronted him
when he opened the curtains OF the
berth in the sleeping car.
The mans personal belongings were
taken out of the sleeping car and are
being held at the police station.
Story of the Robbery.
As the mail clerks on 1o1 were not
detained in Topeka, and continued
tails of the desperate holdup have
been obtained except as repeated to
Union Pacific officials by train men.
The robber boarded the mail car
shortly after the train left Kansas City. |
It is evident that he had been riding
on the steps until the train was under |
Roadway, and then climbed into the |
car where the clerks were busily en- |
Gagged in opening sacks and sorting |
mail With his cheap little revolver
the man covered the clerks and yelled: |
t'An hands up" They obeyed without |
a word and he then ordeerd the CHIEF I
clerk to tie the others with cords
which were lying about the floor of the |
car. There was plenty OF time for the |
robbery between the Kansas City yards |
and Lawrence, and the rObber seemed |
in no hurry. After the man had been |
captured last night, one of the clerks |
stated that he had forced them to |
of the car. This was evidently ruse
on the part of the holdup man to |
make the clerks think he had accom-
plices, and was going back toward
his work. The sacks were thrown out |
at Bonner Springs, and it may have /
been done for the purpose of avoiding
an investigation by the agent 1t was
after leaving Bonner Springs that the |
rObber secured several packages OF |
registered matter, which he stuffed |
under his clothing. Then he searched |
a chest, presumably a receptacle where
longings, and found smaH amount of
money.
AS the train pulled into Lawrence,
the holdup man jumped from the side
depot. While the mail clerks were
raising an alarm and the train crew
was rushing forward TO investigate, the /
nervy robber was walking into the
rear sleeper. Here he met Conductor
NJ. E. Smith, in charge of the Pullman,
and presented a ticket from Kansas
City to Denver. The conductor assign
ed him to berth number 8, and he went
to bed within few minutes after the
train started out OF lawrence. When
Conductor Smith heard of the holdup,
he remembered the latest passenger,
and suspected him, and it was his sus-
uicion which led to the capture in
The Fight in the Berth
When Officer Saunders climbed on the
train, the conductor pointe,. out the
berth occupied by the suspect. Fol-
lowed by Officer Wilt, Saunders stepped
ur to the berth, pulled back the cur
tains and turned his electric f1ashlight
in the robbers face. Seeing the outline
of pistol concealed beneath the sheet,
Saunders dropped his light and threw
himself upon the man. There was no
room in the berth for anyone to assist
So unders, and the struggle was man to
man. The robber, upon finding that
Saunders had him whipped tried to
of the weapon against his own breast
and fired. The bullet passed through
his body just below the heart. Saunders
tore the gun from his hand and the
fight was over.
The wounded robber was carried from
the car, and a search made of the berth.
All the registered mail was found in the
berth, and a small amount of money in
the pockets of the injured man. He re-
fused to say a word, and the officers
hnd he 10 1 I
platform waiting for the ambulance
The only clue to the identity of the
hold-up, was a stamped and sealed let
ter addressed to Mrs. Willis Lonsberry.
R. F. d. 2, Medford, Ore. The letter has
been turned over to the postal authori-
ties, as the police did not like to open
a sealed letter without authority from
the department.
DIR. ]. II. Rinehardt, who was called
by the police, sent he injured man to
St Francis hospital, where an examfna-
ton was made. DIR. Rinehardt was of 7
the opinion that the wound was not
necessarily fatal, as the bullet had !
passed about two inches below the
heart. ii
The Union Pacific train upon which {
the robbery and subsequent capture
took place. was held but a few min !,
utes at North Topeka, stopping just !
ID minutes-12:05. to 1915.
Robber Evades Questions. L.
Although the United States postal !
authorities declare they will be able
to solve the identity of the lone train
robSer, the mystery surrounding him 7
so far is battling Regarding the crime =
ne talks comparatively freely. But any
questions that might even lead toward /
4 clue to his identity he answers
svasivelv.
In conversation with the officers the ,
man says has wife and two little q
children, somewhere. He says it is on i
account of his family that he is anxi- I
ous to conceal his identity
ut would break their hearts If thev |
a insists and raf,,vaz {