The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-14
WORKED CLEVER RUSE
AND SAVED vALUABLES
Heavy Mallet Finished One Rob
Der, Then Killed Second With
Pal's Revolver.
Posse Securing Plains for Third
Bandit Who Figured in South
ern Pacific Holdup.

SAN ANTONIO. Tex. March H.
Employing the simplest sort Of russ.
a Wells Fargo Express messenger
with nerve a-plenty. who knew how to
deliver a swift. terrible blow, baked
the robbery of Southern Pacific
train early today by killing two Of tho
highwaymen. The hold-up was staged
near the Mexican border on the east
ern edge OF the Big Bend" country OF
Texas. For miles through the homo
stretches OF rolling prairie only scat
tered ranch houses relieve the land
scapes monotony. The point where
the train. number nine. westbound,
was halted Is several miles west OF
Sanderson. In Terrell county. David
A. Trousdale. an express messenger,
recently promoted to his run from the
San Antonio offices OF the express
company. prevented the robbery. One
OF the robbers. who held TrousdaIe
at the point OF rife in a corner, was
ransacking the express car.
I'm not going to scrap with you
ALL" remarked Trousdale. as he con-
versed with the bandit. I'm not get
ting fighting wages"
Simple Ruse.
"Oh. all right" replied the bandit.
Then you fellows will have to help
US get his stun across the Rio Grande."
why don't you pick up that pack
age?" casually inquired Trousdale. as
he kicked at a small box in the floor
of the car. Its worth more than all
the stun you've got"
The robber stopped. deceived by the
ruse, to pick up the package. Trous-
dale grasped a heavy mallet and
struck. The bandit received the blow
full on the head. He fell over dead.
There was no alarming outcry.
Trousdale picked up the dead rob
ber's gun and waited. Meanwhile the
second OF the bandits had been work
ing on the car ahead. When he COM
pleted his Job he hurried back TO the
express car.
way the express messenger fred. The
bandit tumbled to the ground desf
The bodies OF the robbers were put
into baggage car and the train pro-
ceeded.
The bandits boarded the express at
Dryden. soon after midnight. Swing
ing onto the engine. they covered the
driver. Grosh. with guns and ordered
him TO proceed until they told him to
stop. Ten miles west OF Dryden. they
gave the signal for halt. The con-
ductor OF the express. alarmed by the
frequent stops sent negro porter
ahead to inquire about the trouble.
The negro was promptly covered with
a rife. Then the conductor crept up
to the engine. Immediately he took
in the situation. Before the robbers
could fire upon him he fastened back
and down the track. Walking sever
al miles. he stopped a freight train and
gave the alarm over the wires TO
Sanderson.
Search For Third Bandit.
Meanwhile the robbers were putting
their plans for ransacking the express
and mail cars into execution.
Tonight the sheriff OF Terrell county
Is searching for third member OF the
band supposed to have been posted
near the hold-up scene with horses.
Near the point where the train was
stopped. tracks OF horses were found
leading ~ the border II Is presumed
the robbers. had they succeeded
would have made for Mexico.
The bodies OF the bandits have not
been identified. They are Americans
Whatever the robbers took from the
mail car was recovered.
Trousdale r. a native Of Tennessee.
He came 90 San Antonio several years
ago. and until a few weeks ago. was
employed in the offices Of tho Wells
Fargo company here. lie is % years
old