Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-08-24
BOLD ROBBERY OF MAIL TRAIN
Unidentified Man Takes Registered
Packages from Denver Express.
IS SHOT WITH HIS OWN GUN
Bandit who Boarded Train at Kan
sns city Left Mail Car mt Law
renee and Then Hid In
sleeping Car.

TOPEKA, Kan, Aug. 2.--The daring
robber who was shot and seriously
wounded by his own revolver while resist
ing capture after he had robbed the mail
car on Union Pacific train No, 1Ot, which
left KsnAas City for Denver at 1:lo o'clock
this morning was st.sl alive at a hospital
hero this morning, but the police had
| not yet learned his identity. Hospital at
tendnnts said he was able to talk and the
railroad officials hoped soon TO induce
him - divulke his name and other lnfor-
nation regarding himself.
A bolder, stranger robbery on a train
never has been recorded In the history OF
the Union Pacific railroad, which has
been the Victim OF many holdups, local
officials of the company said today
The train known as the Denver Ex-
press" long train, carrying heavy
mail, was just leaving Kansas City when
an active man, slender and about 40
years of age, ran across the depot plat
form and leaped into the mail car through
charge Of the car, turned and faced the
man. who leveled a revolver at him.
Withers was commanded to bind and gag
his five associates and not to raise a
hand II he cared for his life
Takes All ReSistered Packages.
Withers obeyed the command and bound
and gagged all his fellow workers--E. p.
smalley, Joseph Gaines, c. II. Stewart,
IF. r. oldham and Robert Hartzfall. The
robber then went through all the regis
tered pouches. stuffing the rich packages
into his pockets After securing the LOOT
he commanded Wlthers to unite his COM
rades, being careful to keep all the clerks
covered with his revolver. At Bonner
Springs. where the train made a brief
stop, the rebber commanded the men %
work the mail so as not to attract atten-
tion Of persons at the station.
When Lawrence was reached the robber
dropped from the car and ran toward the
rear OF the train. Withers quickly gave
the alarm to the train crew. A negro
porter said he saw a man with bulging
pockets in sleeping car.
Conductor M. Z. Smith hastily sum-
moned two Lawrence policemen, and all
three followed the porter into the car.
,s Hides In Sleeping Car.
The roboer had hid himself in an up
per berth. Smith boldly pulled the cur
tain aside and made grab for him. The
robber raised his revolver and pulled
the trigger just as Smith caught his hand
and turned 1t back. The bullet entered
the mans chest close to the heart He
dropped his weapon with a curse and
moaned with pain. In another minute
the conductor and the two policemen had
dragged him into the aisle and pinioned
his arms. The robber, weak from the
less OF blood, made no resistance. A
physician on the train gave him tenn
porary treatment and the train proceeded
to Topeka. Here the robber, unable to
talk, was placed In hospital
The only clew to the mans Identity
was a letter in his pocket addressed to
Mrs. Wills Lonsberry, Medford, Il. f.
ID No, 2"
The robber this afternoon gave his
name as Willis Lonsberry, formerly OF
Medford, Ore, and said that he is an
ex-railway mail clerk and has wife and
two children in Medford. ....-