The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-10
COffeyvilIe Thrown Into Frenzy
by Attempted Train Robbery.
Four Men Hold Up Katy Just
Across Line.
TRY 9 TIMES TO BLOW SAFE
Frightened Away Before Get
ting Money in Express Car.
First Outbreak of LaWIeSSnesS
Since Death of DaItOns.

Coffeyville. Kansas, July 1o.-No ad-
ditional traces of the Katy Limited
train robbers had been found late to-
day. Posses and officers are securing
the country for the bandits who fed in
an auto after discharging nine charges
of dynamite in an effort to blow the
safe in the express car. That they were
novices is shown by the fact that the
safe is not even damaged.
For two hours and a half this morn
ing the country three miles south of
here resounded with the rattle of re-
volver fire. Robbers, reported to num-
ber from four to six, held up the fast
Katy No. 9. plying between Kansas
City and Oklahoma City.
Tired and discouraged the robbers
then fed, fearing another train might
be sent to ascertain the cause of the
delay They climbed in a nearby au-
tomobile and were soon lost to view
The train proceeded to Bartlesville,
where the attempted robbery was re-
ported.
Marshal Didn't Come Out.
The robbers entered tre train at
South Coffeyville, climbing on the ten
der. Two miles out they pulled the
air setting the brakes When the en-
the stop armed men confronted him
and took charge of the cab. This was
about midnight. The conductor swung
down from the steps of the smoker to
learn the cause of the stop and he was
quickly covered.
Then begain a fuslilade of firing
which kept the remainder of the train
crew and all passengers inside the
train. Among the passengers was
Homer Trott, Deputy u. s. marshal
for the eastern half of Oklahoma. Trott
didn't leave his coach.
Didn't Know How to Blow Safe.
The express messenger was COM
PEELED to open the car door and two
of the auto bandits began what turned
out to be a series of attempts to blow
soap" the safe, however, and al
though nine charges of dynamite were
exploded the safe wasn't even dam
aged.
Although they had kept up the fir
ing the robbers were growing disgust
ed with the failure to secure anything
of value. Learning that they had
kept the train two and a half hours,
they backed away to where an auto
waited. Climbing into it they quickly
disappeared in the darkness.
The train proceeded to Bartlesville,
where the report of the attempted rob-
berry was sent out.
The report of the robbery sent Cof-
feyville old timers on a quick hunt for
arms and ammunition. Not a few of
them took part in the battle which
ended the days of the Dalton gang
here 20 years ago and there are
number of former frontiersmen here
who know every inch of the territory
between here and Bartlesville. It is
believed that in this section, the form
er retreat of the Dalton gang, the
robbers will be found. Arrests are
expected by tonight.
Organized search was begun by Of
heart of the country in which the Dali
tons planned and operated some of
their most daring raids. The road
passes through the country in which
they had many friends and hiding
places.
The town of South Coffeyvile, just
south of which the robbery occurred,
is in Oklahoma. 1t is a comparatively
new town which sprang up largely as
a result of the growth of the Kansas
town. It has been known as a wide
OPEN place and much of the petty
crime in the Kansas town has been
declared the work of men located
across the state line. Today's attempt
ed train robbery, however, is their first
attempt at robbery on a large scale.
f1cers and posses all along the road
from Coneyville south to BartlesviIie
as soon as news of the robbery became
general All parties are heading for
the hills south of Bartlesville.
ConeyV1lle hasn't been aS excited
since the day the battle was fought
that resulted in the breaking up of the
Daltons, one of the worst gangs of
hfghwaymen in the history of the
southwest. Weapons that have had
little use since that day are oiled and
loaded and in perfect working order
today, as the owners seek the bandits.
The same train was held up and
robbed about a year ago at Okesa,
Ok. while Conductor Mccormick, the
same conductor held up last night, was
in charge. Eugene Hays is now serv-
ing time for the offense.
Beyond finding automobile tracks in
the road near where the robbery oc-
Cured the officers have little to work