The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-14
Two Robbers Are Slain
by Merry Express
Messenger.
BALKED BY RUSE
OF SIMPLEST SORT
Southern Pacific Train Held Up
and Robbery Nearly Completed
When Swift, Terrible Blow
Lays One Highwayman
Dead and Bullet Stops
Career of Companion.

San Antonio. Texas. March ia. En-
ployins the simplest SORT Of ruse. Il
Wells- Fargo express messenger. with
nerve n-plenty who knew how 10 de-
| liver swift. terrible blows. baked the
robbery OF "a Southern Pacific train
early to-day by killing two OF the
highwayuion. I'll. roit-up was staged,
near The Mexican border. on the east
cin edge OF the Big Bend country
Of Texas. For miles through the lone
stretches OF rolling prairie only scat
tcred ranch houses relieve the land
| scapc's monotony The point where the
train, No. ., wcstbound, was halted is
several miles cast Of Sunderson. in
Terrell county.
David y. Trousdale. an express meg
scng sr. recently promoted TO his run
from the San Antonio Offices Of the
express company. prevented the rob.
berg. One OF tho robbers. who held
Trousdalc at the poin, OF rifle In
corner. was ransacking the zXprcSs
car.
I'm no; going to scrap with YOU
rersed with the bandit. I'm nc, going
lighting wages"
"oh. all right" replied the bandit.
Then YOU fellows Will have TO help
US SET this stun across the Flo
Grande."
Why dom, you pick up that pack
aSs. casually inquired Trouslale, as
he kicked at a small box on til, floor
Of the car. Its worth more than all
the stun you've got"
The robbersstooped. deceived by the
suse. TO pick up the package, Trous.
dale Rrasped 4 heavy mallet and struck
The bandit received the blow full on
Enc head. He fell over dead There
was no alarming cutlery. Trousdale
picked up the dead robbers gun and
Meanwhile tho second of III. bsnons
nad been working on the car ahead.
When he completed his Job he hurried
back to tho express car
Prank" ne called
There was no answer. The robbe.
swung hms III aboard the car. AS his
form ioomel in the doorway the en-
press messenger fired. The bandi,
tnmhied 10 the ground dead.
The bodies OF the robbers were M,
into baggage car. and til /. train pro
cceded.
The bandits boarded the express al
DRYDEN soon after midnight. swing
ing on 10 the engine. they covered the
driver Grosh with guns and order ID
him 10 proceed till they told him TO
stop. Ten miles west of DRYDEN they
gave tho signal for halt The CON
- 80 NNP'tSS' dldI pN the
frequent stops, sent negro porter
ahead 10 inquire abou, the trouble.
! INC negro was promptly covered with
rlhe Then the conductor c!cpt IN
10 the engine. Tmmc1ia,ely he, took
III IN situation. Before the robbers
could hrc upon him he FASTENED back
ana down the track. Walking several
miles he stopped a freight train and
save Inc alarm over the wiras to sam
dsrson. Meanwhile the robbers were
putting their plans for ransacking tho
express and mail ears into execution.
Third bandit Sought.
The sherin of Terrell cou,,v ,o-
night 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
round leading 10 the bord ar. II Is nrc.
suned the robbers. had they succcejed
would have made for Mexico.
me bodies of the bandits have no;
been Identified Th.y arc Americans
natSScr the robbers took from the
man car was recovered. Nothing was
removed from the express car. The
passengers ware not alarmed. They
knew nothing of the hold-up until AT.
Ter oo'h robbers had been killed.
irousAalc is native of Tenn essee
nc came TO San Antonio several wears
ago, and until n few weeks ago was
employed in the Offices Of the Wells
| fargo Company here. He is thirty-,wu
years old.