Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-24
TRAIN ROBBER
CAUGHT AFTER
DARING THEFT
Mail Car Grew on Z. F. Pas
senger in Kansas He'd up !:
by Lone Man Who IS
Caught in Sleeper.

Topeka. Kan, Aug. 23.-The CARING
.,hher Who was shot and seriously
wounded by his own revolver VIM.
resistine capture after he had roppeu
the mail car on Union Pacific tral'l
No 101 which left Kansas CITY 1or
Denver at 1910 o'clock last nlgnt' was
still alive at a hospital here this morn
ing. but the police had not yet learneu
his identity. Hospital attendants sald
he was able to talk and the rallFoau
oflcials hoped soon to induce lillll ~
divulge his name and other ln1oriii"'
tion regarding himself.
A bolder, stranger robbery on q
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.
Made Clerk Bind Companions.
The train, known as the Denver
Express long train carrying heavy
mail. was just leaving Kansas CITY
when an active man, slender, ana
about 40 years old, ran across the
depot platform and leaped into the
mail car through the open door. j..
D. Withers, the clerk in charge OF the
car, turned and faced the man who
leyeled 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. Withers obeyed
the command and bound and. gagged
ali his fellow workers, E. p. ,Smalley,
Joseph Gaines, G. H. Stewart, F. R.
oldham and Robert Hartsfall.
The robber then went through all
the registered pouches, stufhng the
registered packages in his pockets.
After securing the loot, he commanded
withers to unite his comrades being
careful to keep all the clerks covered
with his revolver. At Bonner Springs
where the train made brief stop, the
robber commanded the men to work
the mail so as not to attract attention
Of persons at the station.
Caught In Pullman Berth.
When Lawrence was reached the
robber dropped quickly from the car
and ran towards the rear Of the train.
Withers quickly gave the alarm to the
train crew. A negro porter said ne
saw a man with bulging pockets enter
Z sleeping car.
Conductor M. e. Smith hastily sum-
moned two Lawrence policemen and
all three followed into the car.
The robber had hid himself in an
upper berth. Smith boldly pulled the
curtain aside and made a grab. Tor
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 curse and moaned with
main. In another minute the con-
ductor and the two policemen had
dragged him into the aisle and pinoned
his arms.
The robber. however, weak from loss
Of blood, made no resistance. A ply
stefan on the train gave him temper
ary 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,
Ore, r. F. D. No q
The robber this afternoon gave his
name as Willie Lonsberry. formerly OF
Medford, Ore, and said that he is an
ex-railway mail clerk and has a wife
and two children in Medford.