The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-11-27
GUN FIGHT ON TRAIN

Motor Car Bandit Shoots Constable in
Crowded Car and Escapes with
Pal Who was Prisoner.
Backing up his demands with the
crack of an automatic pistol, a motor
car bandit boarded the north bound
Missouri Pacific at Rich Hill Sunday
night, and escaped with his pal after
dangerously wounding constable Sam
Queen Of Howard township, who was
bringing the latter to Butler charged
with the theft of motor cars.
The shooting occurred at the north
end Of the railroad yards in Rich Hill
when the north bound was being
made up. Queen and his prisoner
were sitting in the smoking car only
a few seats from the front, when an
accomplice of the prisoner entered
the door of the car and throwing his
gun down on Constable Queen or
dered him to give up his prisoner,
shooting as he spoke. Four or five
shots were fired, two shots took ef-
feet, one in the officers forearm, the
other entering the muscular part of
his arm and ranging up and back,
lodging behind the shoulder blade.
After the shooting the prisoner and
his rescuer backed off the car and
disappeared in the darkness.
A reward of 500 has been offered
but up to date the authorities have
been able to get no trace of the men,
The Rich Hill Review says in part:
''Chas. Horton, deputy, fired two
shots but without avail. In chase of
the bandits minus his hat and in a
crouching position he was discovered
by Night Policeman Dan Lowery, who
under the impression that he was one
of the robbers, took two shots at him,
when bystander called to Lowery
that he was shooting at the wrong
man, which checked his further fire.
Very fortunately Lowery's shots
missed and thus spared the deputy.
"a gang of automobile bandits and
general thieves have been plying
their vocation along the border be-
tween Kansas City and Joplin the
past year, and have so far been very
successful in making their escape
from justice.
Sam A. Queen constable of How
ard township about four o'clock Sun
day morning arrested a member
of the gang in the name OF John Doe.
The real name could not be learned,
but the constable felt fully certain
that he had we'll identified villain,
and guarded him securely until Sum
day afternoon whelf he brought him
to Rich Hill and lodged him in Jail
here, with the view of taking him to
the Butler Jail on the night train
Mr. and Mrs. j. l.. EIgin have re-
turned to their home in Sedalia af-
ter visit here at the home of j. A.
Elgin.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. A. Carpenter for
merly of this county, now residing in
Thomas county, Kans passed
through this city the last of the week
enroute home from visit in Illinois.
Miss Frances Catron of Butler will
give a recital at McFadden's Hall in
Virginia, Mo-, Tuesday night, Dec. 2,
1918, for the benefit of the Virginia
Christian Endeavor society. Admis-
sion 10 and 20 cents.
j. A. Eggleson of eastern Oregon
is enjoying visit here with relatives
and friends. Mr.. Egglesonis another
of the old Bates county boys who
have prospered in other parts, having
left this section Of the country about
fourteen years ago. He says that
eastern Oregon is great country for
alfalfa, and it is not so bad for small
grain. His barley crop this season
made eighty bushels to the acre and
he states he has raised over 100 BUSH
els of oats to the acre.
The regular bi-weekly combination
sale, held at the Argenbright Sale
Pavilion here last Wednesday was
the largest financially which has yet
been held here, totalling $l7,543. IS
head of horses and mules, 1877 head
of cattle, 2 hogs and 2 shepherd dogs
were sold by Col. Robbins. The pur-
chases of two live stock buyers alone
totaled $ll, 200, Jones Bros, Of War
rensburg, buying in the amount of
s., 900, and Miller of Clinton $,OOO.
The committee appointed by the