Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-03

PISTOL DUEL WITH
MAN in SLEEPER
Jesse M. Short, Millionaire
Mine Owner, Seriously
Wounded, but Succeeds in
Shooting the Robber.

Kansas City, Mo-, May 2.-To rob
the Joplin millionaire, Jesse M. Short.
was the real object Of the giant bandit
who held up the Kansas City Southern
passenger train in the Kansas City
suburbs early today and the holding
up" of several other passengers was
merely incidental, according to the
theory Of the police who instigated g.
thorough search for the robber today.
After lively duel with Mr.. Short In
the narrow Pullman the robber fell
off the train wounded, carrying $1,000
of Shorts money and the wealthy
mine owner was left lying in his berth
with three bullets In his body. Physi-
clans attending Short at local hos
pital say he will recover unless unfOre-
seen complications arise.
That a mysterious person Of such
stature had been seen about local
hotel where Mr.. Short stopped, reached
that the bandit had shadowed the mil
lionaire and believed a Pullman berth
the best place to rob him.
According to telegram sent the
police early today from Grand View,
Mo-, by @. G. Gibson, conductor Of tbs
train. which continued on its way
south, the total arnount of loot -
tanned amounted to $f,1O0 IN money
and $32 diamond. OF this Gibson
said Mr.. Short lost $4,000. w. j..
Schafer, Neck City. Mo-. $65. and +.
A. Seaman, Eureka Springs, Ark, $35
and diamond stud.
When daylight came the search for
the big robber went forward with dou-s
BILE vigor What in the darkness Of
the night was believed to be q trail Of
blood left after the man fell Of the
train, vanished with the dawn and =
dozen detectives found nothing TO
guide them. The escape was effected
in region OF switch tracks. mazess sof
box cars and market gardens where
the chances were all with the -obber.
Boarded In the Yards.
The train was just pulling out OF the
depot here when q man ran out of the
darkness OF the railroad yards and
climbed, upon the steps OF the obaerva-
ton car He had a handkerchief over
the lower part OF his face and carried
two pistols.
oscar Allen, a negro porter who
saw him board the train, rushed out
and ordered him away. The robber
covered him with his pistols and said
Il am going to put over a trick here.
You sit down there and be quiet will
need you"
After the train had proceeded about
three miles the robber ordered Allen
to 60 ahead OF him through the train.
In the sitting room Of the observation
car were w. J. Schafer OF Neck City.
Mo-. and F. A. Seaman OF Eureka
Springs, Ark. The robbers voice
trembled as he demanded their valu.
ables, but they offered no resistance
and gave him money and jewelry
amounting to about two hundred dol
lars.
Orders Hands Up.
Preceded by the frightened negro
the robber then entered the chair car
where there were about q dozen pas
Singers all men. "EIold up your hands,"
was the command with which the rob-
ber greeted them. He had recovered =
steady nerve by this time and his
voice no longer indicated fear. The
passengers readily complied with his
demand and he passed along collect-
lUS LuSlI luOllcy duu JSW0lIy, 0M%VI
which he placed In a large pocket Of
his coat made apparently for the pur-8
pose. The robbery Of the chair car was
accomplished within five minutes and
the surprised passengers loyalty
obeyed the final injunction Of the rob
Der to sit down and remain quiet.
The Pullman car was next. Every
one was in bed with the curtains
drawn. After arousing several pas-
sengers from whom he secured small
amounts Of money the robber came to
the berth occupied by Short.
Shoots Through Curtains.
"Give me your money the robber
demanded in whisper as he shook
the sleeping man. When awakened
sufficiently to realize the import Of
the command, Short handed over q
thousand dollars in money and a large
diamond stud. As the robber turned
ITO leave Short seized an automatic
pistol and fired through the curtain.
Thu robber returned the fire and both
men emptied their weapons, each
shocking blindly through the curtain.
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