Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-02
Special Prey is Jesse NJ.
Short, Joplin, Mo-,
Millionaire.
USES PORTER AS GUIDE
Principal Victim Starts Re-
volver Battle After De-
liVering Money.

Kansas City, Mo-, May ITO rob a
Joplin millionaire, Jesse NJ. Short,
was the real object of giant barfIt
who held up a Kansas City Southern
passenger train in a Kansas City su-
burb early today, and that the hold up
of several other passengers was mere
ly incidental, according to the theory
OF the police, who insigated thor
ough search for the robber today.
After q lively duel with Short in .
narrow Pullman the robber fell off
the train, wounded, carrying $1,000 ot
Shorts money, and tie wealthg mine
owner was left lying In his berth with
three bullet holes in his body.
CHANCE OF RECOVERY.
Physicians attending Short at a
hospital say he will recover unless ua-
foreseen complications arise. Tho
fact that a mysterious person of such
stature had been seen about a local
hotel where Short stopped resultec
in the theory that the bandit. who
was considerably over six feet :ali,
had shadowed the millionaire and be-
lieved a Pullman berth the best place
to rob him.
According 10 a telegram sent the
police from Grandview. Mo-, by Con
ductor Gibson of the train, which con
tinued south. the total loot was $1,100
in money and a $32 diamond. Short
lost $1,000; w. J. Scafer, Neck City,
Mo-, $65. and F. A. Seaman, Eureka
Springs, Ark, $35 and a diamond stud.
RODBER PROBABLY WOUNDED.
Gibson said the robber must have
-been wounded serfousfy, as he left
blood In pools In the Pullman aisles
and on the platform from which he
leaped into the night. The daylight
search for the robber went forward
with double vigor. What in the dark
ness of night was believed to be a
trail of blood left after the man fell
of the train vanished with the dawn
and a dozen detectives who searched
the railway right of way for a mile
on either side of the spot where the
robber disappeared found nothing &c
guide them. The escape was effected
in a lonely region among switch
tracks, mazes of box cars and market
gardens.
The train was Just pulling out o.
the depot when a tall man ran out o.
the darkness Of the railroad yards anC
climbed mp the steps of the observa
tion car. There was a handkerchief
over the lower part OF his face and ht
carried two pistols.
POTTER AS GUIDE
Oscar Allen. a negro porter, rusheC
out and ordered him away, and tn,
robber covered him with a pistol anC
said. Il am going to put over a tricl
here. You sit down there and b,
quiet l viii need you
After the train had proceeded abou
three miles through the east bottoms
the robber ordered Allen to go aheat
OF him through the train. In the sit
ting room of the observation car wer,
Scafer and Seaman. The robber'
valasbles, but they offered no resist
Ance and gave him money and jeWelr.
amounting to $500.
Preceded by the frightened negro
the robber then entered the chat
car. where there were about a dozel
passengers, all men Hold up you
hands" was the robbers command
He had recovered a steady nerve an,
his voice no longer indicated fear
The passengers complied with the dc
mand and he passed along collecting
their money and jewelry. which h
placed in a large pocket of his coat
apparently made for the purpose
The robbery of the chair car wa