The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-03
LONE H|GHWAYMAN
HOLDS UP AND
R0BS TRAIN
Takes vaIuabIes from PasSen-
gers in Pullman Car
FIGHT WITH RICH MINER
Outlaw and Victim Use RevolVers
and Both Are Wounded
Bandit Escapes.

Kansas City, Mo, May 3.-The po-
lice of this city last night beat
through the underbrush along the
Missouri river, three miles east of
the business district, searching for
the bandit who robbed a Kansas City
Southern train Thursday night, shot
and seriously wounded Jesse Nj.
Short, a mine owner of Joplin, Mo,
and who is1believed to have been
wounded in a pistol duel with Short.
A thorough search of the river low
lands near the Kansas City Southern
tracks began yesterday, when
switchman found bloody footprints
that led toward the lowlands. Later
an empty pocketbook, the property
of Short, which had contained $1,000
when taken by the bandit, was
found. Mr.. Short has been resting
well since the bullets were removed
from his shoulder and left leg, and
reports from the hospital indicated
his chances for recovery were good.
The train was just pulling out of
the depot at Kansas City when tall
man ran out of the darkness of the
railroad yards and climbed up the
steps of the observation car. He
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 pistol and said: Il am going to
put over a trick here. You sit down
there and be quiet; | will need you"
When the train had proceeded
about three miles the robber ordered
Allen to go ahead of him through the
train.
After robbing passengers in other
coaches the bandit came to the berth
occupied by Short GIVE me your
money" the rohber demanded in a
whisper as he shook the sleeping
man. When awakened sufficiently to
realize the import of the command
Short handed over $1,000 in money
and large diamond stud. AS the
robber turned to leave Short seized
a revolver and fired through the cur
tain. The robber returned the fire
and both men empties their weapons,
each shooting blindly through the
curtain. One bullet struck Shorts
forehead, another went through an
arm and third lodged in his knee.
Short fell back in his berth and the
rObber fled toward the rear of the
train. Passengers in other cars,
aroused by the shots, followed him.
They saw him back out of the door
of the observation car and drop from
the train, which was just being
brought to a stop.
Short Sc ma of tba ,uao1tbia-t ,,.;x,o
owners of Jasper county operating
zinc and lead mines in that district
Six years ago he was a miner work
ing for wages. Short was able to
make a statement regarding the rob
berry after his arrival at the hospital
Il had two pocket books concealed in
my berth" he said, zone containing
$1,000 in currency and in the. other
were just few dollars. 1t is my Gus
tom to divide my money in this man
ner when travelling with a large sum.
! had always figured in case of rob
berry that | would surrender the
purse containing the smaller sum.
When the robber shook me and de-
manded my money | was for an in
slant confused and only about half
awake. During this interval | NOV
ed back the covers. exposing the
purse containing the larger amount
Realizing what | had done | tried to
hide the purse in the bedclothes
again, but the robber was too quick
for me.
What was that?' he asked the
porter.
pocketbook,' was the answer.
Reach in and get it,, the robber
commanded, and despite my efforts
to prevent it, the porter grabbed the
purse and handed ii to the robber.
"As he turned away got nv pistol
from under the pillow and began
shooting at him. He returned the
fire and disabled me- He failed. how
ever to get diamond ring valued at
$1,000, and seven 500 gold pitces.
which were in a pocket of my trous
ers."-
The robbery of Mr.. Short was the
real object Of the bandit, and the
holding up" of several other mas.
sengers was merely incidental, &C.
cording to the theory Of the police.