The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-02


where there were about "a dozen pas
sengers, alImen.
Hold UP your hands, was the
startling command with which the
robber greeted them. He had recoV-
cred a steady nerve by this time and
his voice no longer betrayed fear. The
passengers readily complied with his
demand and he passed along collecting
their money and jewelry, all of which
he placed in a large pocket of his coat,
made apparently for the purpose. The
robbery of the chair car was accom-
plished within five minutes and the
surprised passengers Loyalty obeyed
the final induction of the robber to sit
down and remain quiet.
The Pullman car was entered next.
There everyone was in bed with the
curtains drawn.
After robbing two passengers, from
whom he secured small amounts of
money, the robber came to the berth
occupied by Short.
'Give me your money quick" the
robber demanded in a whisper, as he
shook the sleeping man. When awak-
ened sufficiently to realize the import
of the command Short handed over a
diamond stud. AS the robber turned
to leave Short seized an automatic
pistol and fired through the curtains.
The robber returned the fire and
both men emptied their weapons each
shooting blindly through the curtain,
which was perforated by almost a
dozen bullets. One bullet struck
Shorts forehead, another went
through an arm and a third lodged
in his knee. Short fell back in his
berth and the robber fled towards the
rear of the train.
Passengers in the 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. He left blood stains in the
nm f6a nQY 10 nd IA
passengers said he appeared to be bad
ly hurt. 1t was believed that two of
the bullets fired by Short struck the
bandit.
was c. G. Gusson. When he heard the
shooting he seized a pistol, and ac-
companied by "a porter, r. b. Sales,
and Z. w. Bait, a brakeman, armed
for the Pullman car, Before they
could get the aisles clear of passengers
so they could use their weapons, the
robber had 1eaped from the train.
The police were notified of the rob-
berry and an ambulanceSsummo to
take Short to a hospitals Physicians
there said while his woundswere seri-
Gus they did not consider them fatal.
Short is one of the wealthiest@ mine
owners of Jasper county and he oper-
ates among the richest zinc and lead
mines in that district. Six years ago
he was miner working for wages. He
quit his job one day and began pros
pecting for himself Six months later
he had an income from his own mines
of more than a thousand dollars a
week.
w. s. Watson a business associate
of Short was on the train but the
shooting occurred before the robber
reached his berth. Watson said that
six feet tall and that he showed signs
of intense excitement.
Porter Aided the Robber.
Short was able to make a statement
regarding the robbery after his arrival
at the hospital.
1T had two pocketbooks concealed in
my BERTH he said. "One containing
thousand dollars in currency and in
the other were just few dollars. 1t
this manner when travelling with a
large sum. I had always figured in
case of robbery that I would sur
render the purse containing the smaller
sum- When the robber shook me and
demanded my money I was for an in
slant confused and only about half
awake. During this interval 1 moved
the pillow and showed back the covers
exposing the purse containing the
large amount. realizing what 1 had
done L tried to hide the purse in the
bed clothes, but the robber was too
quick for ne
What was that?' he asked the por-
ter.
IA 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 it to the robber.
LAS he turned away, / got my pistol
from un6 n the pillow and began
shooting at him. He returned the fire
and disabled me.
He failed, however, to get diamond
ring, valued at $4,000 and seven twenty
dollar gold pieces which were in a
pocket of my trousers
Two Bullets Are Removed.
According to a statement issued by
physicians at Wesley hospital Mr.. Short
was resting easily. Two bullets were
removed from the wounded man. One
was taken from just below the left
shoulder blade. Dr. Jabez jackson said
the principal fear was for the outcome
of this wound. Another bullet was
removed from the back of the left leg
just above the knee. The robbers third
bullet struck Mr.. Shorts head, infltct-
ing a slight wound.
W. s. Watson, a mining man of Jop-
lin, and business partner OF Mr.. Shorts
called at the hospital early this morn
ing and was allowed to talk to Mr..
Short for a few minutes.
Mr.. Short is goinS to pull through,
all right said Mr.. Watson. He has
too much sand to let this get him.
He is rugged and always has been in
good physical condition, which is much
in his favor now. I am sure too the
bandit got as bad treatment as did
Mr.. Short. Short fired seven times. and
We could find only two of the bullets
that had buried themselves in the car.
These two struck the side of the car
in an upper berth obhquely from the
one occupied by Short
II was asleep in an upper berth
across the aisle from the one occupied
by Mr.. Short" Mr.. Watson said. Il
was awakened by the shooting and
thrust NV head through the curtains