The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-05-08
BAMBERG, S. c., THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1913.
BANDIT ROBS PASSENGERS.
Millionaire Wounds Robber and is
Himself Seriously Shot.

tonight beat through the underbrush
along the Missouri river, three miles
east of the business district, search
ing for the bandit who robbed Kan
sas City Southern train last night,
shot and seriously wounded Jesse M.
Short, a mine owner of Joplin, Mo-,
and who is believed to have been
wounded in a pistol fight with Short.
A thorough search of the river low
lands near the Kansas City Southern
tracks began today when ]. N. James:
a switchman, found bloody footprints
that led towards the low lands. Later
an empty pocket book, the property
of Short, which had contained ST.
900, when taken by the bandit, was
found.
Mr.. Short has been resting we'll
since the bullets were removed from
his shoulder and left leg and reports
from the hospital indicated his
chances for recovery were good.
Bleeding from wounds he had re-
ceived in a pistol battle with Short,
the robber left trail of blood as he
fled. This enabled the officers to fol-
low his tracks until he arrived at the
Blue River, almost a mile from the
point where he jumped from the
train. Here the trail stopped abruptly
and his pursuers expressed the belief
that he continued his flight in Z
boat.
The train was just pulling out of
the depot when a tall man ran out
of the darkness of the railroad yards
and climbed up the steps of the OBJ
servation car. He wore dark hand
kerchief drawn 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 robbec
covered him with his pistol and said.
"I am going to put over trick here.
You sit down here and be quiet, 1 will
heed you" :
After the train had proceeded about
three miles the robber ordered Allen
to go ahead of him through the
train. In the sitting room of the OBJ
servation car were W. ]. Scafe, OF
Neck City, and E. F. Seaman, of Eu-
reka Springs, Ark. The robbers
voice trembled as he demanded their
valuables> but they offered no resist
ance and gave him money and jew
elry amounting to about 5000.
Preceded by the frightened negro,
the robber then entered the chair
car where there were about dozen
passengers, all men.
Hold up your hands," was the
command with which the robber
greeted them. The passengers readily
complied. The bandit passed along
collecting their money and jewelry.
The robbery of the chair car was
accomplished within five minutes and
the surprised passengers obeyed the
final Injunction of the robber to sit
down and remain quiet.
The Pullman car was entered next
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" the robber
demanded in a whisper as he shook
the sleeping man. When awakened
sufficiently to realize the import OF
the command, Short handed over ST.
600 and a large diamond stud. AS tie
robber turned to leave Short seized
revolver and fired through the cur
tains. The robber returned the fire
and both men emptied their weapons,
each shooting blindly through the
CuTLdlu WHICH, was pOiAoAo oCSo ~ ~,
most a dozen bullets. 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 fed toward 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
aisles and on the car platform and
the passengers said he appeared to
be badly hurt 1t was believed that
two of the bullets fired by Short
struck the bandit
C. G. Gibson, conductor In charge
of the train, when he heard the shoot
ing seized pistol and, accompanied
by porter, brakeman and express
messenger, started for the Pullman
car. Before they could clear the aisles
of passengers so they could use their