Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-26
P OSSEMEN
OSE ON
$50 900
BANDITS
CIew to Trio That Held Up Train
Found Near TusCaIoosa-Dep-
uty Accidentally Slain.

TUSCALOOSA. ALA, Sept. 2G.-
Clews were found this afternoon bv
possemen trailing the three bandits
who at ! o'clock this morning held IN
end robbed the express car OF Ala
Dana Great Southern passenger train
No. T. at Blbbville siding, 30 miles
south Of Birmingham, and escaped by
stealing the engine and express car
of the train which they drove at top
speed 80 miles before being aban-
doned
The locomotive went dead about 5
miles below Tuscaloosa but 1t had
been deserted presumably at some
point between Tuscaloosa and where
1t was found stalled.
The clews were the remains of a
fire and several whisky bottles. The
fire had been made from lumber Of a
| railroad coach, presumably parts Of
the express car which was badly shat
tered when the bandits blew the ex-
press safe with nitroglycerine and
secured loot believed to have totaled
$4,000.
Posses of sheriffs. deputies. detec-
tives and farmers. who took the trail
soon after the hold-up was reported.
this afternoon continued the hunt
through the 80 miles Of woods and
swamps between here and Wood
stock, in some part Of which the ban
dts are supposed to be hiding. Fully
100 men are in the posses.
Deputy Sheriff Killed.
Deputy Sheriff James Bonner, Of
Birmingham, was accidentally shot
and killed by Deputy Sheriff w. J..
Cope this morning.
The accident occurred when Cope
reached for his gun. which was piled
with several other rifles. 1t was dis
charged. the bullet piercing Bonners
heart.
MY Lord. boys, I am dying" cried
Bonner as he fell.
Bonner was about 40 years OF age
He had been motorcycle officer FOR
several years He leaves a wife and
three small children,
Johnson Nelson. also a deputy of
Birmingham, barely escaped being
wounded, as the charge from Copes
gun grazed his leg.
Deputy Cope was in charge Of the
bloodhounds In the echase through
the swamps.
A governmental investigation may
develop from the robbery as the re-
suit Of statements made here by
members Of the ain crew of No 7
to the effect that four Of the mail
clerks and the express messenger
were unarmed. The messenger Is
quoted as having expressed the wish
that he had taken his gun with him on
the trip.
Two mere boys and man Of dare
devil type" halted the train and rout-
ed the express messenger and mail
clerks. The bandits stole the front
section Of the train, and after a wild
run of 80 miles, blew open the safe
and made their escape with their Loot.
Within 80 minutes after the rob-
berry two trainloads of officers were
in hot pursuit In special trainR
Sheriff Fires into Engine.
AS the runaway engine. with ex-
press, baggage and mail car attached,
passed through Tuscaloosa at the rate
Of so miles an hour Sheriff Palmer.
who had been notified from Wood
stock of the robbery and was sta
toned on the depot platform, opened
fire on the bandit seated at the throt-
tie, and fusilade was returned.
ing the swamps and woods on both
sides of the railroad near this city.
A special train from Montgomery.
carrying officers and bloodhounds
rea ched the scene exactly two hours
after the report had been made to
Sheriff Horace Hood.
The express train was stopped by
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