South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-20
Three MaSker Robbers Leap In
to Cab of Southern Passenger
Engine, Cover Crew and ES-
cape With Registered Mail.
SKATER BARRICADE
AND STAB MESSENGER
Robbers With Heavy Reinforce
mentS Break Down Doors of
Mail Cars and Subdue Clerks
After WOunding Chief.
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Feb. 90
That the amount OF loot secured by
the three bandits who held up the
CinCinnad-New Orleans special on the
Queen and Crescent road "A few miles
north OF birmingham last night, may
reach 500, 900 was admitted by gov
crnmcnG officials here Friday. While
they would make no definite estimate
of the amount secured by the rob
hers, it was said that the train usual
~ carries large shipments OF money
and that the three pouches rified
might easily have contained $780,
600 or more.
No clues to the robbers have been
obtained.
BIRMINGHAM. Ala. Feb. 90
Posses with bloodhounJs are today
searching for bandits who held up
queen ana Crescent passenger train
No. 1, near Attala. . miles north Of
here last night. escaping with loot
reported 70 be worth $40
In a battle with five railway mes
sengers the robbers stabbed Harry T.
Melville. chief messenger. subdued his
companions and disappeared in the
darkness with the registered mail
York TO New Orleans and carried a
heavy passenger list.
At Attala the train was tagged and
when the engineer reduced the speed
OF his locomotive. three masked men
leaped into the cab
covering the engineer and fireman
with pistols, the bandits ordered the
train stopped in a lonely. densely
wooded spot about five miles from
lrondale. At that point the robbers
commanded the train crew to un-
couple the mail and express cars from
the rest of the train.
f1srricade Car.
After carrying these cars about a
mile. the locomotive was again stop
ped and the mail cars were detached
Chief Messenger Melville. knowing
that the unusual actions of the train
holdup. baricaded his door and told
his assistants to prepare To fight The
original three bandits were reinforced
and all We're heavily armed When
Melville refused TO open the door Of
his car, the bandits began firing at it,
Noiley after volley was fired and the
door was splintered. Finally the ban
dts forced an entrance but Melville
still showed night. When ne attempt
ed 10 prevent the leader OF the gang
from taking possession of the regist-
cred mail, the rObber drew a long
knife and plunged 10 into the mes-
senger's shoulder In the meantime.
the other messengers, cowed by the
display or firearms. were standing
with their hands above their heads
Cars RanSaCked
The cars were ransaCked the rob
hers taking their time for their work.
However. they overlooked one sack
that contained mail worth $4,000.
Melville, who was taken 10 Attala
for treatment. said that he believed
there were about eight men in the
party which sw.sT:ned into the mail
cars while others were on guard az
the locomotive
The engineer. William Murphy. said
that he was behind time when the first
signal was flashed near Attala. Be
lieving that there was danger ahead
he immediately slowed down The
men who entered the cab. Murphy
said. We're armed with rifles The
passengers thought that the train had
been delayed ~ an accident As soon
rs word OF the hOldup was received
here a special train was made up and
rushed TO the scene.
Deputy sheTiffs ot Jefferson county
accompanied by railroad detectives
went ut once TO the scene taking sew
eral bloodhounds with them
Runs Engine Ahead
After loOting the cars the bandits
crowded into the cab OF the Iocomo-
tive and told engineer Murphy 10
shoot ahead. IL was expected that
they would abandon the engine in
some decolate spot and seek refuge
ln The mountains. but telegraph orders
We're sent along the line 90 keep close
watch FOR the locomotive In the event
the robbers attempted 10 travel for
any distance upon the engine
Railroad officials are certain the
holdup was planned and executed by
experts They are at a loss 90 know
how the bandits learned that the
train was carrying a heavy consign-
ment of registered mail.
story OF HOidup.
Young Sandow. the middleweight
wrestler of Chicago. who was on the
train. told the following story OF the
robbery.
After the train had been standing
bout ten minutes the conductor came
through and warned the passengers
that the train was being held up Pas
saugers Immediately began 20 hide
RI cir valuable Women screamed and
one or two tainted. Two or three OF
the men locked the doors OF our Pull
man and made inquiries for revolvers
with which 10 defend the car. but not