The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1914-07-03
A TRAIN HELD UP
AND BANDIT SHOT
NOTORIOUS HUGH WHITNEY KILL
Ed BY HEPpNER OFFICER.
Two Other Robbers Escape
After Deputy Sheriff McDuf-
fee Receives Wound.


the O..W. R. & N. was held up at
1:15 yesterday morning, midway be-. i,
tween Kamela and Meaoham, by three
highwaymen under the leadership of
the notorious Hugh Whitney, who was
shot and instantly killed by Deputy
Sheriff MoDuffee Of Heppner. who
happened to be on the train. and who
himself was wounded in the revolver
duel with the taudits
The robbers boarded the train at
Kamela, where it had stopped to drop
off the helper engine. They forced the
fagman to give signals that started
the train after they had entered the
rear Pullman. ana then proceeded to
round up the train crew through the
train. proceeding to the express car,
where the conductor was forced to
stop the train.
The express messenger saved the
through safe from being dynamited
by arguing that there was nothing Of
value in it. but the local strong tox
was rified of its contents, amounting
to less than $500.
Leaving one robber in the express
car to guard the train crew, the other
two proceeded through the smoking
car and the three day coaches, in a
hurried manner, evidently wanting to
devote their attention to robbing the
occupants of the Pullmans. However
they stopped several times to roh pros
porous looking passengers in the day
coaches, two of these being in the
third coach. where MoDuffee was
seated in the last seat, and as the rob-
bers passed him without holding him
up. he whipped out his gun and 6red
twice into the Eaok Of the larger man
who carried two revolvers. The shook
of the bullets spun him around. and
as he faced MoDuffee his automatios
began splitting lead but his shots went
high, and third tullet from the dep
uty's gun struck the bandit In the
head and he fell into the vestibule en-
trance. As be went down, the 1obber
carrying the sack grabted gun from
his comrades hand, and at this in
stant two shots came close together.
One struck MoDuffee over the heart,
but the bullet was fortunately defieot-
ed by striking some cards and other
articles carried in the pocket Of his
vest. MoDuffee is firm in the belief
that his bullet went true and the SEQ
ond robber was wounded, also.
The bandit Immediately dropped
from the train, and calling to the one
guarding the train crew, they made
their escape into the timber. Posses
are securing the mountains and offic-
ers are working on two clews. one
leading them into the Starkey Prairie
country, and one out this way, in
which brown automobile figures.
Tracks made by a machine we're
found near th scene of the holdup, and
early yesterday morning an auto con-
tanning three men went speeding
through Athena, westward. The car
was seen by Stafford Stone. but he
paid no particular attention to it. not
even remem nerinR its color. Officers
have been warned to look out for a
big brown car, without license num-
ter. Such car bore three men who
robbed farmer in Baker county ear
lier in the week, and the supposition
| ID ho holA
up the train.
The body of the dead bandit was
taken to Pendleton. and then back to
Meaoham in the hope that it might be
identified by some one. There it was
identified as being that of George
Chapman, whose home is in the neigh
torhood of Kamela. However, this
was proved to be erroneous for on
the body was found a gold Waltbam
watch. on the case of which was
scratched in rough letters: "Hugh
| Whitney, 51211." and be was pos
itively identified as Whitney BY two
Pendletcn men. Fred Maxim and Don
Saunders, both Of whom knew him
well. Whitney was one Of the most
desperate outlaws in the Northwest,
and was wanted in several states for
various Grimes. His esoapade Of elud
ing two armed posses and making bis
escape into the jackson Hole county
is still fresh in the minds of the pub
lie. The other two robbers oonneoted
with him in Yesterday mornings hold
up, are presumed to be his brother
and man going by the name of Dal-
ton. Whitney's relatives reside on q
ranch near Council. Idaho