The Washington times., 1915-02-19
POSSE HOT ON TRAIL
/: OF TRAIN ROBBERS
:.
Three Held in Alexandria Be.
cause Of Inability to Explain
Their Actions.
Continued from First Page ]

CONTINUED from First Page)
said. Opposite me. Chambliss was
seated near the door which leads out on
the platform. Suddenly We were
alarmed by the clink Of metal on glass.
and, starting UP, we saw a masked face
pressed against the glass Of the door.
against which the business end of
wicked looking revolver tapped with
every lurch Of the train.
Pistol At Each Door.
Il turned to the rear door. There.
framed in the glass. was another
masked face and another weapon"
Caught between the menacing weapons
OF the bandits. who by signs ordered
them to throw the door bolts, Williams
complied, he says. while Chambliss was
kept out of things by the second hold-up
man.
Once inside the car. the first bandit
showed one Of the two weapons he car
ried into his trousers band, and with
the other covering the two messengers,
admitted his confederate.
While bandit No. 1 looked after the
express company employees, to preclude
any attempt to reach weapons or other
wise offer resistance. bandit No. 2,
breaking the glass In tool case with
the butt Of his revolver, extracted an
ak, intended for use In case Of fire.
dragged the lock-box into the center OF
the car. and battered it open.
When the lock gave way and the lid
fell back. the bandit. STOPPING. exam
fned 1t for values. but his hands came
away empty save for a IS bill and 81
Pockets Meager Spoil.
Cursing, the bandit pocketed his
measer spoil. and in disgust showed the
hny hn tNo( nj H1tl
to make good their escape. They leaped
from the train q few minutes later.
menacing the messengers to the very
moment when they dropped from the
steps as the train slowed down to pass
a station.
One clue-and one clue only-has been
discovered which may lead to the per-
masked men when he escaped. Is be-
lieved to have taken the A-caliber re-
volver with which Chambliss attempted
to defend himself when he was over
powered. and which Is marked South
ern Express Company"
While the man-hunt is in progress in
the rural districts between Washington
ana the Virginia capital. the authori-
lagos are busy gathering in all way
farers who cannot give authentic ac-
counts Of their movements last night.
and holding such as fail to offer con-
n.
Three Held In Alexandria.
Three such men fell into the hands
Of the Alexandra police early today,
and are being detained because they en-
tered the city after / o'clock this morn
ing. although Chief Goods admits he
hasn't anything on Them
The robbery Of the Florida flyer.
which failed only because the safe
CHANGED to contain no valuables. and
not from any lack Of boldness or care
on the part Of the hold-up men, is the
latest in a series Of crimes which have
vicinity In the past few months. ana
which include crimes of more serious
nature than have been committed here
IN years past.
And. although nearly a dozen detec-
tves from the Washington Central
Office are still engaged in a so far fruit
less search for the men who held up the
east car barn few days ago. escaping
with more than 5000 In booty, the To-
cal authorities detailed other men this
morning, to cooperate as far as pos
sible In the Florida flyer hold-up case.
upon the theory that the perpetrators
Directed From Richmond.
The search parties which have been
thrown out by the railroad are being di-
rected, 1t Is understood from Richmond,
and it Is expected that unless some clue
has been discovered, a reward will be
offered for the apprehension Of the train
robbers
Express Messenger Chambliss will re-
turn to Washington today In company
with officials Of the express company to
give information first hand to the Of
ficials Of the hold UP.
Chambliss. the messenger. boards in
Washington. when he has a stay-over
on his run. He Is "out of" the Whining
ton, N. c.. headquarters Of the Southern
Express Company. but whether his home
IL In Wilmington, officials of the COM
pany here are not sure. The records and
detailed data Of employesare at the Will
mington and Chattanooga offices Of the
company.
Officials of the Southern Express
Company's Washington offices left for
Richmond to investigate after learning
Of the affair. and every railway which
runs out Of Washington to the South or
dered it's detective forces to cooperate