The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-19
ROBBERS ESCAPE

Continued from Page One.l
was shot and killed at Bliss, Okla,
when he attempted to leave the train
held up by robbers one and a half
miles east of Bliss last night, it was
learned from the general offices of the
Santa Fee at this division point today.
Norman was the only victim of the
shooting 1t is assumed either ne mis-
understood the command of the BAN
dts or showed fight. Conductor E. T.
butcher of Newton, was in charge of
the train. It was learned from the
agent of the Wells-Fargo Express Co.,
here that the train carried no money
Engine err Van Secord and Fireman
Alva Hamilton, both of this city, were
commanded by the bandits to discon-
meet the mail and express cars from
the rest of the train. The express car
was searched and the safe blown. The
robbers, it is said, had no horses or
automobiles near the scene of the
holdup. They took northeasterly di-
rection after the robbery and it is pre-
sumed they had an automobile in hid
ing in which they made their escape.
Send Detectives From Topeka.
Official reports of the Bliss holdup,
received in the general offices of the
Santa Fe here, are to the effect that
the six men who held up Santa Fe
train No. 405, obtained no loot what
ever. Reports here are to the effect
that the holdup was staged by six
men. Two miles this side of Bliss two
men crawled over the engine tender
and the train was brought to stop a
half-mile further on with signal fires
built by the two mems four con-
federates.
The front end of the train, with the
express car, was ordered cut loose by
the bandits and the fireman, engineer
and messenger were ordered to the
ground. P. A. Norman, the express
~ Iii IaI
his door but did not move quick
enough to suit the bandits and one of
them shot him. Nothing in the mail
car was mOlested. The bandits blew
the safe but obtained nothing and fled
| Three posses of many men each were
on the ground an hour after the hold
up. The bandits fled. No trace has
been found.
Santa Fe officials in the general Of
fices here today said no more in
than was carried in the news dis
patches.
The special agents department is
concentrating many of its best men
to the territory of the holdup. EN-
NETT Gregg, chief special agent for the
road, is on the ground and is direct
ing the search in person.
This morning no word of any trace
of the robbers being found had
reached the offices.
Robbers Got Nothing.
Oklahoma City, Oct. 19.-According
to local Wells-Fargo company express
officials today, no loot was secured by
the bandits who last night held up and
robbed Santa Fe passenger train No.
| 4O5 near Bliss, Okla. The robbers
blew the safe in the express car open
but nothing in the safe was taken
Bliss, Okla, Oct. 19.-The body of
Percy A Norman, mail clerk, who was
killed by the bandits when he hesi-
tated in complying to their demands,
was taken to Arkansas City on a spe-
cial train today, where it will be pre-
pared for burial. Norman, who had
been in the mail service for several
years, lived at Newton Kan
According to local officers, part of
the outlaw band made their way into
the Usage hills in an automobile while
the remainder rode on horses.