Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-09-16
Thrilling Story of the Robbery of
100000 From the B. & 0.
Train Last October and
Escape of Brigands

The trial of Charles Harrison aged railroad bandit
and train robber began Tuesday IN the Federal court on No
Central Station October last ended suddenly this morn
when the 9ed d fp sga ops his
confession United States District Attorney Walker moved to nave
mended Judge Dayton that sentence OF IL years De imposed
on HI rrison
ude Dayton directed the prisoner to stand Harrison
facing the Judge Suddenly ne put up
his hands removed the heavy gold trimmed spectaces from ms
face and producing white handkerchief began wpng ms eyes
had successfully held and robbed something near score OF
ser Central Station forced the to leave
cab of their engine and then ran the engine which ehad
steep grade and allowed to drift couple of miles
down the track then assisted in the robbng OF the mail car a
completely broken His bent form shook he tried to wipe
away the tears which rained from his and was with d
Guilty Re supported while Judge Dayton imposed the
nce Harrison sentenced the Federal prison at Atlanta
Georgia to his With good behavior he will be
released after ten time he will be allowed two months
year off for good behavior.
Soon after adjourned Harrison reganed his compose
entirely He related detail Assistant District Attorney
Dyer United States Marshal Smith and several government de
es from the secret service the actions subsequent to- dur
ing and Immediately following the robbng of the train While
ne told interesting story there little in which as new
the secret service having already secured the details of the
crime from Eugene Diez who has not yet on trial af
on eorroboated Dez in almost particular of the story
About twenty years when living his home IN
Nas Harrison said to have begun his career as tram oand
he took in the robbery of mail train in Alabama and dur
ing that affair of the mail clerks killed by the robbers
on was arrested tried and convicted and sentenced TO
NE term for the oense He had served something like seven
years When President Mckinley committed his term to ten years.
ana President Roosevelt later pardoned him.
From that time it is said Harrison at intervals continued
ms career hodup working with various notorious Grim
mas OF his time His robberies all laid in southern states
d ne escaped capture But the proceeds SMALL few thou
sand dollars being when this
each 80 =
FINALLY Harrison who conducting machine shop IN
Dan Antonio Texas with Henry Webb machinst
plumber and the scheme for the robbery farther east was
planned Eugene Dez another plumber taken the DEAL
not until after his arrest that Harrison learned
e name of this Webb lives Alabama while Diez
from Arkansas Webb in charge of the crime in certain
while Harrison the experienced man OF the three
was IN direct charge of the For instance the
Planned to rob the train the night before its actual
@ hen wreckng train passed through hour before Ne
was que Harrison refused further with the crime that night
@ t following night favorable and the crime executed
according to the prearranged plans
Harrison had until the day the plan made
oD the mail He did hear his although he was
koWn to Webb who apparently knew the country in which
W ROBBERY occurred and he charge the Harrison
Continued Page Three)