The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-05-19
DARING BANDIT LOOTS MAIL
CAR AND IS KILLED

Most Daring Train Robbery In Middle
West in Recent Years Staged Near
Chicago. KObber Aiights at Cilicn-
go and Meets Death in Battle with
Police.
Chicago, May 14.-One of the most
daring train robberies in the middle
west in recent years ended this morn
ing in the death Of bandit who last
night looted the mail car Of the Illi-
nois Central, New Orleans Limited Of
currency estimated to total about $75,-
600. The money was recovered.
One policeman, shot by the bandit,
died later in hospital. Another po-
liceman was wounded dangerously.
The bandit was identified as Horace
Walton, aged %, Of ST. Joseph, Mo- He
fell with four bullets in his body after
barricading himself in his apartment
and fighting with more than so po-
lice, including several picked rifle
squads.
Walton boarded the train at Gill
man, a few miles from Kankakce, last
night, taking scat in Pullman. A
pouch containing shipment OF $685.
600 from Decatur bank was taken
on the train at Gilman.
AS the flyer pulled out of Kanka-
kec, Walton stepped into the mail car
and announced that he was the postal
IL IN
r.. Harris, chief clerk, and his four
assistants, then suddenly drew a pis-
tol and commanded Hands up" The
clerks obeyed. Harris and three of
floor. James e. Burke, another clerk,
was forced to bind their hands behind
them. Walton then tied Rurkes hands
and set about in leisurely fashion sort
ing the mail pouches.
Armed with the clerks key he picked
out and riilcd the bags which con
tanned shipments Of money, remark
ing, ITS easy when you have inside
information" He took travelling
bag from one Of the clerks and put
the money into it.
After filling the bag Walton kept
up running fire of banter with the
clerks until the train reached Englc-
wood station in South Chicago shortly
after | q. m. There he leapcd out.
Fifteen minutes later Patrolmcn
William A. Roberts and John Ken
Il nj of Volt tot
were aroused by a bag he carried and
Roberts stepped forward to question
the man. Walton with revolver in his
pocket fired through his coat. Rob
crs fell shot in the head and side.
Walton lcaDcd into the area way
Of an apartment building, while Ken
bricks dropped behind Roberts body
and opened fire. After an exchange
OF shots the policeman dashed forward
ard grapplcd with the man. Walton
dropped the bag and fed.
Police rifle squads summoned by
noighbors located tho man in an apart
mcnt house a half block away. They
surrounded the building for more than
an hour and poured hundreds Of bull
lets into Walton's apartment. He re-
turned the fire steadily, using two
guns, then auddcnly stopped Dctoc-
tive Chief Mooney led a dash on the
room. Walton was found on the floor
dead, with four blllcts in his body
a membership card issued by The
I 1Ns
ter addressed to Mrs. l.. Y. Walton, No.
523 y. Seventh street, st. joseph, wcrc
found in his pocket.
Patrolman Roberts was rushed to a
hospital, where he died after a few
hours. He is survived by widow and
1--WE children. Patroman Thomas Ser
ratcr also was wounded, but probably
no; fatally.
Walton had lived in the apartment
| where he was killed for several weeks,
according TO ncighbors. \ postal in
spcctor's badge, n mail pouch key and
an Illinois Central time table, printed
in pencil on card, were found on his
body.
| Federal officers tonight were inv2S-
! tigating the disappearance of $1,000
from the satchel in which the robber
carried away his loot. The $4,000 was
on its way to a Chicago bank from the
| Citizens National Bank OF Decatur, Ill.
| The officers who counted the money
after the satchel had been recovered
said the total was $G9,9S0 mostly in