Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-09-07
REDS PLANNED TO
WRECK TRAIN, THEN
KILL ALL ABOARD It
DETAILS OF PIOT TO ROB ILL
NOiS CENTRAL FLYER ARE RE-
VEAlED TO DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OFFICIALS - N A 9
BRAINS OF GANG.

Chicago, Sept. 7,--Eleve OF the tw,
ty men arrested in Springfield. III
late Sunday night five of whom ar
confessed participants in a plot to 70
the Illinois Central railroads "Di;
mond Special" at lonely signal tow
er north of Springfield. last night al
being held by department OF justc
officials.
The confessions Of the five have re
vealed all Vaccinations of the con
spirators. it was announced Connec
ton between the plot and radical lead
ers in Chicago is being rapidly es
tablished.
According to the one confession
eight men Of the group hit upon the
train holdup plan as quick method
of Kidding the country OF capitalists.
Robbery was of secondary Importance,
the authorities declare.
The wreck was set for either to-
night or tomorrow night. Seventy
pounds of dynamite had been obtain
ed to blow open safe doors. Acety-
lene torches also were at hand. and
the consEirators were armed with au-
tomatoc rifles and pistols.
They had planned to kill every pass
enger on the train. One Of the men
said Frank Kochinski declared the
brains" of the plot had urged that
each of the men 90 through the wreck
ed train and kick in the faces
of all those VINO yet lived"
what have the capitalists done for
me" kochnski is alleged to have SAID
when one plotter objected to the plan.
Even though crippled, | am com
PEELED to work in a mine, Kill every
one in whom trace of life remains
The eight men who were the orig
inal participants in the plot had Sc
lected bragg over the Sangamon
river eight miles north Of Springfield,
as the place and the Diamond Spec
ial'' as the train to wreck for three
reasons, as follows according to the
authorities
The bridge and surroundings offer
ed Il secluded spot at which to carry
out the crime.
Large sums are carried on the Ola
mond Special" according to informa-
ton said to have been received by
the leaders.
Because rich men ride at night
in berths, poor mon being unable to
have such Injuries.
One of the gang who objected to
tvb Ia Cd hn Of ni r
to railroad authorities. These in turn
asked the department of justice for
protection.
The Diamond Special" leaves
Springfield at ! a. m. for Chicago The
Sangamon river bridge lies at the end
of a long incline into the river bot
toms. Trains pQ6cing this point at a
speed of about sixty miles an hour.
Tho track laid on an Cmbankment. is
fully sixty feet above the surrounding
fields.
A long curve reads to the bridge
from the south. II was on this curve,
about 200 feet from the bridgehead,
that the deraiment was planned.
The steel rails We're to be cut apart, |
The wires which control the block |
signal system were to be left connect |
ed, so the engineer of the Oncoming |
train would have no warning of inn |
pending peril If these wires were Sc
vered, it was explained the block sig |
nails would automatically be set at the .
danger signal, stopping the train.
The position each of the robbers |
was to have occupied had been care
fully marked. investigation at the !
scene showed,
tree in the wooded area at the bot
tom Of the embankment had been
'blazed' as landmark for one man.
Others were to take their places be
meath the bridge. SO that when the .
train plunged down the embankmcnt
certain members of the gang would |
be in readiness with guns to kill those
who escaped death
With the gunner was a squad with
an acetylne gas torch and dynamite.
Their intended work was to open the
safes in the express and mail cars.
The party was to have come to the
scene in automobiles One man was
to remain with the machines, which |
were to have been stationed in a near
by field
Two farmhouscs within short dis
lance of the bridge We're to have been
closely guarded and the occupants
Killed If they made an cutlery.
Every prccaution was taken that
none should learn the fate Of the pass
engers. The wires leading to a road
crossing bell, mile north of the
hridge, were TO have been cut All
telephone wires leading to Spring.
Held were also to have been severed.
Not a detail had been overlooked, an.
parently.
i thought II was bunk when ! read