The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-16
THUGS ROB ONE
MAN AND FORCE
DEATH OF NEXT
Hold Up Harvest Hand on East.
bound Freight; Make Victim
Jump Off Fast Train
BRIDGE BR REAKS SKULL
Believe Dead Man Was Robbed
and Forced to jump From
Train Hitting Steel Bridge

Two holdup men working on a
freight train between Judson and
Sweet Briar early Saturday robbed
Eric Lyden, afterwards forcing him
to jump from the rapidly moving
train, and probably caused the death
OF Elmer Stevens by forcing him to
jump, after robbing him, is the opin-
ion of authorities today after care
full investigation. Stevens was found
dead with broken skull on bridge
IA near Sweet Briar.
The train had at least four men be-
sides the robbers riding on it. Eric
Lyden was riding alone in a gondola.
The two holdup men jumped into the
car, flashed their light on him, COW
cred him with two revolvers, and
proceeded to rob him.
They made a thorough search,
finding $14 concealed in his shoe
They also took a Waltham watch,
valued at $75. After assuring them
selves that he had nothing else of
value they ordered him to get off.
Lyden started to climb down the
outside of the car, but the man be-
hind the gun ordered him to jump.
Railroad men say the train was
probably going at least 80 miles an
hour
Lyden jumped. Luck was with him
and he received only bruises and a
lacerated arm. He walked into
Sweet Briar, and having no money
continued in the morning to walk
east.
Others See Robbers.
Hans Lyden t(brother Of the man
who was robbed) )and Joe Malnbers
were riding together in a refriger-
atOr car. Lyden was asleep, but
Malnberg heard some one pound on
the door with what was probably a
coupling pin. Later two men flashed
an electric searchlight on them, Gov
ering them with gun, and then
moved along.
"They saw there were two of u.s.
Malnberg says, "and probably de-
cided not to monkey with us. Any
way they went along and that's all
we saw of tNem. They had brown
pants and caps"
Eric Lyden, who was robbed and
forced to jump off the train. started
walking east from Sweet Briar Sat
urday morning. AS he neared bridge
IA, which is two miles east of Sweet
Briar, he passed a section crew
working on the tracks.
Lyden was watching the right-ot-
way anxious over the fate which had
befallen his brother. He had not
been able to find him in Sweet Briar.
He thought he had probably been
robbed and forced to jump as ne
had.
AS he reached the bridge he saw
the body of man lying near the
west end on the south side of the
track. Anxious to learn whether it
was his brother or not he ran up to
the body, looked at the mans face
and found it was not his brother"
Then he turned and ran back, to
the section gang. With pale face he
shouted, "Theres dead man on the
bridge. Come and help me-"
The section crew went to the
bridge and then telephoned to SWee:
Briar for the proper officials to come
and take care of the corpse.
! Deputy Sheriff Paul Mueller, OF
Mandan, arrived first at the
bridge. Together with Lyden he
waited for the coroner to arrive from
Mandan.
Coroner Kennedy arrived about
nine o'clock and took the body to
Mandan, where it is being held at
Kennellys undertaking parlors for
the corOner's inquest to be held Mon
day afternoon.
The body is that of a young man
about 25 years old. The right arm
has the name "Elmer Stevens tat
tooed on it. On the left arm is pic
ture of cowgirl. The only posses
sions found on the body were
Northern Pacific time table and a
watch. The latter was concealed i'll
an inside trouser pocket.
Across the top of the timetable is
written, Spokane, Washington, July
l2." Down one side is the question,
where are you going, Mr.. Man,
Directly below this is written, FL
mer Stevens, going east" This is
lOIlOWCu NY JHc etiIt |AS 't'
dress, STAPLES, Mimi
Thugs Rob One
Coroner Kennedy received mes"
sage today from Staples, Mimi, stat
ing that Seven's father and mother
live near there. The body will be
shipped to Staples on No. 4 this even
ing.
Stevens skull is broken, a cash
extending from the left eye to the
back of the head. His hip is very
badly bruised, the lower limbs arc
also bruised, and the body bears
other marks of blows.
The mans shoes have skuff and
the glove is scratched where he prob
ably dragged along the side of the
car.
Bridge IA, where the man was
Continued on Page Three)