The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-11-11
TRAIN Robbers
AFTER 100000
Outlaws Who Held UP |. c. Mall
Car Dropped Pouch.
DISCARDED BY THE BANDITS
BAD contang the Money Was Re
covered by the Train Crew
Short Distance From Scene
Wounded Porter Dies.

Chicago, Nov. Six masked ban
dts held up the Illinois Central New
Orleans Limited train two and one
half miles south Of Paxton, ILL.,, shot
three members of the train crew anu
one passenger, slugged two others,
dynamited and burned the mail car,
and escaped with small amount OF
loot
Belief that 100000 in cash was in
the mail car, prompted the hOldup,
according to opinions Of railroad men.
The robbers missed the most valuable
nouch in the car. a railroad official
stated. and it was his opinion that it
was this particular pouch which was
sought.
During the course of the holdup,
when the mail clerks were being forced
to throw pouches from the car, one Of
the two threw out a pouch of news
papers.
"Where do you get that stuff?" one
of the bandits declared. "YOu know
what pouch we want, throw i out
here."'
Carried Away, Then Dropped.
The pouch, believed to contain for
tune in cash, was thrown out OF the
car, carried a short distance from the
train by the ROBBERS and for some rea-
son. was dropped and later recovered
by the train crew.
'The loot obtained by the robbers
does not total more than $780," said
Postal Inspector E. A. Germer, after
he had received an official report.
"Only two pouches Of registered mail
were stolen"
A new set of automobile tires, leaV-
ing a clear imprint in the roads near
Paxton is the only clew to the robbers,
who escaped after WOunding four train
employees and one passenger, and set
ting fire to the mail car.
Chicago men are believed RESPONSE
BILE for the hOldup and detective squads
are watching the roads into this city.
An indication that the band was
from Chicago was seen in remark by
the leader:
''YOu get into that car and throw out
those mail bags or we'll kill YOU" the
leader said to one of his men. ''What
do you think we brought you~down here
fOr?"
Railroad detectives and authorities
of Paxton were searching for traces
of the band, believed to have numbered
five or six men, although, admittedly
he
scene of the hOldup by morning. The
men escaped in an automobile, driving
west after leaving the VermilliOn river
and turning north toward Chicago.
Passengers Not MoIested.
The passengers on the train were
not molested by the robbers, although
one got several bullet holes in his
coat and was slightly hurt when he
and three companions went up to the
mail car and fired on the holdup party
while they were fighting the engine
crew and two mail clerks, barricaded
in the mail car The wounded are
Arthur Moon, Chicago, cOlOred train
porter; in a Champaign hospital
where he died.
Ben Bovinette, MattoOn, mail clerk,
shot in the shoulder, abdomen and
wrist; slugged on head.
Thomas Baker, Carbonate, mai
clerk; beaten on the head with re.
vOlver.
III. III. Bangs, 6315 Harper avenue
Chicago, fireman; slightly wounded
three times in left shoulder.
Kenneth KnOwltOn, University OF
Illinois student; slightly wounded in
right arm in fight with robbers after
they had completed their work.