The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-28
FEARED MAIL CAR
Bandits Robbed Express Car on
Missouri Pacific Train.
Shot Messenger and Got $4,000
in Loot.
POSTAL CLERKS UNMOLESTED
Seen Carrying Haul Away in
Gunny Sack.
Messenger Fought for His Life
He Says.
POSTAL CLERKS UNMOLESTED

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 2S-Loot
| obtained last night when the express
car safe of Missouri Pacific train
number 2O9, Joplin to Kansas City,
was robbed between Pleasant Hill,
Mo-, and Sheffield, a suburb of Kan
sas City, this afternoon was placed
officially at approximately $1,000 in
cash and possibly double that amount
in securities, most of which were non
negotiable.
The estimate was made by NJ. A.
Long, special agent for the American
Express company. who said there is
known to have been one parcel of
currency in the safe consigned from
a Nevada, Mo, bank to the Kansas
City Federal Reserve bank and that
slip for a consignment of 81, ,450 to
the st. Louis Federal Reserve bank
had been found. He said the Nevada
bank consignment was in the neigh
bOrhood of 5000.
Hunt for Bandits.
While express company officials
| made their check up, special agents
of the railroad were searching for two
young men, dressed in brown over
alls, and who, according to L. H.
Holland, express messenger, looted
the safe, dumped the contents into
a gunny sack, shot him in the leg and
then escaped as the train was pulling
into Sheffield. Holland who was
taken to a hospital here is not sert-
ously wounded, it was said.
The officers were following up re-
ports that Two men described as an
swering the description furnished by
Holland were seen lettering about the
station at Pleasant Hill and that two
men in brown overalIs and carrying
a gunny sack between them early to-
day visited a restaurant in the extreme
edge of the city and not far from
Sheffield.
The mail car was not moIested and
according to officials the mail clerks
did not know Of the robbery until the
train reached Kansas City.
Messenger Shot Down.
Special agents of the road this
morning went to the hospital to which
Holland was taken to obtain further
details. According to Holland four
shots were fired at him, one entering
the calf of one leg.
The messenger said the train was
leaving Pleasant Hill which is a small
town near Kansas City, when he en-
countered the bandits.
He had decided to go to the mail
car, he said and had opened the door
when the two men, each carrying a
revolver appeared and forced an en-
trance.
Took His Keys.
One of the men, he said, took his
keys and kept him covered with a re-
volver while the other. dumped the
contents of the safe into a gunny sack.
Holland said the men refused to per-
NIT him to open the car at Lees Sum-
mitt and Independence where stops to
throw off express matter are made,
and compelled him to sit in a corner
of the car out of sight.
AS the train neared Sheffield. a
suburb of Kansas City, Holland said
one of the bandits said he would fin
ish the messenger The man came
toward him with revolver drawn,
Holland said, and they grappled.
Fought at Close Quarters.
The men began firing at close quar-
ters the messenger stated. adding that
the scuffle continued until he had
ben shot in the leg. When he fell,
Holland said the men hurriedly swung
off the car and as the train ran into
Sheffield he signalled for stop and
notified the conductor of the robbery.
Bandits Unmasked.
Holland described the bandits as
being young men dressed in brown
overaIls and unmasked- Both wore
caps pulled well down over their eyes
he said.
The authorities were investigating
reports that persons at the depot in
Pleasant Hill recalled having seen two
young men dressed in brown overaIls
lettering about the station last night.