Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-02-25
BANDIT HOLDS
UP MAIL CREW
Robber Escapes With 100000
From North Coast Limited
Near Minneapolis.
Posing as inspector Bandit Boards
Train at st. Cloud; Suddenly Draws
Gun and Orders Men to
Hold Up Hands.

eapolIs-Zachary G. Strong,
In charge of the mail car, who was
shot three times by the bandit,
died at the Minneapolis General
hospital. he had been employed
In the railway mail service fifteen
years and leaves widow and two
children, living in the Mill City.
Minneapolis-A bandit who boarded
the eastbound North Coast Limited
train at St Cloud, held up three men
in charge Of the mail car, shot and
probably fatally injured one of the
men, took currency and negotiable
bonds estimated at hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars, and escaped as The
train entered Minneapolis at $40 Fri
day night.
The ho1dup occurred near Bailey,
a station on the Northern Pacific rail-
road five miles northwest of Elk River,
county seat Of Sherburne county, and
about 80 miles northwest of Minneap-
oils
The bandit boarded the train when
it reached St Cloud, entering the mail
car on a permit used by inspectors in
the mail service. He had ridden from
ST Cloud to Minneapolis on the same
train two weeks ago, using similar
permit, and was known to one Of the
men in the car.
The car was in charge of Strong, a
veteran in the railway mail service,
and his assistants were Clare L.
Brown, 1908 East Thirty-fifth street,
Minneapolis, and Harry M. Christen-
sen, 2197 Dayton avenue, st. Paul. The
permit was inspected, and was found
to be authority for IN. P. Peterson"
to ride in the car.
The bandit engaged the three men
in conversation, using the subjects
known to mail clerks, until the train
was near Bailey. There the man sud
denly drew gun and ordered the men
to hold up their hands.
AS the three obeyed, the bandit or
dered Strong and Brown into a corner
OF the car.
Come over here!" he shouted to
Christensen.
Christensen obeyed and the bandit
produced a roll of fine wire.
Tie these fellows up tight and be
quick about it," was the next COM
hland
Ties Up Comrades.
Christensen wound the wire around
the legs and arms of his companions,
but in tying Strong's hands left a
slack in the wire. The bandit then
ordered him into the corner and as
Christensen complied turned toward
the mail sacks.
At that moment Strong, whose hands
were practically free, seized an iron
bar used in opening the car door and
hurled it at the bandit. 1t struck him
upon the back, but had little effect.
The bandit picked up the bar and
threw it to the other end of the car,
then fired three shots at Strong. The
first took effect in the victims stOm-
ach. After firing two more shots
while Strong was lying on his face, the
gunman ordered Christensen to carry
Brown to a mail rack, where he was
rolled under the rack.
Christensen then was told to open
the mail sacks.
Pick out the sacks with the regis
tered mall" ordered the bandit Get
them. open"
Then a sack containing registered
mail, currency and negotiable bonds
was opened, the bandit stuffed most of
the contents into grip used by one
Of the clerks. Christensen then was
forced to enter locker room in the
car, which the bandit bolted on the
outside The lights in the car were
then turned off, and Christensen, list
ening as the train sped along, believed
the bandit had left the car. Anxious
to aid Strong, Christensen succeeded
in breaking the lock on the locker, but
found the bandit seated on a pile OF
sacks, holding his gun on Brown.