The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-03
DARING BANDITS +
HOLD UP TRAIN;
BOTH ARE SLAIN
Met Waterloo When Waiting
Officers Opened Fire.
Took Over Frisco Train and
Looted the Mail Car.
STOLEN LOOT is RECOVERED
Inspectors Had Tip of Plan and
Cut on Escape.
Shooting Came When Bandits
Made for Waiting Auto. {
STOLEN LOOT is RECOVERED
CBy The Associated PressJ

Wittenberg, Mo, Nov. 3.-Jack
Kennedy, veteran Missouri train rob-
ber, and a companion, Harvey Logan.
former railroad man, were shot and
killed early today by postoffice in
spectors after they had robbed a mail
car on a southbound passenger train
of the st. Louis-San Francisco. The
stolen mail, about 100 registered let
ters, was recovered.
Six postoffice inspectors. three
Frisco special agents and two deputy
sheriffs of Scott county. were waiting
near the scene of the robbery. which
had been anticipated thru previous
watching of Kennedy's movements.
The veteran bandit had been repre-
senting himself as a quail hunter" in
this section for several weeks.
Kennedy and his companion were
making for their automobile with the
stolen mail when ordered to halt by
the officers. The bandits reached for
their weapons, according to the in
spectors, and the latter opened fire.
Died With "Boots On"
Inspector Bob Ward. of st. Louis,
who was in charge of the party OF
officers, stated the bodies of the two
robbers were found with revoIyers
clutched in their hands. A eoroner's
jury held an inquest before daylight.
and returned a verdict of justifiable
homicide.
said that Kennedy and his pal stopped
the train, No. sos. running from st.
Louis to Memphis at Seventy-six, n
station seven and one-half miles north
of here.
Kennedy's pa! cut the mall and ex-
press cars from the rest of the train.
The engineer and fireman were or
-dered- off the locomotive, and Ken
nedy, who is said to have had railroad
experience, drove the two cars down
the track several miles IN this direc-
ton.
Stopping the locomotive. the two
bandits entered the mail car. The
three clerks were lined up against a
wall of the car. Kennedy inspected
the mail, taking several pouches to
the cab of the locomotive. The loco
motive then was detached from the
two cars, and Kennedy and his COM
panion rode to Wittenbergr
Let Engine Run wild.
About so yards from the local sta
ton, the two jumped from the en-
gine, which was left running wild and
distance beyond. Nearby where they
leaped from the running engine was
their automobile and concealed in the
brush along the right of way were the
officers.
Inspector Ward shouted the com
nand to halt. There was a bright
moonlight and the robbers, according
to Ward, were seen to reach for their
"eaponS. several OF the OftlcerS
opened fire at once, and the bandits
fell.
Kennedy has a record of seven train
robberiss within three years-IS96-
1899-and had served twelve years in
the Missouri penitentiary for the lat
est of those robberies. He has been
at liberty since 1912, ana his move
ments for the last severat weeks have
been under constant surveillance.
On Guard Several Days.
Frisco trains on the st. Louis
Memphis division have been guarded
especially for several days, Postoffice
Inspector Fred Reuter- stated. Mr..
Reuter- explained that several weeks
ago, Postoffice Inspector Roy North
ran into Kennedy near Memphis and
learned that the veteran train robber
was making frequent short trips on the
Frisco, from Memphis 70 points in
northern Arkansas. and was getting
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