Centralia Daily Sentinel (Newspaper) - September 21, 1893, Centralia, Illinois ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY Four Masked Men Board the South-Bound Vestibuled Last Night, attempt to Loot the Express Car, but are Foiled by the Nerve of Employes and Passengers. The south-bound vestibule left Centralia at 11:05 last night, being over an hour late, As the train passed through the yards four men were noticed on the roof of the express car by persons in the yard, but it was thought to be persons beating a ride, which is a daily occurrence. As the train neared the south mine a masked man leaped to the tender and commenced shooting into the cab, Engineer Ben Young was at the throttle and Fireman McDowell on the other side. The engineer thought the first shot was a torpedo and a second shot was heard. Still thinking it torpedoes put on the track, he reversed bis engine and stepped down between the cab and tender to look out, and while in this position a third shot rang out and the bullet entered his back. It was later learned that he was also wounded in the arm. The fireman was wounded in the chin, but not serious. While this little tragedy was being played on the engine, two more men with masked faces and false mustaches appeared at the side door of the car. kicked in the glass, readied through and unfastened the door. They both held big ugly revolvers, and at once commanded Express Messenger Boils to open the safe. This order was unnecessary, as the safe was already open, as the messenger had not completed the work of his run. Brakeman Stacey caught on to what was up and rushed into the smoker and gave the alarm. Conductor Andy Odum stepped into the express car, to be met by a big revolver. He made a move to pull his own gun, but was ordered to “hands up” or have his “damn head blown off.” He was given to understand that they did not want to hurt him, but that if he made a break he was a dead man, and as the robber told him this he smiled and jerked Odum’s revolver out of his pocket. While this was going on, Felix Armstrong, the baggageman, who was in the same car, became involved in a tussle with the other fellow and was holding his own until the other robber, who is a heavy man, poked his gun against Felix s breast and threatened to shoot if he didn’t let up. A party of hunters from Du Quoin had been chicken shooting up the main line, and were on their way home. They were seated in the front end of the smoker and when Stacey gave the alarm George Sanders shoved a couple of shells into his gun and ran to the express car. The fellow who had the conductor covered was in such a position that Sanders could not shoot without hitting Odum, and the other fellow was scuffling with Armstrong, so that he could not shoot him. The first opening, however, he blazed away and caught the robber in the face and a few scattering shots hit two of Odum’s fingers, inflicting flesh wounds. Another hunter appeared at the door with a gun and also flied into the car. The robbers returned the fire with their revolvers, but did not hit anyone. Things were getting too hot for them and they left the car, and as they did so Sanders let go another load from his shotgun and is confident he hit his man in the side. As the robbers jumped one went east and the other went west. Parties who were attracted there by the shooting say the fellow who went east was holding his hands to his left side like he was hurt. The fourth man was on the front end of the express as a guard on the outside. Ed Fitzgerald brought the alarm down town and the fire alarm was given to arouse the citizens and search. Search parties at once went out in all directions. Fireman McDowell backed the train down to the platform and the wounded engineer taken to his home. Another crew was summoned and the train went on its way. Agent Beaver telegraphed to all points in all directions giving a description of the men wanted. Trainmaster Bevington called out an extra engine and a posse was taken to Ashley. A stop was made at Irvington, the operator aroused and posted. Another stop was made at Richview and Bob Keyes was pulled out of bed and posted up on the affair Bob was about the worst astonished man on the road when told of the affair. Ashley was reached just in time to flag a west bound L. & N. through freight at four o’clock this morning. Every box car and truck were examined and a bum or two given a thorough overhauling. T he L. & N. operator was sent for, also the City Marshal. Trainmaster Bevington spent a half hour at the key on the L. & N. wires and posted everything along that line and Beaver posted up the Ashley agent. It was thought probable that the robbers would try to make St. Louis by catching the L & N. at Mt. Vernon or Nashville, and the trip to Ashley was to head them off. Fireman McDowell showed lots of grit, and after being shot in the neck he tackled the robber and knocked him off the engine. As he fell one foot was caught under the wheels and was mashed. He was found lying in the weeds beside the track afterwards in a stunned condition. He was brought down town and a large crowd of railroad Abys gathered about and loud threats of hanging were made. The prisoner begged to be spared and offered to make a confession. There was a priest on the train, and it was held long enough for him to have a conference with the fellow, and he made a clear breast of it all. He afterwards laid the whole scheme bare to the police and the Central officials. He stated that his name was D. L. Jones and that he was a railroader, He had switchman cards from Kansas City and Denver of quite recent dates. He also stated that there were three others in the gang. One was Charlie O’Dwyer, whose mother lives here; another fellow’s name is Harten and another is named Nichols. The boys compared notes and the description of one of the fellows answered for O’Dwyre, who was seen to run east from the train. If he was in the city he would be apt to be found at the home of his mother. A crowd went to her residence, but she refused to admit them, claiming that she was there alone and had not seen Charlie since January. The police were satisfied the bird was there and placed a guard around the house till daylight, when the fellow wanted made his appearance and was taken in custody. When he was placed in the jail a spotter stepped behind the cage out of sight and remained in there. After the other were all out of hearing O’Dwyre said to Jones: “You played hell and busted up the whole scheme and got me caught. You ought to have your Iid cracked.” To which Jones replied. “Did you get any dough?” ‘‘Not any dough.” Trainmaster Bevington and a crowd boarded a C. & C. engine this forenoon and went to Noltings switch, where they made inquiries, but no one had been seen. They then proceeded to Hoyleton, where a search was also made. While there Mr. Nolting came down the road with his team on a dead run, and signalled the boys to come to him. Since they had been at his place a stranger was seen going across the field towards the timber and the description tallied in every detail, posse is now after him with good prospects of catching their man, and that he will prove to be the man wanted. The engineer on tho C. & C. used to switch in East St. Louis and knows these fellows and says the man they are after is Harten. Trainmaster Bevington received message from Vice President Hartigan instructing him to see that the wounded receive the best of attention and are not allowed to want for anything; also to express the company’s high appreciation of the noble stand against the robbers in protecting company property. Charlie O Dwyre is the follow who was mixed up in the racket three years ago with the Byerly woman. He and the same woman were also implicated in working a badger game racket in St. Louis last winter. Stacy says he would rather be a coward for an hour then a corpse “the rest of his life.” Jones has worked in St. Louis under the same name of the Lady, but his right name is Jones. His fathers name is Silas Jones and lives at Oxford Mills, Iowa. The scheme was to meet at Mrs. O Dwyre’s house after the robbery was over, divide up and keep dark for a few days, listing to the news and keep posted and let it blow over. It was the intention to stop the train down about the nursery, but shooting the engineer foiled that part and brought the thing to a climax sooner than expected. A posse of well armed fellows are guarding a steep grade between Nashville and Baueamp, where it is thought Harten will try to board an I. & N freight. The grade is so steep that the trains almost come to a standstill. Messenger Boils says there was not over $100 in money in his safe last night. The haul would have been small. The latest is that the trail on Harten is getting quite warm; that he was seen in Nashville around noon. Sanders ought to be promoted from a local freight brakeman to something better. His nerve entitles him to the best. The Central is under obligations to the boys a little more than to express thanks. There is not an official in Chicago who would face what the boys faced last night without wilting. A telephone message from Nashville this afternoon stated that ever possibly precaution was being done to prevent Harten from boarding an L & N. train. If he shows up he is a goner. If he reaches St. Louis and shows up at his old headquarters he will be nabbed. When Harten is caught there might be a little hanging in this section. Harten’s home is said to be at Mattoon or Danville and he is a railroader. Dr. W. Scott Marshall hypnotized Jones and made him believe he was an expert mind reader and lying wouldn’t do. Every employe of the company who was in it and had an opportunity showed fight right in the face of danger. When the O’Dwyre mansion was visited it was found to be in quite a state of disarrangement. The bedsteads were all down, the carpets yanked up, the bedding and other stuff piled about the floor as though house cleaning was going on. A false beard, a pair of knucks, etc., were fouud in the pockets of one of the prisoners. Mountain switch keys were found on the two follows caught. Jones bought lunch last evening before train time to the tune of $1.06. Where is that lunch? Last night Jones stated that there were four in the gang and one was named Nichols. Today he says there were only himself, O’Dwyre and Harten. A rumor was current Nichols was in it and that he was at Ashley. The big toe nail belonging to the fellow who got Knocked off the engine was picked up at the scene of the scrap this morning- It had been pinched off by the car wheel when it caught his foot. A mask that had been made of a red bandana handkerchief was also found. It showed unmistakable signs of having encountered a load of shot. Jones states that himself, O’Dwyre and Harten have a room at 1313 Chouteau avenue, where they frequently take a can of beer together. It will he some time before they take any more beer there. Harten is evidently trying to make a point on the L. & N. and make St. Louis, but every crew on the L. & N. road is posted. The gang has been in Centralia since Monday and Harten has been here for a week. It was their intention to do the job Tuesday night, but Harten was kicked off the front end of the baggage car on No. 3 and from his actions he was trying to get on top. When the train reached Ashley, its first stop, two other fellows were found on the back end of the train and wer kicked off. When Harten was kicked off at Centralia he sized the baggage car up and remarked that the “damned car was empty,” and spoke as if he was talking to some one on top of the train. Squealer Jones says that this job has been in contemplation for about three months and was planned in their room in St. Louis. Centralia Daily Sentinel (Newspaper) - September 21, 1893, Centralia, Illinois ATTEMPTED TRAIN ROBBERY Four Masked Men Board the South-Bound Vestibuled Last Night, attempt to Loot the Express Oar, but are Foiled by the Nerve of Employes and Passengers. The south-bound vestibule left Centralia at 11:05 last night, being over an hour late, As the train passed through the yards four men were noticed on the roof of the express car by persons in the yard, but it was thought to be persons beating a ride, which is a daily occurrence. As the train neared the south mine a masked man leaped to the tender and commenced shooting into the cab, Engineer Ben Young was at the throttle and Fireman McDowell on the other side. The engineer thought the first shot was a torpedo and a second shot was heard. Still thinking it torpedoes put on the track, he reversed bis engine and stepped down between the cab and tender to look out, and while in this position a third shot rang out and the bullet entered his back. It was later learned that he was also wounded in the arm. The fireman was wounded in the chin, but not serious. While this little tragedy was being played on the engine, two more men with masked faces and false mustaches appeared at the side door of the car. kicked in the glass, readied through and unfastened the door. They both held big ugly revolvers, and at once commanded Express Messenger Boils to open the safe. This order was unnecessary, as the safe was already open, as the messenger had not completed the work of his run. Brakeman Stacey caught on to what was up and rushed into the smoker and gave the alarm. Conductor Andy Odum stepped into the express car, to be met by a big revolver. He made a move to pull his own gun, but was ordered to “hands up” or have his “damn head blown off.” He was given to understand that they did not want to hurt him, but that if he made a break he was a dead man, and as the robber told him this he smiled and jerked Odum’s revolver out of his pocket. While this was going on, Felix Armstrong, the baggageman, who was in the same car, became involved in a tussle with the other fellow and was holding his own until the other robber, who is a heavy man, poked his gun against Felix s breast and threatened to shoot if he didn’t let up. A party of hunters from Du Quoin had been chicken shooting up the main line, and were on their way home. They were seated in the front end of the smoker and when Stacey gave the alarm George Sanders shoved a couple of shells into his gun and ran to the express car. The fellow who had the conductor covered was in such a position that Sanders could not shoot without hitting Odum, and the other fellow was scuffling with Armstrong, so that he could not shoot him. The first opening, however, he blazed away and caught the robber in the face and a few scattering shots hit two of Odum’s fingers, inflicting flesh wounds. Another hunter appeared at the door with a gun and also flied into the car. The robbers returned the fire with their revolvers, but did not hit anyone. Things were getting too hot for them and they left the car, and as they did so Sanders let go another load from his shotgun and is confident he hit his man in the side. As the robbers jumped one went east and the other went west. Parties who were attracted there by the shooting say the fellow who went east was holding his hands to his left side like he was hurt. The fourth man was on the front end of the express as a guard on the outside. Ed Fitzgerald brought the alarm down town and the fire alarm was given to arouse the citizens and search. Search parties at once went out in all directions. Fireman McDowell backed the train down to the platform and the wounded engineer taken to his home. Another crew was summoned and the train went on its way. Agent Beaver telegraphed to all points in all directions giving a description of the men wanted. Trainmaster Bevington called out an extra engine and a posse was taken to Ashley. A stop was made at Irvington, the operator aroused and posted. Another stop was made at Richview and Bob Keyes was pulled out of bed and posted up on the affair Bob was about the worst astonished man on the road when told of the affair. Ashley was reached just in time to flag a west bound L. & N. through freight at four o’clock this morning. Every box car and truck were examined and a bum or two given a thorough overhauling. T he L. & N. operator was sent for, also the City Marshal. Trainmaster Bevington spent a half hour at the key on the L. & N. wires and posted everything along that line and Beaver posted up the Ashley agent. It was thought probable that the robbers would try to make St. Louis by catching the L & N. at Mt. Vernon or Nashville, and the trip to Ashley was to head them off. Fireman McDowell showed lots of grit, and after being shot in the neck he tackled the robber and knocked him off the engine. As he fell one foot was caught under the wheels and was mashed. He was found lying in the weeds beside the track afterwards in a stunned condition. He was brought down town and a large crowd of railroad Abys gathered about and loud threats of hanging were made. The prisoner begged to be spared and offered to make a confession. There was a priest on the train, and it was held long enough for him to have a conference with the fellow, and he made a clear breast of it all. He afterwards laid the whole scheme bare to the police and the Central officials. He stated that his name was D. L. Jones and that he was a railroader, He had switchman cards from Kansas City and Denver of quite recent dates. He also stated that there were three others in the gang. One was Charlie O’Dwyer, whose mother lives here; another fellow’s name is Harten and another is named Nichols. The boys compared notes and the description of one of the fellows answered for O’Dwyre, who was seen to run east from the train. If he was in the city he would be apt to be found at the home of his mother. A crowd went to her residence, but she refused to admit them, claiming that she was there alone and had not seen Charlie since January. The police were satisfied the bird was there and placed a guard around the house till daylight, when the fellow wanted made his appearance and was taken in custody. When he was placed in the jail a spotter stepped behind the cage out of sight and remained in there. After the other were all out of hearing O’Dwyre said to Jones: “You played hell and busted up the whole scheme and got me caught. You ought to have your Iid cracked.” To which Jones replied. “Did you get any dough?” ‘‘Not any dough.” Trainmaster Bevington and a crowd boarded a C. & C. engine this forenoon and went to Noltings switch, where they made inquiries, but no one had been seen. They then proceeded to Hoyleton, where a search was also made. While there Mr. Nolting came down the road with his team on a dead run, and signalled the boys to come to him. Since they had been at his place a stranger was seen going across the field towards the timber and the description tallied in every detail, posse is now after him with good prospects of catching their man, and that he will prove to be the man wanted. The engineer on tho C. & C. used to switch in East St. Louis and knows these fellows and says the man they are after is Harten. Trainmaster Bevington received message from Vice President Hartigan instructing him to see that the wounded receive the best of attention and are not allowed to want for anything; also to express the company’s high appreciation of the noble stand against the robbers in protecting company property. Charlie O Dwyre is the follow who was mixed up in the racket three years ago with the Byerly woman. He and the same woman were also implicated in working a badger game racket in St. Louis last winter. Stacy says he would rather be a coward for an hour then a corpse “the rest of his life.” Jones has worked in St. Louis under the same name of the Lady, but his right name is Jones. His fathers name is Silas Jones and lives at Oxford Mills, Iowa. The scheme was to meet at Mrs. O Dwyre’s house after the robbery was over, divide up and keep dark for a few days, listing to the news and keep posted and let it blow over. It was the intention to stop the train down about the nursery, but shooting the engineer foiled that part and brought the thing to a climax sooner than expected. A posse of well armed fellows are guarding a steep grade between Nashville and Baueamp, where it is thought Harten will try to board an I. & N freight. The grade is so steep that the trains almost come to a standstill. Messenger Boils says there was not over $100 in money in his safe last night. The haul would have been small. The latest is that the trail on Harten is getting quite warm; that he was seen in Nashville around noon. Sanders ought to be promoted from a local freight brakeman to something better. His nerve entitles him to the best. The Central is under obligations to the boys a little more than to express thanks. There is not an official in Chicago who would face what the boys faced last night without wilting. A telephone message from Nashville this afternoon stated that ever possibly precaution was being done to prevent Harten from boarding an L & N. train. If he shows up he is a goner. If he reaches St. Louis and shows up at his old headquarters he will be nabbed. When Harten is caught there might be a little hanging in this section. Harten’s home is said to be at Mattoon or Danville and he is a railroader. Dr. W. Scott Marshall hypnotized Jones and made him believe he was an expert mind reader and lying wouldn’t do. Every employe of the company who was in it and had an opportunity showed fight right in the face of danger. When the O’Dwyre mansion was visited it was found to be in quite a state of disarrangement. The bedsteads were all down, the carpets yanked up, the bedding and other stuff piled about the floor as though house cleaning was going on. A false beard, a pair of knucks, etc., were fouud in the pockets of one of the prisoners. Mountain switch keys were found on the two follows caught. Jones bought lunch last evening before train time to the tune of $1.06. Where is that lunch? Last night Jones stated that there were four in the gang and one was named Nichols. Today he says there were only himself, O’Dwyre and Harten. A rumor was current Nichols was in it and that he was at Ashley. The big toe nail belonging to the fellow who got Knocked off the engine was picked up at the scene of the scrap this morning- It had been pinched off by the car wheel when it caught his foot. A mask that had been made of a red bandana handkerchief was also found. It showed unmistakable signs of having encountered a load of shot. Jones states that himself, O’Dwyre and Harten have a room at 1313 Chouteau avenue, where they frequently take a can of beer together. It will he some time before they take any more beer there. Harten is evidently trying to make a point on the L. & N. and make St. Louis, but every crew on the L. & N. road is posted. The gang has been in Centralia since Monday and Harten has been here for a week. It was their intention to do the job Tuesday night, but Harten was kicked off the front end of the baggage car on No. 3 and from his actions he was trying to get on top. When the train reached Ashley, its first stop, two other fellows were found on the back end of the train and wer kicked off. When Harten was kicked off at Centralia he sized the baggage car up and remarked that the “damned car was empty,” and spoke as if he was talking to some one on top of the train. Squealer Jones says that this job has been in contemplation for about three months and was planned in their room in St. Louis. Like · · Share Martin Miley likes this. Larry W. Wooters I remembered reading about this story several years ago and had saved it on an old thumb drive. I finally found it was able to post. It is lengthy and pretty much rambles on and goes back and forth, but gives good detail. 41 mins · Like · 1 Rick Bousman Write a comment...
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 03:16:43 +0000
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