Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1882 — TRAIN ROBBERS. [ARTICLE]

TRAIN ROBBERS.

A Plan to Capture a Missouri Pacific Train Foiled. The Conductor Shot and One of the Robbers Killed. A dispatch from Vinita, in the Indian Territory, gives some particulars of an attempt to rob a Missouri Pacific train. It appears the Adams Express agent was informed before hand that an attempt would be made to rob the express train due at Vinita at 10:30 at night. The plan was for two of the robbers to board the train at Vinita, quietly capture the conductor, side-track the train four miles north Of Vinita, where others of the gang would meet them, rob the express, mail and passengers, then ride away on horses provided for the purpose. The express agent telegraphed J. B. Barrett, route agent, and he and Detective Irskine, of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad, and others went south on a freight and boarded the passenger train at Chariton, and made arrangements to thwart the robbers. When the train left Vinita two of the robbers met Conductor Warren on the front platform of the smoking-car, and ordered him to throw up his hands and shot him in the face; Warren fell off the train. The detectives then opened fire, killed one of the robbers and captured the other. The train was backed to Vinita, and the wounded conductor, who was dangerously hurt, was picked up. The train then started north again, but was not molested at the place agreed upon, the other members of the gang evidently thinking something had gone wrong.