Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1900 — MANY TRAINS ROBBED [ARTICLE]

MANY TRAINS ROBBED

BANDITS GET NEARLY SIOO,OOO ; DURING THE YEAR. Detectives Declare that the Work Has Been Done by Novices and that Veterans Are Quiescent— Very Few Captures Made. Officials of railroad and express companies fear an epidemic of train and express car robberies. Though detectives profess to believe that holding up of trains is an industry that is rapidly going out of fashion, the men who make robbery a profession do not seem to be in accord with their views. Within the last year five express cars were looted and the robbers secured $76,700. This is the loss as estimated byexpress companies, but it’ is a noted fact that officials of carrier companies are always inclined to withhold the real figures soas to discourage future' attempts. In the same period of a year one express company has suffered a loss of $21,000 bypackages which disappeared while in transit. Passengers on two trains and one stage line were relieved of money and valuables. Thus, despite all efforts to class the train robber and express thief as a personage of the past, the total profits to the followers of the profession for less than a year have summed up at least S.IOO, In addition to this two unsuccessful attempts were made to rob trains, which would have put the sum total away above that mark. —Robbery Record.— Following is the list of robberies which have taken place in the United States since Oct. 13, 1899: Oct. 13, 1899 Chicago and Northwestern train held up at Tower W. Express safe blown up with dynamite. Proceeds of booty estimated at SIO,OOO. Oct. 13, 18911— Missouri, Kansas ami Texas train near Sherman, Texas, looted by robbers. Express safe broken. Proceeds of robbery estimated at SIO,OOO. Nov. 16, 1899—Unsuccessful attempt to rob ' express ear on Lake Shore Railroad at Dock junction, near Erie. Pa. Dec. 1, 1899—Lone robber held up messengers In Southern Express Company ear near Brandsville, S. C. Proceeds of robbery. $1,700. March 23, 1900—Kansas City, St. Joseph and Connell Bluffs train held up by lone robber. Passengers relieved of money and jewelry. Total proceeds of booty, S2OO/ June 2, 1900—Yosemite stage coaches held up by the "Black Kid," who robbed twenty-seven men and five women. Proceeds, $250. July 11, 1900—New Orleans train of Illinois Central held up near Mayfield Creek, Ky. Express car and safe blown up with dynamite. Estimated proceeds, SIO,OOO. Aug. 1. 1900L-Unsuceessful attempt to hold up St. Paul train near Raymoor, Wls. Plan miscarried because train was late. Aug. 5, 1900—Passengers on Union Pacific train No. 4 robbed of S2OO. Aug. 10, 1900—Express car on Pennsylvania express train entered and Messenger John Lane killed. Express safe loote_d. Proceeds of robbery estimated at $45,000. Aug. 17. 1900—Package consigned to National State Bank at Burlington, lowa, from the Commercial National Bank. Chicago, lost. Adams Express Company’s loss, $20,000. Sept. 24, 1900—Package of currency disappeared from Adams Express Company’s office at Keokuk. Loss of express company, SI,OOO.