Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-03-02
source date: 1888
availability: public-domain

■ y . . _ Butch Cassidy Gang Train Tackled Robbers Again Work the Southern PacificOn Thursday night of last week the west- bound Southern and Pacific train was robbed in Grant County, near the line of Arizona. The robbers evidently meant to avoid the New Mex- ico law that provides capital punishment in such cases, and to go into Arizona to do the deed, like the men recently convicted of a similar offense. But according to Sheriff Laird, who visited the place, the train was this side of the line. The two men who perpetrated the last robbery are said to be known to the officers, though this claim is getting to be a chestnut. It may be that they were the same who committed the two robberies at Papago. There is a rumor that the men convicted at Tucson were not the guilty parties, and that the pique and zeal of the officers combined with the testimony of “toughs” who sought reward, immunity from punishment and official favor, enabled the officers to get the $20,000 offered by the com- pany for conviction. The couple who last set the officers at defiance boarded the forward platform of the mail car as it left Stein’s Pass station, crawled over the tender and ordered the engineer to go ahead for two miles.

officers to get the $20,000 offered by the com- pany for conviction. The couple who last set the officers at defiance boarded the forward platform of the mail car as it left Stein’s Pass station, crawled over the tender and ordered the engineer to go ahead for two miles. When the: train finally came to a halt one robber and the engineer uncoupled the express and mail car from the train and ran ahead some distance. Coming to a second stop the party went to the express car, persuaded the messenger to come out and thus secured $1000, it is said. The messenger said that he could not afford to fight robbers for $75 per month. The mail was not disturbed. The engineer backed up to the train, and ran back to the station and notified Superinten- dent Noble of what had happened. The train was in charge of Conductor McClellan, and the engineer was Colonel Harper who had a similar experience in the big robbery near Pantano last April. A special train with officers and Papago trailers was sent out from Tucson that night.

dent Noble of what had happened. The train was in charge of Conductor McClellan, and the engineer was Colonel Harper who had a similar experience in the big robbery near Pantano last April. A special train with officers and Papago trailers was sent out from Tucson that night. These pursuers were joined by two tramps who were on the train when the robbery oc- curred, and by brakeman J. Cerremo. The latter gives the following account: He saw two men whom he supposed were tramps, get on the forward end of the mail car. After quite a run he reached them but found two rifles thrown down on him, coupled with an order to get back lively. He did not know they were robbers until the train stopped about a mile from there. The robbers then fired three shots and made the engineer cut the mail and express cars off and pull ahead about two miles. They then stated to engineer Harper that they did not desire to harm anyone, and for him to inform the messenger of that fact, and there would be no trouble. The messenger concluded this was the proper thing to do, and opened up, giving them his gun, and handed them the money packages which they placed in sacks, and with- out offering to molest the mail, disappeared, taking a southerly direction. 7

and there would be no trouble. The messenger concluded this was the proper thing to do, and opened up, giving them his gun, and handed them the money packages which they placed in sacks, and with- out offering to molest the mail, disappeared, taking a southerly direction. 7 Col. J. F. Chavez and L. H. Huning, both of Valencia County, were in the city this week. Col. Chavez was camped, with his detachment of soldiers at the spring just below town in 1853, thirty-five years ago. The colonel has been mentioned as one of the republican delegates to the Chicago convention. Mr. Huning came here for health, having been quite ill. From ihe March 9, 1888, Issue of The Enierprise It is reported that a few days ago Irwin Moore went to the house of Robert Miller, on the Mimbres, and after having some words in the house, fired his pistol at the occupant in the presence of Mrs. Miller, the ball grazing her neck. Miller did not have an arrest made, say- ing he would wait until the grand jury meets. M. C. Jay’s house in Georgetown was bur- glarized last week and $400 worth of goods stolen. The owner offered a reward of $50 and thereby regained the property which had been secreted in Central City. Constable Gil- ( 5 )

, say- ing he would wait until the grand jury meets. M. C. Jay’s house in Georgetown was bur- glarized last week and $400 worth of goods stolen. The owner offered a reward of $50 and thereby regained the property which had been secreted in Central City. Constable Gil- ( 5 ) liard arrested a man and has been looking for a woman whom he thinks committed the crime. The couple had been keeping a dive in George- town. Chapin is the man’s name, and Mrs. Miller is the woman. George Mitchell, arrested by Constable Norman, of Clifton, is in jail here. He is accused of robbing a ranch house of the L. C. company, at Mule Springs. George Parker, a son of Thomas Parker, of Silver City, was instantly killed at Benson last Friday night by a train backing upon him. He was a brakeman, and is said to have been a most exemplary young man.