Express Robber Shot

From tha Detroit Free Press, May 31. Friday evening when the expresa train over the Central Road east reached Michigan City 8. B. Heath, tha expresa messenger, noticed three ruen louugiiig around on the platform. They were strangers and suspicious-looking ftillows, but he gave them no more than a passing glance. When the train pulled out he went into his car and began looking over the money packages, having the way-bills on his lap and a solitary candle placed where it would give hiñi light. ün the Atlantic express the expresa company has a whole car to itself next the engine. The front door was fastened and the back door locked, and Heath was all ilone. The train had passed Avery, two or three miles, and the agent was bending over his iron chest, when, glancing down, he saw a mau's leg and foot beside him. He raised his head to look, but had scarcely done so when he received a tremendous blow on the forehead, the robber striking him with iron or brasa knucklea. The fellow at the same time made a grab into the money chest, got his hand full of envelopes and ran for the front aoor. They had boarded the train by the front platform of the express car, and had pried open the door with "jimrnies." The train runs like lightning, and the ruar of the wheels had prevented Heath from hearing anything uutil the man stood over hira. The messenger was knocked out of his chair by the blow, and the candle was knocked across the c'ar. He seized the second robber, whu was grasping at the money packages, and they atruggled together on the Hoor of the car in the darkness. Heath ia over forty years old, an ordinary sized man, but full of pluok, and he fought desperately to capture the robber. He was dragged half way to the door, where the mau shook him off, but he gained a new hold and they went down on the Hoor tpgether, Heath underneath. He ulinched into the ratrn's hair with one hand.and while sturdy blows were being rained down on his face and chest ho reached with the other hand for his revolver, which was in his hip pocket. He was lying on his back, and to get the revolver he had to luar ui pooKöi om. nc remeniDers ot preparing to sboot, of tiring, of the robber rolling off of him, and then he kncw no more until the train was halting at Nilos, a distance of thirty miles. Even then he was too weak to get up. Hearing somo of the train hands passing the car he called out and thoy ca me in They thought at first that he was playiug some practical joke, but as soon as a light was brought in they realized what a death struggle had taken placo there in in the darkness. Heath was covered with blood, and the robber was dvin He gasped once as they raised him up and then feil back dead. Tho body was removed f'rom the car and left at Ni les. The robber was well dressed, powurfully built, and had taken the preeaution to einpty his pookets of everything which might serve to ideutify him or betray his companiong. The engineer of the train rerjorts seeing five or six men alongside the track near Niles, and perhaps these wero confederates. A station-mastor botween Niles and Avery reports seeing a suspicious character around the depot that night. Whether the men belonged to a gang or worked the thing alone there is no doubt that they were professionals, and that they meant to murder the messenger if he resisted. It is the first robbery of the kind ever attempted that vay, but they eeemed assured that the noise of the train would drown their work of prying open the door. They loubtless also knew that the inessenger would be sorting his packages at about sueh a time,, and tbey planned well. It is believed that the robber who escaped juniped tho train at once, or else he would have returned to aid his companion in thu strnggle. Had he remainod on the platform he must bave board thé report ur thu revolver, and siich (lca.Miut.' men liever desert uno an other when the thrust of u knit'e in ueodud to set a uouipauioti out of ditïioulty. T!ir il i-,h of Heath's revolver was seeu li)r liotli engineer umi firenian, but tliey thougbt it a faint tiish of heat lifjlitiiing nv.d (lid not hear the report. As forth! other man, he undoubtedly jumped the train :is soon as he secured the money. Tlie tniin was a little ahead of time, and ihe engineer ran slow at some pointe su as to get back to eard-time. ííear tliu front door wan founcï a paokajce of money contiiining $1,200, which had boen drojjped by the robber in his hui ried flight. As near as can be estimated he took $'2,700 with hiui. On the fioor of tho car was found a wicked looking knife, the blado open, and vidently the property of the dead robber. He had the knifo in his hand and was preparing to nmrder Heath when the mesgenger's bullet eutered his braiu. There is no clue to the robbers, or if one bas been secured it has not been aniiounced. Pinkerton, tho detective, wis at Niles yesterday to see the body and piek up information.