Train Robbers In Michigan

A desperate train robberj-, almost equal to the daring crimes for which the west has been famous, took place on the C. & V. M. railroad near Kew Riehmond. Soon after the night express left New Richmond, Mich.. and while swinging around a curve through a swarapy stretch of ground, Engineer Zibbel observed a man swinging a lantern, and put on the brakes. Uefore he could bring the train to a stop, however, it bumped into a big pile of ties which the robbers had placed there. The train crew started out to see what was the matter and were met by a vollev o bul Iets. Engineer Zibbel was warned back by two balls close to bis head. rïrakeman Timothy Murphy jumped off the rear coach with his lantern. The robbers saw him and fired, striking him in the groin. The baggage cir next to the engine carried an expres box which was being deadlieaded back from Chicago empty. This was what the robbers were after, evidently supposing it to contaain valuables. They called upon Baggageman Vanetta to open the door, but upon his refusinff to do so they fired a small dynamite bomb at the side door, shattering it, and sprang inside. The box was locked aod they resorted to dynamite to get it open. Finding nothing they turned their attention again to the train crew and relieved the engineer and firemar of their watehes and the conductor oí about 97 in cash. The passengers were not molested, but they were afraid they would be. There was a tremendous scramble for hiding places for valur.bles of all kinds and manv of the womcn ere in hysterics. The passeng-ers w;re mostly tourists bourd for the northern resorts. The robbers were amateurs, Conductor Hice thinks, and did the I ob very clumsily and with little l aration. He is confident that he would recogni.e the men if he should see them again. There were four of them and they were neither masked nor disguised and made no apparent eiïort at eoncealment. After the news of the robbery had spread several posses of deputy sherift's, railroad and expresa detectives and Grand üapids pólice started on the hunt for the robbers, beingspurred on by the offer of 1,000 reward for their capture. The express officials now adinit that four packages of money were secured from the safe, but they decline to give the amounts. Latei:. - Two men answering the description of the robbers boarded a Lake Shore train at Dorr and rode to Eagfle Mills, three miles fiom Grand Rapids. The trainmen notified the pólice. The robbers walked into the city and boarded a G. R. & I. train for the north at 11:30 p. m. Detective Seorg'e W. l'owers, of the Grand Rapids pólice forcé, boarded the train also and attempted to place the men under arrest. ]5oth drew their revolvers and iired at the detective, one bullet lodging in his brain. The men juinped from the train and made their escape. The entire pólice forcé and all the deputy sheriff started after them. l'owers died a few hours later. Powers was one of the most popular officers on the force. Be wus 57 years old. and served gallantly in Co. K, Third Michigan volunteers, during the war. One of the Supposed Robbert Shot Dead. George A. Smalley, supposed to be one of the C. & W. M. train robbers and the man who shot Detective Powers, was shot and instantly killed at McBain. Soon after Smalley arrived at McBain word was received from Charles Danham, sheriff of "Wexford county, to capt-ire Smalley and hold him. A deputy with a posse of men at once surrounded the house of Ezekiel Brown, where lie was in hiding. Smalley is known as a desperate character, but the men were armed ior any einergeney. Kefusing to give himself up and reaching for his guns, which were in a belt on his body, he was shot, two balls striking him in the left side, Killing him instantly. He had two of the best inake pistols with f uil chambers and a belt fllled with carttidges. No inouey was found on his person.