Magazine Article Review: Omaha's 1909 Train Robbery

 Omaha's 1909 Train Robbery by David L. Bristow, Nebraskaland Magazine, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 2026, pp 36-39.

On an eastbound train in Omaha, just after passing 72nd street on the track that now runs parallel just south of I80 two bandits jumped onto the engine wearing masks, and accosted the engineer.  They had him stop where there was a fire signal just west of 42nd where the train went through a ravine which provided cover for the crooks.  They were met there by two or three other men.  In about 15 minutes they break into the ail car and take a great deal of the mail and put it into a car before they all take off and order the train to continue to Omaha.  At the South Omaha station a report was made of the robbery.  This was a passenger train but the robbers did not interact with the passengers other than to fire their guns in the air to keep them under control.  

There were no clues in the case for several dats, other than the automobile.  People were asking about seeing four or five men in a car.  It wasn't until some boys from Brown Elementary School found a couple guns, slouch hats and polkadot masks that there was any progress in the case.  Slouch hats and polkadot face coverings had been used in the robbery.  The boys were playing with the slouch hats at school, and someone from the school noticed them.  Police staked out the area where the items were found, and when the thieves came back they were arrested.  Three men were arrested, but the police were sure there was at least another accomplice.  The were able to get his information from a photo they found with a girl and four men.  Turns out they were a criminal group from the Spokane Washington Area.  Janitors from Brown Elementary found the mail in the attic of the school.  The mail was missing anything of value.  Four men went to jail but one later escaped and lived in Canada.  He was not extrdited because they locals liked him.  

I would recommend this article for reading and for the pictures.  Brown School was at 19th and U.  It has since been demolished and the area used for parking for the middle school across the street.  The boys and the janitors shared in the reward.