Crime | luzerne

MAJOR CRIME IN THE HISTORY OF LUZERNE

The town of Luzerne has not had a lot of crime over the years. However, there have been several major crimes in its history.

Bandits Capture A Station

December 4th, 1893- Three men entered the Chicago and Northwestern station at Luzene early Saturday evening, and pointing revolvers at S.C. Thompson, the agent, and bade him deliver what money he had. He quickly gave up the express and railroad mony, and the bandits locked him in the freight room, telling him he would be killed if he made any noise.

In a few minutes the night operator appeared. He was robbed and put in the freight room to join the agent. A freight crew came into the station soon after and they were hustled into the freight room, minus their money and watches.

Then came one passenger, and another, and another. All were treated alike, and, after being relieved of their valuables, were put into the freight room.

When passenger train No. 8 arrived, the conductor found the three bandits in possession of the station. Suspecting that something was wrong, he ran back to the train and notified the passengers that a robbery was imminent.

Twenty men drew their revolvers to give battle to the robbers. The robbers, seeing the display by force, ran away. They had secured about $800 in cash and several watches.

The Robbers Were Caught

The 3 robbers were notorious criminals, who all had previously done time in other states. They were caught 2 days later by a C& NW detective and a Belle Plaine police officer after being holed up in a Kozta church.

Murder Near Luzerne

In 1940, August Nelson, an insane asylum escapee from Las Vegas held 4 adults & 2 children hostage for 12 hours. William & Arthur Knoke, father & son, and Mr. & Mrs. John Liddle & their two children suffered through the ordeal. In the end, Mrs. Liddle got on her knees & offered to pray for Nelson. She threw a blanket over him. Nelson shot through it, & the bullet passed through Mrs. Liddle’s body, hit William Knoke in the head, then hit Arthur Knoke in the heart, killing him instantly. Nelson then turned the gun on himself.

For other cases around Luzerne and Benton County visit the Iowa Cold Cases website at http://iowacoldcases.org/

A Blairstown Youth Committed the 2nd Robbery Within 2 Weeks of the 1st

Andrew Elder, 19, held up the depot at night, 2 weeks later. He ran east, and was captured in Blairstown, his footprints having been discerned in the snow. He was taken to Vinton by train to be jailed with the 3 previous robbers.

Justice Is Served

Justice was served 4 months after the robberies. Young Andrew Elder was sentenced to 3 years in prison. The elder 3, all of whom had several aliases, AKA Jim Martin, Jim McKinney, & John Conway were sentenced to 15, 10, and 15 years respectively, all to Anamosa. McKinney had given the judge a sob story that he was a miner, leaving a wife & 3 kids in CO. The judge found out later McKinney was a shoe-making bachelor. After being released, Jim Martin committed suicide in Milwaukee.