My Present Past
A genealogical experience
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Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
This is the third Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe depot at Argentine, which was completed at the end of 1907. The
first depot being rebuilt after the 1903 flood.
Standing from left to right, Edward J. Engel, Charles Aiken, J. B. Smith, unknown, Tom Kirtley and unknown.
1911 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Western Lines Pass
1911 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Western Lines Pass back
1911 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Eastern Lines Pass
1911 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Eastern Lines Pass back
On December 28th, 1911 at the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe depot in Argentine, E. J. Engel and two Santa Fe
agents, Samuel Fleetwood and Frank Perney, subdued William Smith a suspected safe robber who had arrived
from Olathe, Kansas on the local train, #1811

Read below the accounts of this event along with the original telegram sent by the Olathe, Kansas
Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe depot.
Above:
The original telegram sent to the Argentine depot, notifying them to be on
the lookout for a suspect in a safe robbery in Olathe.

Right:
The newspaper article describing the events of the safe robbery and the
apprehension of the subject at the Argentine depot. After detaining the
suspect he was found to have in his possession a large caliber revolver that
was loaded, a sword sewn into his coat, a bottle of nitroglycerin that fell onto
the platform of the depot when they fought with him, dynamite blasting caps,
fuses and plumes. He also had currency, numerous jewelry items and several
pictures of girls and women that were taken in the robbery.

After being arrested and returned to Olathe officials, William Smith was
charged with 7 counts of felony burglary and larceny on December 30th, 1911.


Left:
Criminal appearance docket for William Smith
Background:
1907-08 Topeka Plug at Argentine, Kansas
Amos Beeler, Engineer