The last major American train robbery was attempted on November 25, 1937 on a Southern Pacific Railroad’s westbound Apache Limited out of El Paso, Texas. The crime was committed by two young men — Henry Lorenze (22) and Harry Dwyer (27). Lorenze was born to German immigrants in Manitowoc, Wisc. When he was 6 years old, his mother died, and his father remarried a year later. In 1936, the family moved to Chicago, where Lorenze’s father purchased a shoe store. However, 21-year-old Henry was restless, and after just a few months made his way to Brooklyn, NY. He found work in a factory, where he met Harry Dwyer, who shared his interest in the American West. As the pair dreamed of riding the range, gunfights, and rescuing fair damsels in distress, they soon decided to make their dream a reality. After saving nearly $200, Lorenze and Dwyer purchased two old-fashioned six-shooters and a couple of train tickets and boarded the Southern Pacific for El Paso. About 30 miles west of El Paso, Lorenze drew his pistol on the conductor. Meanwhile, Dwyer pointed his six-shooter at passengers, demanding cash and valuables. When one nervous passenger, Jose A. Rodriguez, made a sudden move, Dwyer panicked and shot him. However, the bullet hit Rodriguez’s pocket watch, saving his life. Hearing the shot, Lorenze ran back to help his partner and was tackled by an off-duty brakeman. At this point, 20 passengers attacked both men, punching and kicking them in a frenzy. The beating resulted in a broken nose for Dwyer and left Lorenze’s left eye hanging out of its socket, his jaw swollen to twice its size. The would-be train robbers were then tied to the seats. Upon the train's arrival in Hachita, New Mexico, Lorenze and Dwyer were arrested and charged with train robbery and murder. The pair were sent to Las Cruces to stand trial, where they were found guilty and sentenced to 50-75 years in prison. On Feb. 6, 1945, both men were granted conditional releases by Gov. John J. Dempsey. Nothing further is known about either man.
