Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-04
HIGHW AY ROBBERY.
Last Nights Successful Affair."
Particulars Of the Assault Upon
George W. Smith.
Nearly $500 Taken from His

Nearly $500 Taken from His
Pocket.
$500 REWARD orEEREn.-
| last nights robbery. is the theme Of gen.
cral conversation to-day: The boldness Of
the operation and the success which attend
ed i, has excited the people to an unusual
degree, which is increased by the mystery
which surrounds the whole affair That a
citizen of Yankton could be knocked down
and robbed. upon a public street, in the
dusk of early evening, seems almost incom.
Iprchensiblc, but the feat has been accom-
| plishcd and George w. Smith is fifteen hun
ldrcd dollars poorer BY the unlawful trans.
faction.
4 We called apon Mr. Smith this forenoon
from the elisct of his hurts, but with his
mental faculties unimpaircd. His account
of the affair is that he started home from
his work in Sawycr's block, little after
five o'clock yesterday afternoon, with about
$500 in his pocket. He resides on Pine
street, between Third and Fourth. On the
way home he stopped at several places to
collect accounts due him, the last being the
Est. Charles Office, where he expected to find
man whom he was searching for. Fail.
ing, however, he departed for home, and
as lie was leaving the hotel the-locomotivc
of the incoming passenger train whistled,
which fixes the time at quarter before six
o'clock. Mr. Smith crossed Capital street
from the St. Charles TO the northwest cor
ner of Stones block, iron, whence path is
worn diagonally to the back gate of Smiths
lot. On the north side of Stones block Is
q wooden stairway, constructed on the out
side of the building, and open underneath.
For some time it has been MI. Smiths hab.
it to step under this stairway when passing
after dark (for purpose which may be in
ferrcd without putting it in words) and in
accordance With this custom he halted last
night. As he was turning into the accus-
toned place he received a blow which feAed
him to the ground, and the next thing he
remembered was that he was lying close up
to the wall Of the building in the darkest
corner of the stairway enclosure His first
act on recovering consciousness was to feel
for the envelope which contained his mon
ey. He had carried it in the left side pock-
ct of his coat, but his search for the pre-.
cous package assured him that it was miss.
ing. With difficulty he succeeded in getting
upon his feet and reaching his house, few
rods distant. From hero he sent word tc
the st. G1hurics and made known his loss
and the officers were Immediately apprised
of the affair. Alr. Smith did not see his
assailant- -or,assaiants and can give no clue
which will lead to their detection. Hit
first inIimation oT the assault was thezbfoW
be received. II was dealt with some sort
of a weapon which only Slightly bruised
his forehead and stunned d,<hm for few
robbers time to escape
with the money. There are two or three
slight cuts upon>his forehead in the edge O
his hair and nlc whole of his forehead j.
confused >ani sore. The appearance of hi
hurtsszzsi9e rise to TIE sppposition that Ii,
was struck with a heavy bag of SAND, tLt
fobject being not to inh.ct create: ininr, iriin
than was necessary TO disable him. The
blow forced the blood from his nose and
the ground where he laid was slightly col
ored from the eiIusion.
4 Yesterday noon Mr.. Smith drew from
Edmunds & Wynn's bank, on draft givcl
him by Mr.. Sawyer, s1,44G.9G. Thi
amount was given him mostly in green
backs Of the following denominations
$500 in 800 bills; 800 in $50 bills; $5O(
in $40 and $50 bills; $500 in So bills; sal
in II and So bills; and 9G cents in frac
tional currency. The money was done NJ
+ in packages of from sto0 to $500 and III
whole enclosed in long buff envelope, un
sealed. Mr.. Smith owed this money t
men in his employ and TO several merchant
with whom he had been dealing and h'
had notified them that he was TO have it OF
the LIST of January, but as Monday was til,
4 iirst banking day in the month he coul(
not draw it sooner So it was pretty gen
D orally known that he would have the mon
ey in his possession on Monday night, i'm,
il being talked of among those who were i
:. receive it, the supposition that other parties
! lieard OF it is notunreasonable Mr.. Sm.tl
says 1T is his custom to draw checks vile,
making payments, but on this occasion Ii
!, 'ook the currency with the expectation 9
= paying il over 10 men wAo needed it las
night
II no clue to the perpetrators Of the dee