The Portland daily press., 1883-07-27
ATTEMPTED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
a Portland Merchant Taken for Bur.
glar.

Yesterday morning story was current that
the police had captured the gang of burglars
who have been holding carnival in this city.
Investigation showed the report was incorrect.
The story probably grew out of the following
incident.
A merchant of this city went down to the
I. II o'clock train Wednesday evening to see A
friend off for Bangor. On his way back from
the station beautiful English setter took
fancy TO him and insisted on following him
When the gentleman reached the CITY Hotel
he met an officer, we'll posted about dogs who
told him he thought the dog belonged to an
other merchant whose name he mentioned,
and said he thought the owner would be very
much grieved at its loss In the kindness Of
bis heart the merchant, who had found the
dog, concluded, as ii was not II o'clock, to
take the animal home. He reached the house
OF the dogs presumed master, which was not
far from Park street, and pulled the door bell.
Several applications of bell were required be-
fore window opened and female voice ask
ed what was wanted The merchant explain
cd and the voice requested him to wait
moment, The merchant waited. Five, ten,
n1Leou luluutcS pdonCO auu tklc ulcfCuduL tulQh-
ing time enough had been given for the family
TO dress, pulled the bell again. As he did SO
hack drove up to the door at a furious pace,
the hack door was flung open, and police
man springing out seized the merchant with
the remark, "Now we've got you, come along,
The merchant objected. He was not aware OF
committing any crime to call for his incar-
ceration, but the police were obdurate. Luck
lily policeman who belonged ON the beat came
along, and inquired what the matter was, at
the same time recognizing the merchant.
When the affair was explained he said, "Whyl
you are all out. This is Mr.. -, of the firm
of -" The policemen then stated that the
people in the house had telephoned the station
that burglar was trying to get in and asking
for help, and they had arrived just in time to
see this gentleman leaving. The matter was
satisfactorily explained, and yesterday morn
ing the family which had been so terrorized,
discovered their mistake and apologized hand
somely to the merchant.
Wednesday morning, we are told, about
o'clock, Mr.. Haunatord who resides on the
Ocean House road, about two miles from the
city, was crossing Portland Bridge on his way
MIDTOWN when two men sprang at him, and one
seized him, while the other grasped the horses
bride. AT the same time Mr.. Hannaford
struck the man who had seized him causing
him to loose his hold. while, with the whip he
cut his horse, a spirited animal, who sprang
forward knocking over the other rascal. The
occasion for Mr.. Hannafords presence on the
bridge at that early hour in the morning was
caused by sickness in his family and he had
come to the city for medicine. AS soon as he
secured the drugs Mr.. Hannaford got police
men to drive back across the bridge with him.
MIR. Hannaford had fallen from load of hay
that morning and badly bruised himself, and
what with the sickness in the family, and at
tack of the robbers, thinks he had his share of
Calamity for one day As the highwayman
seized him he sang out "Hand over your
money d-n you."