Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-01-05
SWEPT AWAY.
They We're the Sweepers Who
Sweep.ed In
A spare. Built Man and His Bundle OF
'.Tin"...BOld Robbery I'm Day.
light-.. miscellaneous
Wickedness.

NEW YoRK, Jan S-Mr. Luther Church. is
sparely built man Of about 80 years, VINO
has for nearly twenty years been the superln-
tendent of George Dwight & Co.'S sofia fac
tory Mr.. Church is in the habit Of going to
the office Of the company on pay-days to get
q check for the amount of the payroll. lie
started down town for this purpose about
q, II o'clock. After attending to some other
business, he got q check for S2,Soo ut the
Office. This he cashed at the Chatham Ma
tional bank, 1875 Broadway, receiving SOU
in bank notes, the remaining $50 III silver
coin. For convenience in carrying the money
it was made up into single package, ana
cmpactly tied up in brown paper wrapper.
Mr.. Church took Second avenue Eieva-
ted railroad train and arrived at the One
Hundred and Eleventh street station at about
1:SOp. m. He was the only passenger who
left the train at this station. Almost at
head Of the stairway he cane upon man IN
a check jumper, who was industriousiy
sweeping the stairs. He looked like labor
ing man. Passing on down stairs, Mr. Cnurch
came upon another man, who wore check
Jumper, and, with few exceptions, looked like
the first He, too, hal a broom, with which
he seemed to be busy.
As Mr.. Church came within reach che man
threw aside the broom and snatched the
brown paper bundle of money. At the same
moment the other man, who had 1olioweu
Mr.. Church down stairs unnoticed, struck Mr..
Church on the head with a piece OF lead pipe.
Half stunned by the blow, Mr. Church saved
himself from falling by clutching the hanu-
rail. In the momentary chance thus given
them, the two men reached the street ana ran
to a butcher cart that stood III Eleventh
street., Just east of Second avenue They
Jumped in beside third party, who held the
reins. -~s
As the cart started down First avenue Mr..
Church cried out for help, and ran down the
stairs and through One Hun ired and EieV-
enth street after the rapidly moving cart,
shouting as he went Before he had travelled
more than half block the fugitives reached
First avenue and turn d the corner, gong
down town. Their pursaer had not sue
ceeded in attracting any ones attention TO
them. Mr.. Church tod his story
to George Keller, who harnessed
a feet horse to sleigh, ana
with the loss of about five minutes the men
drove on after the thieves. When they turned
into First avenue the hopelessness OF the
chase became apparent. The avenue was
full of vehicles going in both directions.
From several drivers they learned that the
butcher-cart had gone down, the horse be
ing dashed to full speed and making excel
lent time. By the time the sleigh reached
Seven+y-second street all trace OF the cart
was lost.
Mr.. Church said that he would never so
alone after the money again. He said that
since the Rupert robbery he had kept sharp
lookout, and was especially suspicious OF
butcher carts He did not see the cart until
after he had been assaulted and robbed. His
head was not cut or marked by the blow, and
no serious injury was done him. The mems
faces seemed TO be familiar with him, but he
was unable to place them. He thought they
wore railroad employees. The planners OF the
robbery must have watched him very care
fully for long time.