The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-03
SWEPT AWAY.
They Were the Sweerers Who
Sweep.ed In
A Spare Built Man and His Bundle OF
"Tin"-.-B0ld Robbery In Day
light. Miscellaneous
Wickedness.

NEW York, Jan 3.-Mr Luther Church. isa
sparely built man Of about so years. who
has for nearly twenty years been the superin-
tendent of George Dwight & Co.'s soda fac
tory Mr. Church is in the habit of going to
the Office of the company on pay-days to get
a check for the amount of the payroll. He
started down town for this purpose about
IL o'clock After attending to some other
business, he got a check for $4,000 at the
office. This he cashed at the Chatham Ma
tional bank, 1876 Broadway, receiving 8, aaoo
in bank notes, the remaining $50 in silver
coin. For convenience in carrying the money
it was made up into a single package, and
compactly tied up in brown paper wrapper.
Mr., Church took a Second avenue Eleva-
ted railroad train AMI arrived at the One
Hundred and Eleventh street station at about
100 p. m. He was the only passenger vino
left the train at this station Almost at g
head of the stairway he came upon man IN
check jumper, who was industriously
sweeping the stairs. He looked like labor
ing man Passing on down stairs, Mr. Church
came upon another man, who wore check
jumper, and, with few exceptions, looked like
the first He, too had broom, with which
he seemed to be busy.
As Mr.. Church came within reach tie man
threw aside the broom and snatched the
brown paper bundle of money. At the same
moment the other man, who had followed
Mr. Church down stairs unnoticed, struck MIR.
Church on the head with piece of lead pipe.
Half stunned by the blow, Mr., Church saved
himself from falling by clutching the hand
rail In the momentaTy chance thus given
them, the two men reached the street and ran
to a butcher cart That stood III Eleventh
street, Just east OF Second avenue. They
jumped in beside a third party, who held the
reins.
As the cart started down First avenue ar.
Church cried out for help, and ran down the
stairs ana through Oae-dunlred AMI Etey-
enth street after thu rapidly moving cart,
shouting as he went Before he had Travelled
more than half a block the fugitives reached
FIRST avenue and turned the corner, going
down town. Their pursuer had not sue
ceeded in attracting any ones attention to
them. Mr. Church told his story
to George Keller, who harnessed
a lIeet horse to sleigh, and
with the loss Of about i've minutes the men
drove on after the thieves When they turned
into First avenue the hopelessness of the
chase became apparent Inc 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
Seventy -second street all trace of the cart
was lost
SIr. Church said that be would never go
alone after the money again. He said that
siEce 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 kim. The mems
faces seemed to be familiar with him, but he
was unable to place them. He thought they
were railroad employees. The planners Of the
robbery must have watched him very care
fully for a long time.