Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
ROBBED IN CENTRAL PARK.
A Strangers Adventure With Footpad.
New York Times

ROBBED IN CENTRAL PARK.
A Strangers Adventure With a Fcotpad.
New York Timcs,l
The danger OF rambling through Central
Park during the late hous was forciblv
impressed upon the police authorities by
| the experience OF Alvin l.. Smith, visitor
from Nebraska, who was shot and rob-
bed by highwayman in the Park on
sunday night. Mr.. Smith il well.to-
do businessman Of Falls City, Neb.. where
he keeps a carriage-factory. He Is about
thirty.tye years OF age am is married. Tall
and Of fine physique, he is more than q
match for an ordinary assaIlant. He came
East 10 visit his relatives in New lamp
! shire and his wiie's folks in Boston. On
Thursday night he arrived in this city
! from Boston and put up at the Harlem
House, a large clearinghouse at Third ave-
| nue. and ne-IIundred-and-Fi Fifteenth street.
saturday was spent by him in VISIT TO the
| Central Park, and he paid II a second visit
on Sunday, spending the afternoon and
| evening there.
The beautiful night tempted him 10 pro-
| long his stay there, and he was strolling
| through its mOonlit walks until nearly
| midnight. He was on the Ramble at that
hour. near the circle which opens into the
| Eastern Drive, at about Scyenty-nintb
street and Fifth avenue. He looked at his
watch. aud. finding the hour so late. con-
| Guided TO make his way ont OF the Park
and return home. The path before him
| was i'm the full moonlight. but he had gone
| only a few steps when the light was OBJ
| scurcd by the trets overhead. While he
was in darkness a man suddenly sprang
| from q clump Of bushes beside him and
n al 4 gAs.fr ina.
stranger said something which sounded 10
Smith like Good evening"" and Mr.. Smith
replied by polite "Good evening""
The stranger said abruptly: "IIave you
any money!"
"What the - i that Of your bust
nessr' replied Smith, who. according to
his own story. WAS not at all Disconnected
by the bighwayman in his path. The foot
pad whipped out a revolver and pointed il
directly at Smith. The latter, who believed
himself TO be abundantly able 10 cope with
his asSailant. threw out his left hand and
grasped the revolver, while he drew back
his right hand TO hit his assailant in
the face. As he swung himself for
ward for this purpose the revolver
was discharged and the bullet went
through his lett hand. The bighwayman
then sprung forward and bore Smith to
the ground. He tore open his coat and
from an inside pocket distracted red
leather wallet, containg 600. al the money
he had with him. The struggle here was
short but determined, and the footpad,
having secured the wallet. ran of with it
westward through the Park. Smith pur-
sued, Yelling like Comancbe on the war
path. The robber turned, and, in his flight,
fired four times at his puTser. One bullet |
went through Smiths hat, but did not |
wound bin. He felt the other bullets |
wbiZzing past him. but they went wide cf |
their mark, and he remained uninjurcd |
with the exception Of the wound in his |
left hand.
The pisto-shOtS and the wells OF Smith |
brought Policeman DriscOll and two Others |
Of the Central Park police TO the spot. Mr.. |
Smith said that they came very promptly. |
Within five minutes after the first shot was
fred the policemen were on the ground.
Butthcy lost time in questioning him. The
stupid policemen thought that Smith had
attempted TO commit suicide, and, before
he could get them to comprehend that he
Inn been waylaid and robbed, the footpad
haG made his escape. Smith was taken to
the Presbyterian Hospital. where his
wounded hand received proper care. lie
was then allowed to 20 his lodgings at the
Harlem House. To the police OF the Gem
tral-Park force and the Central-oflice de-
tectives who yesterday called on him he
gave very good description OF the man
who had assaulted and robbed him. De
tective Campbell, Of the Twenty-eighth
precinct, and several detectives specially
detailed on the case by Inspector Byrnes
were Yesterday looking tor the bold robber.
Last night Sergeant Flock, of the Central
\ o,l srie
Curry, who in many respects answers the
description given by Smith. Flock had
noticed the fellow hanging about the Park
for several nights. Last night Flock, in
plain clothes, with his gold wdtch-chain
well exposed. wandered about the Rambe.
Curry dogged his footsteps and managed to
get nearer and nearer 10 him at each turn
in his stroll. Suddenly Flock turned
around and found Curry at his heels.
lie bad stolen up noiselessly be-
hind him, and Flock seized him
by the throat and knocked him with the
buit.end OF his revolver. Curry cried:
IL didn't rob anybody here" He was
taken to the arsenal and thence TO the east
street pOlicC-stati0n. where he
was locked up as 4 suspicious person. He
will be arTaiened mt the Fiity-Seyenth
street Police Court to-day, and MIR. smith
will be asked To identify him il possible.
Curry SAYS that he is a folder employed in
The HtrdM office and lives at No. lis Chat
ham street. lie says lac knows moth
ing about the robbery. The reyol-
YER which Mr.. smiths a>sailant used
IN his attack was found at daylight yester-
day in clump Of bushes near the Ramble.
1t was bloodstained, from contact with
Mr.. Smhh's wounded hand. II is a cheap
seyen.chambercd weapon. Five OF the
chambers had been discharged, and the
two remaining cartridges were nicked
from contact with the hammer. showing
that an attempt had been made 10 fire these
cartridges. hut they had missed fire.
Mr. Smiths wound. though extremely
painful. Is not considered dangerous. 1t
will doubtless disable him for some week,
To come. The robbery has left him with
out means in this cry, and he has been
compelled 10 telegraph to his friends in
Nebraska for money 10 get home with. No
additional arrests had been made in the
case up TO midnight, aud the police au-
thorities OF the Central Park are pretty |
thoroughly convinced that in Curry they |
have the assaillnt Of the Nebraska carriage |