The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-30
AUDACl0US BANDITS.
A COLORADO MAN IN SORE PERIL.
Robbers Wiring $4,000 from Charles e.
Willis at the Point Of a kevolver-He is
Slugged, Chloroformed and Forced
to Write for More Money.
IDnnYer NaWRl


century, with its electric lights, well.
organized police, and spirit of law and
order second to none in the United States.
This gentleman, whose name is Charles E.
Willis, states that he came to Colorado
last June from his home near Adrian,
Mich, with view to engaging in mining,
II he could find suitable investments for
few thousand dollars, which he had accu-
mulated by life of thrift and economy.
He visited Georgetown, Leadville and
other mining camps, and acquired inter-
ests in property near these places which
have occupied his attention ever since,
until the rigor Of the winter in the high
altitude proved too severe for his constitu-
tion, already impaired by the toll of nearly
sixty years, and he determined to come to
Denver for the winter. With view
to this end he wrote to his wife to
sell the property and join him with her
young daughter In Denver. She realized
about $4,000 from the sales of their effects
and arrived in Denver Sunday morning,
the 10th inst, bringing the money with her.
Mr. Willis had renewed his acquaintance
with several gentlemen who had formerly
resided in and near Adrian, among whom
was A. II. Russell, Esq, well.known in this
city, and Mr. Russell invited him to bring
his family to his house until he could make
satisfactory arrangements for permanent
residence. Sunday, the day of his wife's
arrival, was spent quietly at the house,
No. 16l Washington avenue, and after
supper Mr.. Willis came down TO the st.
James Hotel, where he expected to meet a
gentleman who is interested with him in a
mining enterprise. The gentleman failed
to keep the appointment, and after waiting
an hour or so Mr.. Willis started for home
few minutes before nine o'clock. The
night was dark and cold, and he walked as
briskly as the slippery condition of the
pavements would permit. He met the
usual number Of pedestrians along Six
teenth street, and crossing Broadway he
walked rather more slowly up the hill on
East Sixteenth until he reached the vacant
lot just beyond the residence of Mr.. Charles
b. Kountze. There the trees grew close and
tall along the sidewalk ON the one side and
a high fence incloses the lot on the other.
Mr.. Willis states that he was walking along
in q rather abstracted frame of mind,
thoughts Of oftheevening's business pleasant
ly commingled with the tender cares which
his wife's arrival had awakened. when
about the middle Of the block he received
a crushing blow on the back OF the head,
knocking him completely senseless. When
he recovered consciousness he found him.
self in a rude shanty with bare floor, un.
planed board walls, and a canvas roof
like tent. A small stove furnished heat
for the room, around which were seated
four men wearing masks which complete.
ly concealed their features. The light
furnished by candle set on table at one
end Of the room was insufficient to enable
him TO obtain good view of their cloth.
ing, but 1t was such as is generally worn
by miners and the laboring classes. Mr.
Willis was tied hand and foot and weight
attached to his neck so he could not raise
his head. Ho detected the odor of chloro.
form on his beard and clothes and felt a
nausea that told the story of his uncon.
scious moments. He lay quiet for few
moments and then TO his awakening con.
sciousness the pain in his head, caused by
the blow he had received, became so great
that he moaned with pain. This brought
one Of the men to his feet, and he united
Willis hands, gave him cup of water
and made his position little more com.
Portable. In return for these little atten.
tions he placed paper and pencil before
Mr.. Willis and demanded that he should
write note to his wife bidding her send
him S2 1000 at once.
The unfortunate man pleaded and pro-
tested, but without avail, and finally under
the threat Of death, backed up by cooked
revolver, he wrote note to his wife, at
the dictation Of one OF the men, of which
the following is a copy:
DENVER. Ool., Dec. TO- 1881.
my DEAN WIFE: Please send by bearer,
who Is trustworthy party, 5000, which 1
need 70 complete Il transaction. Don't be un.
easy u do not return until tomorrow morn
Ing. Your affectlonate husband,
"CHARLEs h. WILLIS"
Mr. Willis states that one Of the men dis
appeared with the note and, after an in.
terval of about two hours as nearly as he
could guess, returned with the money, The
money was counted out in silence on the
table and then divided into two piles. At
this juncture they seemed to recall TO
mind his presence, and one OF the men
whispered n few moments to the Others.
and then Mr.. Willis was gagged and blind.
folded and lifted, all bound, into a vehicle
which he judged to be a spring wagon.
The horse was driven rapidly for an hour
or more and then stopped, and, his bonds
and gag being first removed, Mr.. Willis
was placed on his feet In the middle of the
road and told he might go. Before leaving,
however, the leader Of the party told Willis
that II he made his loss public or Informed
the police he must be prepared to take the
consequences. Then they drove off and
Willis at random took the opposite direc.
tion, and with much difficulty reached an
outskirtof town, which, by his description,
must have been the Highlands. He finally
arrived at Mr.. Russell's residence ON
Washington avenue and immediately
took TO his bed, where he has remained ey.
er since. He does not appear to have been
seriously injured by tho blow, but Is suf.
fering from nervous prostratlon and anxi.
ETY. OF mind, caused by the loss of his
money. Mr.. Willis inoxperience with the
ways Of city and the bewildering
strangeness of his adventure, added to the
natural timidity Of his age, restrained him
from taking any steps toward the recov.
cry Of his money until Thursday, when he
put the matter In the hands OF n private
detective I'm whose ability and discreet-