The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-07
Conductor !. F. Richardson Held Up,
Corner Ewing Street and
Seventh Avenue.
Two Pistols In His Face Sent Els
Hands Flying Heav-
onward.
The Robber Gets Money and Watch, but
Leaves the Chain 0n Hearing S0mO
One Approaching.


Ewing street, about three blocks north OF
the court house. The victim was Il. +.
Richardson, a conductor on the Montana
Central. His loss includes valuable, gold
watch, several dollars in silver and some
small! change. Considering the locality, tho
time of night, and the manner OF the
robbery, ii was one Of the boldest affairs Of
the kind that has taken place in this city
or state in recent years.
Conductor Richardson had only como in
from his regular run in the morning. He
had been down town at night and was on
his way to his home, 213 Tenth
avenue, at the time Of the robbery.
In order to reach there he went down Ewing
street, which is an attractive thorouohfnre
at any time. Nearing Seventh avenue he
noticed man standing back near the
stone wall at Alderman Gamers house on
the corner, opposite the residence of Col.
w. II. Sanders. The conductor thought the
mans position somewhat suspicious. but
keeping an eye on the fellow, walked by
him. As he did so the man called out
something which Richardson could not
distinguish. Thinking, however, that the
man had hailed him, Richardson exclaimed
"what's that?"
.'stop!'' was the sharp and only answer.
Richardson did so.
Hold up your hands!' was the next COM
mand.
| As it was uttered the man stepped rapid
| " toward the conductor and brought up
both hands. In each Was q murderous
realize what was going on, Richardson was
looking down the muzzles. Up went his
hands, "as hiRn as could get them" he
said, in relating the matter afterwards.
The robber then proceeded to 20 through
his helpless victim in true hiRhwayman
style. First he placed the pistol which he
held in his left hand to the back Of Rich
1 ardson's head, holding the mnzzle close up.
| Then he calmly put away the other weapon.
and with his right hand proceeded to hunt
for plumber In Richardson's trousers
pocket was lot of silver. In a iify this
was transferred to the clothing of the high
wayman. Conductor Richardson had heavy
\ gold watch chain which goes around his
neck, then through button hole in his
vest. The robber took the watch from
Richardson's pocket. and seeing that it
would require some engineering TO ges tne
chain off, began tagging att.
"HoId on.o said Richardson. 'If you
itW t"' 'n' 'na'D' 'AA'
The hiehwayman made no answer, but
unfastened the watch from the chain and
dropped the time keeper into his pocket.
The chain was left on its owner. whesneI
he had intentions of taking it too is known
only to himself, for at that moment the
footsteps of an evidently heavily built
man were heard approaching on Ewing
street.
"Go!' commanded the robber, still hold
ing his gun to the back of Rlchardsona
head and pointing down the street.
Richardson went. The robber went too,
walking down Seventh avenue toward Rod
ney street. He took the opposite
side of Ewing street, and few hundred feet
away met Reinhold Kleinschmidt who was
going into the details, Richardson told o.
the robbery. The two started of together
but Mr.. Kieinschmidt first took the precau-
tion to run into his house, which is on Ew-
ing street, near the scene OF the robbery
and left his watch and other jewelry ano
money there. Arriving at the scene OF sns
hold-up, no man was to be seen. Mr
Richardson and Mr.. Kleinschmidt ther
came down town and reported the robbery
to the police.
Conductor Richardson says the robbel
was not masked. and though there was NOT
look at the man and would know him again
if he ever sees him. The watch he lost cost
$50. The silver money, he states, did not
amount to over $4. He ie thankful t.
the hichwayman for leaving him his watch
chain, whether Intentionally or not, as II
was present from his mother and besides
being heavy gold affair and very valuable
has a value with him far above its intrin-
sic worth. He has, he says also somethine
of laugh on the robber. Had the TEL
low opened the conductors "inside pocket
OF his vest he would have found gooe
sized roll of bills.
The footpad is described as n Young
short and thickset man. will small nous.
! tache and about a weeks growthsOf beard
on his face. He was we'll dressed in darl
clothes and wore black slouch hat.