The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-23
THEY TOOK ALL.
A Sensational Robbery on
Union Street.
How Biood-Curdling Tales of Bad Bold
fiighwaymen Are Invented and
Circulated.

"Help! Helpl Robbers! Polieel Police
Policel"
Up went a dozen windows. and dozen
residents in the eighborhood Of Leaven-
worth and Union streets Tuesday night saw
solitary individual running excitediy about
the corners yelling at the top of his voice.
He looked down Union street and We
''Robbers" then ran up Leavenworth and
screamed "Police!'
Just then Officer Flannely, who had been
attracted by the cries, ran up and inquired
what the matter was.
'rve been robbed" shouted the terrified
individual. Two men stopped me, hit me
clip on the head with a sandclub and took
everything l had"
"What did you lose?" asked the officer.
They took 500 gold watch and chain
the only watch | had, aud 1t was present
and they got all my money"
How much money!?
IL had $50 10 gold besides some silver,
and they took 1t ALL" Here lie broke down
and blubbered Tuafully.
The officer led him TO the gaslight al the
corner and commenced examining his cloth
ing. The first thing that attracted his
attention was cheap silver chain across
the front OF his vest. He gave il a tug and
out came Waterbury watch.
''Well, they didn't get your watch and
chain, anyway" said the officer.
ION. yes. they did," grUaned the victim
''They took everything"
Yes, and here Is your money, too"
Flanneiy withdrew his hand from the
fellows rocket and exhibited 81 65-aIl he
had. "fou were not robbed at ALL" said
he. Indignantly.
II es / was. They knocked me down and
took everything had"
Where aid they hit you with the eIub?"
The fellow felt carefully over his head.
but could not ascertain just where he had
been struck. just then a neigbboring
saloonkeeper came up aud said the fellow
had just ieit his place half drunk and only
imagined he had been robbed.
That's the way II goes" said Flannelly
These daring robberies are reported at
police headquarters every day and make no
end OF trouble. IL / hadn't seen this fellow
be would have reported to the Chief that
he had been robbed on my beat, and the
amount he lost would have trebled itself
before he reached headquarters. would
have been put to no end OF trouble looking
up robbery that never occurred, and /
would have been accused by this man of
being asleep some where on my beat
~ GU have no idea how often these things
occur" lie continued, "aHd how little truth
there is in half the stories of robberies you
hear A few nights ago while patroling
my beat met a young fellow on Pine street
with terrible head on him. lie was cut
and bruised about the head and face, and
CbNcIcu WITH DiOOu. dSkeu Dlm what the
matter was. and he said he had been In a
fight on BarDary Coast and q couple Of
founders had beaten him.
THE next day it was a robbery, and half
the people on my beat were talking of il.
The young fellow had gone home, and being
ashamed to tell his old mother the truth re-
lated a blood-curdling story Of the manner
in which he had been attacked and beaten
by two footpads, but had finally escaped.
or course she told the Eeigbbors, ana the
news spread half the length OF Leayenworth
street.
'0ne night last week young man ran
up to me and said two men had attempted
10 rob him at the corner of Suffer and HYDE.
L ran down that way 10 see If | could see
two suspicious characters anywhere On
the corner / found Officers McGrath and
Leonard. When / told them what / was
looking for they beth burst out laughing.
The young man had been walking up
Suffer street when Leonard, with his star
in full view, stepped ont from the shadow
of building 10 the edge of the sidewalk
The pedestrian stopped. Leonard called to
him and assured him that everything was
all right, but he turned and dashed down
Suffer street Ii hadn't met him he w ould
probably have been running yet
when you hear Of a robbery you want
to learn the facts before you believe IT, fer
large proportion of the crimes repor ted
were never committed. And IL is truly
wonderful how stolen property grows in
value aiteri 1t gets into the hands OF thief"