Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-02
LIE EAT MAN HAD PLUCK.

He Tackled the Stage Robber. but Go
No Help and Was worsted.
In 1878 Milo Hoadley was passen
ger on the Milton stage when it wa
held up by lone Italian highway
man. There were four or five pas
sengers besides Hoadley, all young
strong men, who would not like t,
see their names in print in connec
tion with this incident.
The Italian, tall. athletic fellow
stepped out from behind rock al
the foot of a steep hill, and levelina
shotgun at the driver ordered him
to stop and throw out the box. The
driver obeyed and handed the box,
which contained several thousand
dollars, to the robber, who took it in
his left hand and remarked that that
was all he wanted.
Hoadley looked at the robber and
said:
Don't you think you've got a lot
of cheek to hold up a stage with five
men in it2"
1t strikes me, replied the robber,
that you've got more cheek to make
any impromptu remarks on the sub.
ject when nobody has bothered you.
Have you got any money about
you"
"Yes, have" said Hoadley I've
got hundred dollars, but what of
itg'
Nothing particular. except l want
it, and will blow your head off if you
don't hand it out lively" And so
saying the robber sighted along his
gun barrel at Mr.. Hoadley's head
He looked as if he meant business
and Hoadley leisurely fshed out his
purse and held it out to the robber.
Hoadley sat on the front seat be.
tween the driver and another man,
and in handing the purse to the rob
Der he had to lean forward and
across the other passenger, while the
robber had to lower his gun, stel
close to the stage and reach up for
the purse with his left hand.
Just as the robber grabbed the
purse Hoadley pitched forward and
hurled himself upon the fellow, land |
ing astride Of him and bearing him
to the ground with crash. Hoad- |
ley weighed over 200 pounds, and the
italian had hard job to shake him
off, but HOadley was much the older
man and bis wind did not last long.
The struggle on the ground lasted
minute or more, and had the other
gone to Hoadley's assist
lnce they could have overpowered
md bound the robber without any
lifficulty. But not a man of them
stirred hand or foot to help the old
and in a few moments
he Italian got out from under him
md regained possession of his gun,
which he had dropped when Hoad.
ey fell upon him.
You are the checklist old man |
yer saw, said the Italian, as Hoad.
ey, almost breathless and wholly
isgusted, scrambled to his feet and
egan brushing the dust from his
lothes.
That's all right, painted the old
'but if any of those cow
rds on the stage had stood in, we'd
ave had you tied up and the joke
you'd have been on you"
Now it would be a fine ending of
his incident to relate how the road
gent, admiring the spirit and cour-
ge OF the old gentleman, returned
him his purse and punished the
owardice Of the other passengers
compelling them to give up all
leir money and watches, but high
'aymen OF that type went out of :
'shion long ago, and the cold, unro-
Iantic truth of the matter is that
10 Italian kept Hoadley's 800, didn't
'b the others and went away into
le brush with his gun and the ex
ress box.
The sheriff took his trail that same
ny and arrested him in wayside =
loon, but forgot to search him, and !
hen the robber was taken to Jail he
I'VE Hoadleys 800 to a lawyer to
'fend him. The Italian was prose
tied, convicted and sent to prison q
John Doe, and he never was iden-
he'd otherwise, and the express box :,
lat he stole was never found. San =
Examiner.