The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-25
A DESPERATE GANG
That Held Up Georgia Merchant and
Postmaster.

postmaster.
From the Atlantu (Gd.) Consultation.
ROME, GA, Nov. ga very bold and
daring robbery was committed late last
night at Little Row, just over the line, In
Gordon county. a young merchant, W,
h. Blankenship, was the victim.
/ Mr.. Blankenship keeps the postofiice In his
store at Little Row, and does "a large mer.
camille business Late last night he left his
store and went home and was preparing &C
retire when some ons called for him at the
gate. He went out aud saw three men
family in the darkness. They told him
that they would like to get into the store to
buy some flour and meat.
Mr.. Blankenship frequently goes to his
store after night and thought the men were
some of his customers. It was too dark for
him to see their faces as he went with them
to the store. He unlocked the door and
they followed him inside.
He lighted lamp and turned round 20
wait on his customers when he looked into
the muzEle Of three revolvers He stood
with his hands In his pooksts
Throw up your hands" came the husky
command.
He took in the situation at glance, held
all his money and with the dexterity of a
slight-ot- hand man he slipped it from his
pocket and threw il behind the counter as
his hands went up. The robbers, who wore
black masks but whose hands showed them
TO be- white men, then proceeded to bind
Mr.. NBlankensnip with a rope HIS feet
were tied and his bands bound behind him
and negllgs shirt was tied over his face as
he was 8 retched out on the floor. The rob-
beers cursed him and kicked him several
times in the side until be cried out with
pain.
"Dont you open your - mouth )" said
the same husky voice, cor Wen blow the
life out of you"
''Do it anyhow" said one Of the Others.
for dead men tell no tales"
Mr.. Blanke ship begged them to snare
his life. He told them that they could do
what they would with him. but would gain
nothing by it as they could take all OF his
money. They left him and plundered the
store. They went into the postufflce and
secured large lot of postage stamps and
other things. In the drawer they found S6
In money. They filed several sacks with
goods, and when they had secured all they
could take they turned BIanksnship on his
face ana looked him In the store.
After several hours OF fearful struggling
he loosed bis bonds and recovered his pocket
book, which the robbers had walked over
several times, aud then made his escape
from the building through back window.
de collected a posse and went in pursuit Of
the robbers. MIR. Blankeuship said he
recognized two Of the men and the posse
proceeded at once to the house OF George
Green, farmer living near Plainville He
was called out Of bed and arrested. A por-
ton of the goods we're found in his house
They went on TO PlaInville and attempted
TO arrest Ben Morrow, who was housed up
IN the fodder loft at his fathers place. He
had his goods packed up with him, aud
armed with two big pistols, he held the
posse at bay until daylight
The crowd Of citizens increased to fifty
armed men. and these he kept at a distancs.
threatening to kill any one who approached.
Justice johnson telegraphed to Rome and
to Calhoun this morning for aid and by
noon Sheriff McGinnis Of Gordon and
Deputy Sheriff Mcdonnell Of Floyd were at
the scene. But when they arrived Morrow
had been persuaded to come down and sur.
render. He and Green were then put on
trial before Justice johnson, aud were then
carried to Calhoun and put In Jail,
Deputy Mcconnell returned to Rome
and arrested Henry Leake who works at
the saw-mill in this city. He confessed
taking part in the robbery aud delivered a
lot of the goods to the officers. He was
lodged in Jail here tonight, aud will be
sent to Calhoun tomorrow.
The officers are sure that they are the
three who held up the Western and At
lantio train recently at Adarsville.