The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-12
ROBBERS MAKE BIG HAUL
THEI RELIEVE TWO MEN IN CAR
OF $4,000 IN COIN


Covering Their Victims with Kcvoivers
They Have Been Tracked to San Frnu-
cisco, Where All Trace I. Lost.
SAN Francisco June 1.-The boGost rob-
berry every committed in this neighborhood
occurred this morning across tho bay in Oak
land. when two men in crowded car were
robbed of $4,000 In coin which they were
taking to the Judson Iron Works to pay of 400
workmcn.
The coin was in the possession of Secretary
Gibson and Bookkcercr Mortenson of the com.
pany, who started with it from San Francisco
on the IL O'Clock boat. They occupied seat
in n car on the Berkeley train next 10 the bng-
gage car.
AS the train slowed up at b sire =. two men
entered tho front door. walked down the aisle.
stopped suddenly before ellison AMI Norton.
son. presented pistols and demanded the bags.
Gibson and Mortcnson had thrown over the
seat in front Of them and Laid the sacks cons
tanning the coin on the scat before them.
The two men occupied one scat, and tho coin
was perhaps two icct from them. There were
other passengers In the car. Gibson was rcud-
ing newspaper. and was taken completely ~
| surprise. The two mon had the pistols pointed
in their faces simultaneously With the demand
for the coin
The train started almost Immediately, and
ing ellison and Mortenson with their pistols as
they escaped Pandemouium Immediately
reigncd in the car. Every one seemed to lose
his head. ellison went out on the platform
and emptied his revolver at tn, fleeing rob-
bers. one passenger said that the smaller Of
the robbers staggered after this firing. but this
part OF the story was unconirmed.
The robbers had provided themselves with q
buggy drawn by a bay horse in which to es-
cape. Into this they stopped and drove rapidly
away. AS far as could be learned the train
did not stop. neither did ellison and Morten-
son jump from the train to chase tho fugitive
robbers. but they both continued on to the
| next station. where the Judscn Works are sit
| uatcd. Everybody at the comDany's works
| was ratified. and valuable time was lost In
| notifying the police.
| A small boy who was playing ncar the sta
! ton said tho two men had been waiting there
| for several hours. One had his face partly
| blackcned. He saw them leap from the move.
| ing car. run to buggy. and drive Off rapidly,
| The mon were afterward traced to ferryboat
| to this city.
The extraordinary feature OF the case is that
| though both messengers were armed with re-
| volvers. they failed to jump from the car and
pursue the robbers. They were evenly
matched. and could probably have prevented
| the robbers from escaping If they had shown
any nerve. The money taken was $4,000 in
| gold and 81 600 in silver. 1t represented Q
| fortniGhts wages Of 400 men.
| The theory Of the police Is that tho robbery
was committed by discharged employees who
knew all about the time when the money was
| transferred every two weeks. A confederate
/ was doubtless on tho car with the messen.
| gers and siGnalled to tho two robbers. who
clambered into the car and took the coin.
Later details of the robbery show that tho
| two men had iron nerve. Charles Hill. the
| boy who was present when the train stopped.
says:
81 was down on the beach all the morning
and noticed horse tied to q pole. He was
! there at o'clock and maybe earlier. but I
| don't know who brought him there.
| when the train stopped the men jumped of
| with the bags. and q man on tho train shot at
| them. Thoy didn't mind tho pistols. but put
| the money in the buggy Tho black man put
in the two sacks. while the other unlitched
| the horse. The black man seemed very
weak when he lifted in tho two sacks. but
don't think lie was scared / saw man shoot
from the train and us the robbers started to
| drive of the man with n black !aco fred n shot.
| When they got to Hannah street saw three
| men chase them. and they then whipped the
| horse. ,, Before. though. they were going
| slowly
! The buggy was driven to the station early in
| the morning md was hitrh"d toan electric light
| wcr. around the station as the train pul lod out
| saw the men aigh. zach Of them had II bag
| in his hand.
One, OF the men had his face blaakcned and
| wore blue ovela!ls aaU a Irmi"r. while the
| other wore | luc trousers and II du~t"r. When
| they, aightPd from tn" train they walked
| Huic KY to the busy and stated to unhitch
| tho horse.
| The bugtv was found later hitrhcd in Oak-
| land. The sides had h,r'. covered with Sheet
iron 80 as to Guari against bullets IN ease the
John il. Wh.r!,,r 81 Nclrose Station was sit
| ting Il few scat, iciu,i secretary Gibson lie
| had Il large sum on nm and when the order
put up your bands. = 'Itl"mra came. lie
| thought II was iu'"n ted for him. Tho money
| no had In his possession was also to Jay OH
| wagewo.kcrS III hi, muuui&"tory nj Malros''.
" was 80 taken ~ SURPRISE said he. that
| ! did not know what ! va doing. The men
| stood in front "f NJ. 'ill-nn ami four res
volvcrs covered INN ard Mr. Moltcuson. The
| weapons s"oWo! u1iy . bo IL l0p' AVA
| I'm take these -, II Won pirnar. said ono
| Of the robbers. aud s"l2ine them he walked
| out Of til. tram. lE"Oihrr man backed TO tho
| door and then !ag. While mai KING Tor the
| buggy OH ON began to fire. think one otths
| men was ht.
Tho ear was crowded with people. and they
| seemed spri.hul.ni until tur Grin. conn
N need. NV th"n II Sr'mm'l n though rtndn-
| mOnium had leon let loose. The women
thought the rob Dcrs w"re lirluG i',,r til train.
| and most Of them got aDHn ~ l.r Il Dor and
| began t. -rr ara, hey 'umblrd over each
| other in ,n.ir bury IT out and a!tos ether
| things wore very lively FOR time