The herald., 1893-09-22
A LOCAL EVANS AND SONTAG
Two Masked Men Rob a Main
s Street Store,
And Succeed In Seriously Wounding
Police officer Lennon.
One of the CoIdsst Affairs on Record
Hamer's Grocery Store on Main
Street the Scene OF an Ex-
.f citing Episode.

known to have taken place In this city
occurred last night at Hamer's grocery
store, on Fifteenth and Main streets, the
affair eliminating in the shooting OF
Police Officer ]. Lennon and the escape
Of the robbers with nearly $50 in cash.
The proprietor of the store, ]. N.
Hamer, was sitting at his desk about
$50 talking to two friends who were
standing close by him.
Mrs. Hamer was in another part OF the
store which consists, in reality, OF two
separate buildinge, with two entrances.
Mrs. Hamer heard the door creak sew
eral times, and, thinking some boys were
larkina outside, went toward the door
and called out: "Be quiet. boya.y
The words had hardly left her mouth,
when two men entered; their faces were
masked, and each man held revolver
in each hand.
Mrs. Hamer opened her mouth to
scream. but thought better OF it when
one Of the men pointed his revolvers at
her head and eaid in q low voice: III
you scream III blow the top Of your
head off !"
Mrs. Hamer did't scream, and the
men pushing past her made their way
into the part Of the store whore Hsmer
was seated.
With an oath Mr.. Hamer and his two
friends were ordered to hold up their
hands.
It was few seconds before the startled
men could take in the situation, but
the masked intruders admitted of no
delay, and the three pair OF hands coon
went skyward.
In the meantime Mrs. Hamer had
fed out OF the back door aud was
screaming murder at the top of her
-oice.
Hamer himself was at that time open
ing the cash drawer, after which he
was ordered to stand on one side, one
man holding the drop on him and his
friends while the other went through
the till.
The money had no sooner been re-
ceived than cry was heard outside OF
police, and the thieves hurried to the
door.
Police Officer Lennon had just crossed
the road and reached the curb in front
of the store when the smaller man OF
the two came ont. Without any warn
ing he drew q revolver and commenced
flying. Lennon backed couple OF steps
and drew his pistol. At the second or
third shot the officer felt stinging pain
in the upper part of his left leg and real
lied that he was shot. He than began
shooting In good earnest, firing
four shot before his assailants disap-
peared. As they disappeared in the
darkness the second man fred twice at
Lennon, who luckily escaped injury.
All the a-ailabie men in the police
force were Immediately sent out.
After the shooting the men were eeen
to enter q single horeed buggy, which
stood ready waiting, and drive off. The
horse was seen by lady, who states the
animal was bay. -
Officer Lennon was driven tpkhs re-
ceiving hospital, where DR.. Bryant at
tended to his wound which, although
necessarily painful, WAS not dangerous,
though had the bullet. which was fred
from q 32-caliber pistol, entered half an
inch lower down it must have severed
an artery, which would probably have
resulted fatally.
Lennon could give no description OF
the robbers beyond the fact that one
was about six leet tall and slender,
while his companion was short and
thick-eet. is9l agceeaas,
II was the smaller man whosdid the
shooting. s 5s,-I.s5
Chief Of Police Glass was commune
Gated with. and after learning the facts
ordered double team and started out
himself in pursuit.
Oficer Lennon had narrow escape
from death, az he was only five feet
from his sssailant at the time the latter
opened fire.
The officer, in spite of the odds of
four guns to one, stood his ground, and
is Of the opinion that he hit the smaller
man, ,as bicyclist informed the police
that he passed two men in a rig and
up, I'm shot,"
Lennon, who has been on the force q
short time only, has earned the reputa-
tion Of being hard worker and prom
ising officer. IS.