The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-16
ROBBED HIM OF OVER $4,000.
a RAILROAD PhTMAS7ER KNOCKED
sENsELEss By TWO THIEVES.

Il Wa, Early In the Day. and Nobody W"s
Near TO Help Mr.. Drake Protect his
Property and Person-Tho Robber" Lay
Him Low. Take the Cash from H's
Handbag, and CooTy Walk Down Eight
Flight. or stairs-Police Find no Clue.
CHICAGO. Nov. 15-Daring robbers beat the
Treasurer Of the Indiana. Illinois and Iowa
Railroad into insensibiity this morning ana
got away with something over $2l.ooo In
cash.
The victim was John A. Drake. 80 years old.
son OF +. M. Drake, President and builder OF
the "Three rs" road. The crime was COM
mtted in the company's office on the ninth
floor Of the Rookery building ono block from
tho Board OF Trade. It was an easy matter
for the thugs to make their escape from the
great building. which 10 practically empty OF
tenants at z A. NJ. the hour at which tho
robbery was committed.
The money taken represented the semi-
m onthly pay roll OF the company. Mr.. Dreke
intended to take the 1880 o'clock train on the
Nickel Plate for Knox. Ind. the eastern ter
minus OF the "Three Is" from which point
he has been in the habit Of working to the
western terminus at Streator. Ill. with his pay
car It had been the custom Of the company
TO pay Its employees in checks. all payable to
bearer at the banks on the line. Afterward
change was made to part checks and part
cash. 1t was suspected that dummies were on
the pay roll and the last change to paying IN
currency led to the discovery OF two dummy
employees.
Tho custom OF paying only in cash had been
in vogue about two months, and this fact must
have been we'll known to the robbers. ihey
we're also familiar with the Treasurers move
ments at the time he started out OF Chicago on
H. drov ha amount OF the pay
roll from the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank
Yesterday afternoon, and made up the S2l.0oo
IN envelopes for dstributionto each employee
These envelopes were placed in the safe Tor
the night. and nothing was disturbed when
Mr.. Drake came to the office o little before
o'clock.
He walked up the nine flights OF stairs. as
the elevators were not running. he hao ar
ranged with T. P. Shouts. general MANAGER OF
tho road. who is a eon-in-law OF Presidens
Drake. to meet him below. Tho two officials
r sbout so went Sens. and the rst exPana
ton he received as to his brother-in- laws ab-
sence was telegram Notifying MIN Vi lilo foo-
Mr. NJ. Drake says he had Just put the money
R 'Se WEN he sezsa With yfsl H.
ssas aw over 4 pshs TEMPLE With
slung shot. As he staggered the ro6b ,I VINO i
ns r s h I'D s stra s he
time the robber with the slung shot hit Drake
again over the forehead telling him to the
The robbers then abstracted the package Of
just outside the vault walked down stairs
been seen OF them since. and the police have
no clue which promises ahythne t praEe ,eis
the KEY on the outside. which Chiet inspector
the least"
crnwlod TO the office door which is next to the
one in which the vault Ia built. and sat on the
floor In a dazed condition against partltlon.
Mail Carrier Charles DAILY was dropping Ieti
door he discovered Mr.. Drake. and alarmed
tho janitors and elevator men;
The victim did pot THINK ne n 6e osea na fhe
robbers snatch the money from his bag and
could only family describe the man who had
used the slung shot. He waited In the ofhce
Until his clerk came ana h at he to% Inv story
to Inspector Shea. Then he went to the Piaza
Hotel. where he resides, he carefully avoided
newspaper reporters, His injuries are not SO
at Centreville. Ia. and reward will be offered.
The clerks were nut to work at once making
out bank checks to duplicate the pay roll and
the company will not be embarrassed by the
robbery. " -,
Drake was undoubtedly hit with some
disco Grafton OF his forehead: and he was also
hit on the II his is bpa b tn9 eo
intimately acquainted with the companys
custom In paying its men,.
1T saems to be a bona fde case OF robbery
without clue so far as we have gone say
the detectives working on tho case.