The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-20
THEY wERE TALKING o. HoL0UPs

THEY WERE TALKING or HoLDUPs.
And Timely BobBer Dropped In and
Showed Them All just How 1t Felt.
Five men were held up 10y one man the
other night. III happened about 1890 in
John Cr0wls saloon. The highway lyman
was masked about the face with piece
Of black muslin. He secured S16 and 4
revolver. Mr. Cr0zvl, John Pierce, Jo-
seph and James Broughton. and Abe
Harms were having social game OF
cards when the stranger stealthily ap-
peared at the front door with the com
mand.
Throw your hands up. andif any one
Of You make move I'll blow the top Of
your head Off ard he emphasized his
remarks with a cooked revolver pointed
directly at Mr.. Cr0wI
Ten hands quickly pointed heaven
ward. The next came, 0w walk up to
the bar. one by one, and empty your
pockets.
The men fumbled through their peck
cts and produced knives, keys and a few
dollars IN change. Addressing Mr..
Crowl. he said, Take your wallet out Of
your inside pocket and place it on the
bar" 1Ir. Crowl said he had no wallet,
and then De was told to take his vest of.
bus the robber found nothing.
'sLet me see your watches" he next
asked, "and don't any Of you make
break" The watches were produced.
But they didn't suit the robber, and he
gave them back.
Addressing Is pc Harris, he said, ssTake
your coat off which request was COM
piled with. and while the robber was
searching this Harris put both hands
thoughtlessly in his hind pockets. s-Take
Or It'll blow your head offt commanded
the stranger Now take your west
or he demanded
s'Iy west. What's that2" asked Har-
ris ~0h. your waistcoat lie means,
said Pierce.
The rob6er 5ound IS cents on Harris.
and he asked lim what his occupation
was. II ann 2 miner, he said. and the
thief gave him his 80 cents back. saying
he didn't want IT. s.And what's your oc-
cupauons he asked of James Brough-
ton. Pm miner too you're 9
liar said the thief. Mr.. Broughton Is
q grocery man
All this to9s some time, and the men
were getting tited with their hands held
up. Pierce -ssi3 that he was tired. and
clasping his hands he rested them ON his
head.
Having searched the men to his salts
faction, he compelled them to stand
against the wall. He slowly backed up
to the end Of the bar, holding the pistol
b Crowl all the time. Going around
the bar, facing the men. he went to the
money drawer and pulled it ont from be-
hind with his left hand and emptied its
contents, about $15, on the bar Then
he went to a drawer at q writing desk
and took a Il cahber pistol There was
q box of So cartridges there, and though
they did not fat he filed the pistol just
the same.
t-Ain't you going to treat. partnersa
asked Pierce. The rObber promised to
call around again and treat. Fl don't
like to de this, gentlemen he sai8
.sbut L have toll" Then he came back
from behind the bar. locked the front
door. backed up the full length of the
saloon, taking the key with him. and
went out the back door. The key was
afterward found lie the back yard
aThe whole thing lasted about is min
utes. but it seemed like hours, said 8Ir.
Crowl
~ was awful glad to see him 50. He
was evidently new In the business. be-
cause he did not make as turn our pock-
cts inside out. IF he did. he would have
got S155 4 had ia purse in my pants
pocket, and be overlooked $50 I had ID
cigar box behind the bar"
James Broughton also had $50 in his
pockets. The robber seemed to banker
after the money drawer principally.
There are several other drawers Of the
same kind behind the bar, but the visitor
knew where the right one was.
During the evening the men had been
talking about holdups. and James Brough-
ton expressed a desire to see one just II
find ont how it feels. He has had the
experience now and says he is well salts
fed. The men are waiting for the fel
low to cali around and .'set 'em up.'s-
Butte l1Ion-l Inter Mountain.