The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-22
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ROBBED.
Numerous Complaints at the Union Sta
tiOn Are GrOundless.

The special police officers at the Union
Station feel that the general public is
being misinformed as to the robberies that
are reported to occur there. Some time
ago a green country youth was feeced
out of $50. The Union Station officers
claim that the man lost his money on Iii
nois street near Washington. The victim
went to the Union Station and there made
known his loss to one Of the station Off
GERS. The police station was notified that
a man who was at that time at the Union
Station had been robbed Of his money. The
report then went its rounds that a man
at the Union Station had been fleeced. The
station officers claim that justice is not
given them for what they do. They cite a
number of cases.
Last Monday afternoon a woman, who
said she had just arrived from Rossville.
ILL.,, came running into the station pell-mell
and said that some one had stolen her
pocketbook, containing her ticket and $23.
The officers were Immediately all atten-
ton, and one Of them rushed out into the
shed. He saw the train bound out for
another division, but by hustling and
shouting succeeded in having the engineer
stop the train The officer went into the
coach, as directed by the woman, and
found the pocketbook nesting close TO the
SlQe OF the al III II seat. a
look on his face he slowly made his way
TO the woman, who was anXiously awaiting
his appearance. and said as he handed her
the pocketbook, Madam, there are worse
women in this country than those of In
diana" The officer felt that such a stock
of femininity was foreign TO this State at
On another occasion one Of the officers
was standing at the south door congratu-
about over when he felt a faint attempt at
a strong rasp on his shoulder. He looked
around and saw a woman whose race was
managed to tell the oficer that while wait
ing for a train in the ladies' waiting room
she fell asleep, and on awakening found her
pocketbook missing. The officer went to
where the woman indicated that she had
been sitting and found the pocketbook ly-
ing on the seat. This woman. however,
was a lady. She begged the officers pardon
and acknowledged that she Ia been too
hurried. Early one morning last week a
long, lean countryman was seen entering
the front door. He sat down In the second
tier of seats and almost Immediately, fell
asleep. The officers were standing In a
group in the other end of the general wait
ing room, and noticed him as he entered
and also as he dropped asleep. Better
keep our eyes on him." remarked one of
the officers, 'for If We don't he will make
are said to make life a burden at the sta
ton for the general travelling public" The
officers laughingly conceded with this re-
mark, and all agreed to keep their eyes
open. However, an incoming train called
them to their duties. and the countryman
was forgotten for the moment. When the
caller was singing out the departure Of the
train he was startled TO hear some one
shouting in an agonizing voice, II have
been robbed" He saw that the cries came
from the countryman. who was wringing
his hands and vociferously bewailing his
fate. The officer went up to him and with
difficulty learned that the man had been
touched for his pocketbook containing
$40, as the victim claimed.I The officer
started to investigate. when a small col
ored boy stepped up to him and said: I've
just found a pocketbook. Maybe you know
who il belongs to-" The countryman heard
the drift of the remark and rushed up to
the boy and said: Gimme the pocketbook.
I'll bet it's mine The boy held. the pock-
etbook out in his hand, and the country
man recognized 1t at once. He rushed for
ward and grabbed it. The officer asked
the boy where he had found il. The boy
pointed out the place where the country
man had fallen asleep. well. said the ofl-
Ger, turning to the countryman, you fell
asleep and the pocketbook fell out Of your
pocket. You awoke. and. not finding II.
1 were you ] would give this boy some
thing for finding it. ard remember when
you come to this city again don't bring
any money with you If you intend to go
TO Sleep"
said: well, III be hanged He thought
a mOmsnt, then dived down into a pocket
and fshed out a dime, which he handed to
the boy, with the remark: II got out of
this kind O. lucky"
superintendent Zion said yesterday that
such incidents numbered at least twenty-five
every week. He said that he had investi-
gated matters since the opinion got out
that the Union Station was an easy place
to be buncoed out of your money. and had
found hat there are less robberies at the
Union Station than in any railroad sta
ton of anywhere near its size i'm the coun-
fENT