Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-05

y VI
A Down-state Man Comes to Wilmington to
Look for Relatives and he has savage
Encounter with Outlaws on Water street
While walking About In the DRrk--In-
formation Lodged With the Police.
James f. Waller of Laurel, was held
up and robbed by two footpads at Water
and Orange streets, between and
O'Clock Friday morning. Although he
was not seriously injured himself the
highwaymen succeeded in getting away
with grip filled with razors, part Of
the clothing Waller wore, and all the
money no had about him.
Waller is a we'll known resident of
Laurel, this State, where he has a wife
and family now living. He is about 36
years Of age. For some time he has
conducted barber shop at Laurel, but
few days ago sold out, and Thursday
night left his native town, after telling
some friends that he was going to At
lantic City, where he proposes to re-
establish himself in business. He
boarded the Norfolk and New York ex-
press for Wilmington, where he intend
ed to stop off and see some relatives.
1t is learned that his main object in
stopping off here was to see an uncle,
Benjamin +. Wainwright, a farmer be-
tween Wilmington and New Castle.
The train arrived at French street
station at about 4. 10 o'clock, and Wal
Ter got of. As it was early he decided.
| to walk about until little later. when
he proposed hunting up his relatives.
After remaining in the station few
minutes he left and started down the
railroad tracks. I5
Waller had with him grip filled
with razors and other trinkete, and in
his pockets he had some money, but
| Just how much could not be ascertain
| ed. When near Orange street he was
approached by two rough looking men.
One he describes as being red headed
and the other had black hair and a
small mustache. One Of the men drew
a revolver from his pocket and pressed
it against Waller's cheek. The other
hit him a savage blow in the face,
which felled him to the ground, The
two highwaymen then went through
the PROSTATE mans pockets and took
all the money and everything else of
value they could find. They even
grabbed the collar and necktie from
his neck
After the footpads were satisfied they
had everything Of value that was about
Walters clothing they caught hold of
the yalise, tore II open and ran away
with it.
Waller was conscious all the time,
but was helpless to make any resist
ance, other than to call for the police,
which he did. As soon as the men
had left he arose to his feet and rnn
back to the Pennsylvania station. At
Front and French streets he saw one of
] mi nft m nh ha kaa la
told his story. 49,
Information was at once lodged at
police headquarters and officers all over
the city were instructed to look out for
the men. Six patrolmen were detailed
specially on the case at once, and a
search of the haunts about the coast"
was instituted. II
The highwaymen had ample time to
get a good distance away before Waller
had time to complain to the patrol Off
Ger, and the supposition is that they
succeeded in getting out of the city
For several years the coast has
been considered one of the toughest
sections of the city, and special force
of police is continually on the district,
and it is presumed that the men who
held up Waller had not only been fol-
lowing him, but had also been watch
ing the movements of the officers, for
there were no policemen very close to
Water and Orange streets when the at
tack was made. "
Waller was evidently not very famil-
lar with the city or he would not have
been walking aobut on Water street at
that time in the night
Waller's case is the first of the kind
that has occurred in the city limits
for some time. 1t is known that there
are lots of desperate characters prowl-
ing about the 'coast," but the excel
lent police arrangements have prevent
ed them from making such attacks as
the one reported Friday morning.