The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-02
HE WAS AFTER $500
A Daring Attempt at Robbery in a
Dark Alley.
FRANK RICE is ARRESTED
Bob MCGOWAN, a Faro Game Pro-
prietor. Has a Close Call. but
His Money and Life
Are Saved.

A remarkable daring attempt to hold
"a man up and a fusillade of pistol shots
between the footpad and the man
whom he attempted to rob created a
furry of excitement in West Broadway
between Hamilton and Academy streets
about 4 O'Clock yesterday morning. The
robber was after a rich stake. and he
played a desperate game, but lost
through what might almost be called
an accident. Frank Rice. the stage
manager at the Casino theater, is un-
der arrest charged with being the lead
ing spirit in the attempted robbery and
while the police are satisfied that he
was the principal party in the attempt.
they are equally confident that he was
not alone In 1t.
Bob MCGOWAN. who is one of the pro-
prietors of the faro game at the corner
of Ga1ena and Main streets. was the
man against whom the attempted rob-
berry was directed. and he would have
been about $500 poorer IL 1t had proved
successful. MCGOWAN rooms in the
Holmes house in West Broadway, al
most directly opposite Maguire's opera
house. and he reaches his room through
a side door on the west side OF the
house and about 40 feet back from the
street To get TO this door IL is neces-
eary to pass through a dark and mar
row passageway between the Holmes
block and the adjoining building on
the west, and a small woodshed almost
opposite the door offered a convenient
Hiding place to anyone having dishon-
est inclinations toward any person en-
tering the building through the side
door. When MCGOWAN closes up the
game in the morning he has been in the
habA of putting his money in a small
satchel and carrying II to his room.
He has always been a little suspicious
of the alley adjoining the house on ac-
count of its favorable location for a
holdup. and he always had his hand
on his revolver when he went through
st.
MCGOWAN closed up, as usual, about
O'Clock yesterday morning and started
for his room with close to $500 in his
satchel. He got to the alley all right,
but just as he was about to open the
hall door he heard a sound in the wood
shed a few feet away and his suspi-
cions were instantly aroused He
watched the shed closely for a moment,
but saw no one, but before opening the
door he took the precaution to cock his
revolver, and II was fortunate that he
did 80. As he opened the door and
stepped inside, one of the robbers, who
had been concealed behind the door,
jumped out and knocked him down
with a heavy club, stunning him mo-
mentarily. AS he fell. however. the
half involuntary pressure of his finger
on the trigger discharged the revolver,
and II was this shot that saved his
money. and perhaps his life. Knowing
that the report would alarm the police.
the highwayman jumped over his in
tended victims body and ran back be-
tween the buildings into the alley be-
tween Broadway and Granite streets.
MCGOWAN regained his senses an in
slant later and, running out, he sent
two or three shots after the fleeing
form, which was quickly vanishing in
to the darkness of the alley. The rob-
Der stopped long enough to fire one shot
IT. return and then started to run west
in the alley. None Of the bullets took
effect, although there is no doubt that
both men meant business when they
fired
The first shot was heard by half a
dozen policemen and they all located II
very closely and started out to investi-
gate. Officer Renaud was walking
up Montana street at the time and he
turned into the alley that the robber
had taken and started to run east.
The footpad saw him coming and he
turned into a passage way near the
Paragon house and ran back to Broad
way. A few seconds later officer Bal
disero saw Frank Rice running along
the middle OF the street in front of the
Zazerac saloon and he at once ar
ItSAtu MN. 1kltt was OUT OF DTedIn ana
greatly excited. but he claimed that
he had heard the shooting from his
room In the Morier block. at the cor
ner of Academy and Broadway, and
had gone out to see what IL was about
While he was being searched for a
gun. Officer Gabert came up and re-
marked that he knew the man and
that he was stage manager at the Ca
sino Rice insisted that he had simply
gone out TO see what the shooting was
about. and Notwithstanding mis- ex-
citment and other suspicious indica-
tons he was turned loose. A moment
later Officers Renaud. Barnaman. New
strom, Anderson and Crawford came
up and on comparing notes IL was
agreed that Rice was one of the high
waymen. Two OF the officers imme-
dlately went up to his room I'm the
Morier block after him. and although
he had been turned loose less than
five minutes before he was apparently
so sound asleep that the officers were
unable to arouse him. After pounding
at his door for several minutes they
were compelled to get one of his
friends to awaken him. He was locked
up at the county tail and a charge OF
attempt at highway robbery was en-
tered against him. The officers then
made q search Of the alley and found
a 41-caliber revolver near where the
fugitive turned down towards Broad
way. Two heavy wagon spokes. which
had been cut OF so they could be con-
veniently used as clubs. were found
close TO the door at which MCGOWAN
was assaulted. MCGOWAN started to
chase his assailant down the alley,
but after running a few steps he hap
pened TO think that his $500 satchel
was lying Just inside of the open door.
where IL fell when he was struck and
he went back after II.
Rice was arraigned before Judge
Turner yesterday afternoon and gave
his true name as Frank Hawkins He
entered a plea Of not guilty and asked
for an early hearing. so that he could
prove his innocence and reinstate him
self in the community. His examina-
ton was set for next Tuesday after
NOM at 2 o'clock and he furnished "A