Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-11-18
ATTACKED BY ROBBERS.
THUGS PLY THEIR TRADE IN THE
VICINITY OF MILNESVILLE,

On Thursday Evening "saIem" Dougher-
ty Was Waylaid and His Watch and
Money Were Stolen-An Unknown Man
Assaulted the Same Night.
The gang of thugs who have of late
chosen the territory surrounding Latti-
mer and Milnesville as the scene of their
operations, notwithstanding the vigil
ance Of the authorities, have not vet
been brought within the province of the
law. At about 7.30 O'Clock on Thurs
day evening, according to the Hazleton
PM1n Speaker, as a young man named
Smith was working in his fathers stable,
he heard some one say outside, to the
rear, Il have no money and can't give
you any; If had, l would" Immed-
atcly afterward, there was scuflle two
or three shots were fired, and man was
heard to utter cries for help. Young
Smith, fearing to venture out, but fully
realizing that fight or disturbance of
some nature had occurred, rushed to the
house and related the circumstances to
his father. The latter at once went for
help. A party was organized and
search commenced. Behind Smiths
stable, after searching the place with
the aid of lanterns, a plug hat, with two
holes on each side, and blood stains in
each one, was picked up. Blood was
also discovered on the ground. The hat
gave evidence of some struggle. The
finding of the blood-stained hat gave the
searching party an intimaton that some
one had been victimized in that vicinity
and the man who wore the hat was then
looked for. But after a careful investi-
CATION, no traces of the person were
found.
The man assaulted, it is supposed
stepped from the electric car at z or 2. 80
o'clock, and then made for his home at
hollywood. Because it was pay day at
that place that day, gang of fellows,
who are thought to have committed as
saults of this kind before and who are
supposed to lie in wait regularly every
day for the commission of such offenses
as these, secluded themselves along the
road, bent on holding up whomever they
suspected of carrying money. At half
past seven it is pitch dark and when
this man walked past the spot where the
gang was secluded they jumped out
there are supposed to have been three
fellows-and commanded him to stand,
with "hands up" AS the man had no
money, which young Smith heard him
say, the gang evidently became enraged,
and, to avoid detection, assaulted him.
1t Is not known who the man is.
This does not end the nights record.
Shortly afterward, "Salem" Dougherty,
of Milnesville, was made victim of the
same fellows, it is surmised. Mr.. Dough-
erty, who worked all day, strolled out
after supper toward the Mountain
House, and while returning he fell into
the hands of the highway robbers, who
mstook him possibly for man from
Hollywood. Before he had time to cry
for help, he was struck on the head with
some blunt instrument, telling him to
the ground. Having been beaten into
semi-inScnSbilty, the thieves ransacked
his pockets, stole his money and his
watch and then ran away. He was
found some time afterward, and taken
to his home in Minesville, where, after
recovering from the strain, he was able
to state what had happened.
Another searching party was organized
and the surrounding country secured for
the robbers, but they had fled and were
out of reach. Mr.. Dougherty is a well
known gentleman of Milnesvile. A
vigorous investigation will be made to
apprehend, if possible, this gang of
thugs.