Evening journal., 1895-10-08
HELD UP A TROLLEY CAR
Some Perils of Street Car Travel
In the Wilds of Chicago.
PASSENGERS ROBBED AND BEATEN,
Five Masked aud Brutal Desperadoes
Looted Twenty Passengers of Their VAL
uables In tho Regulation Train lsobber
Style and Escaped by Team.

~ AaAt ANkNisAAA'H AAtAA h'o'NA
Style and Escaped by Team.
CHICAGO. Oct s.-A North Shore cleo.
lric car, filled with passengers, was held
np" by five masked men near Edgewater.
Ono passenger was shot in the side, three
we're beaten with revolvers, and all were
robbed. The robbers escaped in a surrey.
1t was o'clock last night when the car
left tho "Limits' barn on the trip to
Evanston. In a lonesome spot between
Argyle Park and Edgewater, Motorman
Merriman saw "a party Of men by the side
OF the track. They signaled the car TO
stop, and Merriman obeycd the signal
Thorc wero 20 passengers on the car, sew
en- of them womon. The car was brilliant
ly lighted with electricity Two of the
men jumped on the front platform and
three on tho rear.
The passengers had just time to observe
that they were masked and armed when
one Of tho robbers cut the rope that guides
the trolley on the wire, allowing the troll
ley to fly up in the air This not only cut
of tho power, but the lights also
The women began screaming One Of
the robbers took the center of the car and
said, I'm kill the first person that steps
of this car or makes any resistance"
Then turning to the women, he said,
Just stop this screaming right here, or
you'll get hurt. The screaming stopped.
All the Passengers Robbed.
One robber remained on tho rear plat
form and kept guard over the conductor,
W. Gs Osborne. Another was on the front
platform guarding the motorman. The
remaining threo began work on the pas
sengers
Thb robbers were small in stature but
their weapons wero full grown. One by
one the passengers were forced to give up
their watches and money. One man lost
$3.50 and gold watch; another, $40, an
other $50 and the remainder various sums,
ranging down TO 81.
Thomas b. Nesbett, one of the passen-
gers, objected to being despoiled and was
struck a violent blow in the mouth. He
struck back at the robber, but the fellow
lodged and, pressing his revolver against
Nesbett's side, fired. Nesbett fell over on
the seat and offered no further resistance.
The shooting aggravated the panic. Two
women began screaming and were slapped
across the face Tho robbers did not cease
work ON account Of the shooting
Two more men were encountered who
objected to losing their property, and they
were hit over the read with revolvers. The
wounds bled freely, and one of the men
tainted
81 told you fellows what you would get
II you tried TO get gay, - said one of the
little bandits. I'VE are going TO got your
stun II We have 70 kin you TO get it. Now,
ladies, hand out your purses and jewelry."
The purses We're handed out likewise
rings from fingers Ono woman had but
cents and her wedding ring and she
was told to keep them.
You have overlooked this. " said one
Of the robbers, plCoking diamond pin out
Of a woman's collar after she had handed
over purse ana a diamond ring.
n. O. 6. johnson Of Galesburg, Ills,
railroad man, got mp in his scat and pre-
pared TO resist. He was struck on the
head with tho handle of revolver, and
then the muzzlo Of the weapon was poked
iuto his eye The result was two deep
cuts that soon drenched him with blood.
Then the robbers took SIPS gold watch
and $40 in money from him.
A. g.. Westorman was struck on the
head for refusing to give up his money.
Aftcr being wounded he submitted TO
search.
Car Held For Ten Minutes.
While the passengers were being robbed
the fellow on guard over the conductor re-
liovcd that worthy Of his watch and
money. Tho motorman told his guard he
had nothing but a silver watch and was
permitted TO keep it. The men held the
car about ten minutes.
just as the robbery was finished one Of
the passengers slipped off the car and
started ON run down the track. The
robbor on guard over tho conductor level
ed his weapon at the fugitive and then
dropped it, saying. No d-n him, I'll
let him go. He may have a family"
Whom tho work was completed, the
men ordered the conductor to climb up
On the car and get the trolley rope and
put the trolley on the wire and go ahead
with the car, but the conductor could not
.each tho rope The robbers then dropped
off the car threatening as thoy departed
10 kill the first person who left the car.
They walked south on the track and were
seen to jump into a surrey and disappear
With the assistance of the motorman
the trolley connection was then made, and
the car was again Illuminated. The floor
and seats were stained with blood. Nes-
bett was bleeding profusely from tho
wound in his side and cut on his head,
Johnson and Westerman were covered
with blood
The car was run to tho Edgowater
barns, where an alarm was sent out.
The robbers got about $780, a dozen
watches and a collection Of rings and
minor ioweliy.
Captain Schuetler sent 20 officers out
after the robbers, but they have not yet
been taken. The men were masked with
handkorchiefs.
Tho shooting and most Of the smuggling
was dono by the smallest man, who was
dressed in light ovorcoat and black
slouch hat.