The Washington times., 1895-03-31
Four Desperate White Men De-
manded $4,000 of Him.
PISTOL HELD TO HIS HEAD
He Dashed the Weapon Aside and They
Dealt Him Heavy Blow on the Temple.
His Cries Frightened Them and They Ran
Away-He Fired Pistol After Them,
But Shot No One-Possible Developments.

Mr.. Robert A. Golden, the fish and oyster
merchant, started TO alight from his buggy,
at the entrance of his stable, in South Wash
ingtoD, few minutes after 8 O'Clock last
night, and was confronted by four desperate
highwaynen, who presented pistol to his
face and demanded his money.
The stable is in the rear of the Golden
building, large, four.story structure at
the corner of Tenth and streets southwest,
and is about fifty feet from Tenth street.
The contiguous streets are dark and gloomy,
being lighted only by few scattered gas
lamps, with their yellow, Pickering flames.
Mr.. Golden had been up town to his several
places ofbusiness and was returning withthe
proceeds of Saturdays sales, amounting 10
several thousand dollars.
The alley was as dark as Erebus as he
turned into it with his team, and he here
fore did not notice the forms of four men
lurking in the shadows of the building near
the stable door
He had just put his foot on the step or
the buggy to alight when one of the ljgh-
waymen said in o hoaTse whisper:
Don tholler. Imusthave your money
At first Mr.. Golden thought some friend
was playing prank on him. This beiIef
thrust pistol into his face aud three other
men confronted him and assumed threat
ening attitudes.
BRUSHED THE PISTOL. ASIDE.
AS quickly as possible Mr.. Golden brushed
the revolver aside and reached for his hip
pocket to get his own pistol. He got his
hand ON it, but the trigger caught in the
lining of his trousers and before he could
extricate the weapon, the men sprang at
him.
One OF them struck him heavy blow
over the temple with his revolver, while
the Others also struck at him. Mr.. Golden
then Justify shouted, Murder, policep' and
the three robbers fled up the alley toward
Ninth street.
With blood streaming from the cut over
his temple, Mr., oIden seized his pis-
tol, which had fallen to the floor OF the
buggy, and fired one shot at the fleeing
highwaymen-
His cries OF distress and pistol shot had
been heard, and Al Carter, the colored por-
ter for c. ii. PoEey, the grocer in the Golden
building, with others, came running TO him.
PURSUED THE RUFFIANs.
Policemen Coffin aud BaDnagan also
came on run and Started in pursuit Of the
ruffians, but they had successfully escaped
In the gloom Of the ulylighted locality.
Mr. Golden then went into his office in the
building and deposited the large sum OF
money from Saturday s GALES in his burglar
proof safe. 1t amounted, it is said, to some
thing over 81 600.
Sergeant Daley at once went to workonthe
case He thinks the highwaymen knew OF
Mr. Golden's custom OF depositing large
sum OF money every Saturday in his safe,
and that they laid in waitfor himlast night.
They are evidently noviceS in the foot
pad business, as the attempt last night is
regarded by the Fourth D recinct police as
a most bungling one. The robbers were
also aware, no doubt, that while they
were making the murderous assault Po-
liceman Coffin and Banegan Were turning
in at the patrol box, corner of Eleventh
and Water streets, several squares away.
Mr. Golden, who is sixty years of age,
is quite active. He says he did not get 4
good look at any OF his assailants, owing
to the darkness Of the alley. He thinks
the men intended to murder him If nee
essary, III order to secure the 81 600 he
had with him III the satchel 1t has been
Mr. Golden's custom to carry money IN
this manner TO his office, at Tenth and F
streets southwest, for years.