Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
A BOLD ROBBERY
lexington and Soldiers Home Rail
road Office Robbed.
At THE MUzgLE OF A REVOLVER
Superintendent Bubb Has an Un.
pleasant Experience.
Fl o W 1T W A S DO Y E

Detective Boyd and Policemen Brown
and O'Dea of the ninth precinct are in
vestgating what is reported a bold
"hold-up' crime even more daring than
some of the similar crimes committed in
New York during the past few months.
This robbery, involving only about $500, is
reported to have occurred about 80
o'clock this morning in the office of the
lexington and Soldiers Home railroad,
corner of 18th and d streets northeast.
The night superin tendent Mr.. c. w. Bubb,
was the only man on duty at the time, al
though three of the change boys were
asleep on the floor in front of the office in
room through which the bold criminal
had to pass in order to reach the office
An hour after the occurrence Supern-
tendent Bubb called up police headquarters
ard Informed SerSt. Perry of what had
happened, and about 6 o'clock the officers
Went out to make an investigation. Later
they were Joined by Detective Boyd and
a consultation with Bubh and some OF the
railroad officials was held
Bubo told his story of the "hold-up' and
robbery to Star reporter. The Office is in
the corner room on the ground floor and
the conductors hand over their little bags
OF money and tickets as they turn in their
cars for the night. Each conductor has
about Si0 in money and tickets his own
property, for this he is required to have
by the company, in order TO make change
ana keep a supply of tickets hand.
These bags are turned into the Office for
Sate Keeping, and the company is responsi-
Die TO the drivers for their safe return
1wenty-nine conductors had turned III
ana the horses attached to the last car had
been put away. The curtains at the several
windows had not been drawn, and 1t was
the easiest thing in the world for the SUD-
erintendent to be watched from the outsl,,e
whiie ne put the money in the cash drawer
The three change boys, or the boys who
drive out the horses to be changed. Charles
GantZ, Harry Best and a boy named Colds
borough, were asleep on the floor in the
front office. They had finished their labors
late at night and were due at ) O'clock SO
they concluded it was not worth while to
return to their respective homes, and were
satisfied to sleep on the bare floor
The Robbery.
Il was seated at the desk" said Superin-
tendent Bubb to Star reporter, when the
man came in the front door. The door
leading to the office from the front room
was open, and the stranger came in. When
ne entered the front door / got UP to walk
to the counter, but he did not stop outside
Entering the office he asked if he might
use the telephone, and L told him he could
AT that time" continued Mr. Bubb Il
Was between the desk and one of the safes
ana the man, drawing a big revolver and
pointing it at me, said: sit down and fold
your arms. I'll attend to the rest And he
did attend to it. / sat down and crossed
my arms, and when one arm slipped he
said: See here, young man, keep your
arms folded or I'll blow out your brains
Then the man went to the drawer and put
tNenty-six of the bags in his pocket and
left. When l could collect myself l went
out and aroused the sleeping boys They
were so sound asleep that l had to kick
enc OF them to arouse him. I sent over for
Mr.. Baird and also notified the police"
MIR. Bubb says that the robber was not a
tramp by any means He wore good clothes
and was apparently young man who was
wearing false gray whiskers. The pistol
the robber had, he said, was a very large
one while he CBubb) was not armed There
was an old pistol in one of the two iron
safes, but he could not get it in time to be
of any service.
The money was mostly in small change
and three bags were left in the drawer
In the next drawer there was a roll of bills
about 500, but the stranger did not look in
there, nor did he make any effort to omen
one of the safes.
Charles Gantz, one of the change boys,
who was sleeping in the room was first
questioned by the police. He said he saw
the man when he entered the room and
saw him go through the do, to the office
where Mr.. Bubb was on duty. Then he
said he heard voices ana thought he heard
the stranger say, keep quiet" This boy
gave the police a description of the robber
similar to that given by Mr.. Bubb Later
in the morning the boy changed his mind
about the story ne had told.
Il didn't see any man. he said, "and
didn't hear any voices. / believe 1 Gid
fear somebody walking, but l didn't know
anything of the robbery until Mr.. Bubb
called me and sent over for Mr.. Baird
who has charge of the place in the day
time. That was about q half hour after IT, e
man robbed the place"
The other boys were questioned. and they
said they knew nothing of the affair until
Mr.. Bubb called them
The railroad stables and Office, at the cor
ner Of D and 18th streets, are the only build
ings on the square. On the opposite corner
there is small grocery store, while vacant
lots surround the other parts of the square
There are no street improvements about the
stable building worth mentioning, except
what have been made by the company, and,
with one man in charge of the place, and
not even armed it is easy matter for
thieves to rob the place. Policemen in that
section are few and far between, and the
railroad men say they sometimes do not see
an officer during the entire night.
Superintendent Arrested.
Later in the day the officers held con-
sultaticn with Secretary Gray of the rail-
road company, and Mr.. Bubb was taken in
custody to await developments. He was
taken to the police station, and later this
afternoon he will be taken to police head
quarters, where Inspector Hollipberger will
interview him.
Tne railroad Of1lC1alS nave every coGf1-
dence in him, for he has been in the en-
pIoy of the company for several years. For
a number of years he was in the employ of
the Belt Line road.
The police attach some Importance to the
fact that the superintendent made no re-
sistance, and waited so long before he
made complaint.
Policeman Browne said this afternoon that
he had no proof against Bubb but arrest
ed him because of the alleged suspicious
circumstances. He says he is certain that
the robbery was committed by some one
acquainted with the workings of the office
Presented to the President