The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-05-22
RONDO STREET OFFICERS CLEVER,
LY CAPTURE A BRACE OF
HIGHwAYMEN.
EACH HAD A GUN AND A MASK,
WE'RE LYING IN WAIT FOR VIC
TIM WHEN POUNCED
UPON.
THEY ARE MINNEAPOLIS MEN,
Believed to Be Two of the Three
Who TerrOrized the Hill Mon
day Night.

George Harris and Frank Hill are locked
up at the Rondo street station. They are
supposed to be two of the trio of footpads
who held up three st. Paul citizens within an
hour last Monday night.
The two prisoners are tough men beyond
question; and the police say there is not the
slightest doubt but what they are the "gun
grafters" for whom the law has a rod In
soak.
Harris and Hill were captured while lying
in wait for victim, and were rounded up by
as clever a piece of police work as has been
done anywhere. Capt. Lowell and his Of
fcers have good reason to congratulate
themselves on the quick success of their ef-
forts. and deserve a great deal OF credit for
last nights work
For several nights back half a dozen Of
fcers have been detailed In citizens clothes
to patrol the hill district The territory was
so divided that no two would cross each 9TH
er. yet all would be within hailing distance.
After the encouraging hauls made Monday
night the robbers evidently considered II
the part OF wisdom to lay low until the ex-
citenent had died out Hence the waiting Of
fcers did not even get a glimpse of their
quarry until last evening at 10:30.
At the hour named Officers Smith and Mey-
were near the corner of Grand avenue and
Avon street. They noticed two men walking
north. block away, and at once began TO
shadow them. When Harris and Hill reached
the corner of Avon street and Ashland avenue
they lay down behind tree on the grass be-
tween the sidewalk and the curb. The place
whereon they lay is slightly raised above the
sidewalk, and from this vantage point they
had clear view in four directions.
When they planted themselves they evil
IDENTIFY did not notice Officers McHaIe and
Schillngs, who were leisurely approaching;
or, II they did see them, the highwaymen
were going to let the two pedestrians get
right up to them pass them, before calling
halt. One of them had partially risen and
the other one resting in handy position
arm, that he could spring to his
feet in moment. No doubt it was surprise
that prevented them changing their positions
when. the two officers quickly stepped from
the sidewalk and accosted them.
What are you fellows doing here?" asked
McIale sharply he laid hands on Harris.
Just resting responded the thief but be-
fore he had finished his answer each of the
officers had safe hold on his man McEIale
taking Harris and Schillngs grabbing Hill.
Instinctively the officers put out hand to feel
for guns in the pockets of their prisoners.
And they found Just what they expected.
Harris had a 38-caiber bulldog revolver
fully loaded. in the right hand pocket OF his
coat. Hill had similar weapon in his hip
pocket. They collapsed soon the shoot
ing irons were taken from them; but as soon
as these had been safely put away McHaIe
noticed something about the neck Of Harris
He reached for II and pulled out a mask
which tied in such manner that It
could be instantly raised to cover the upper
part OF the face. While McHale pulled the
mask up over Harris face to see how It
looked Schillings was looking for similar bit
OF paraphernalia on Hill. He found II in
coat pocket. 1t was exactly like the one
Harris had; In fact, the two masks are but
two halves of woman's stocking First the
foot and upper part OF the stocking were
cut Off then it cut in two lengthwise
Pieces Of stout strings were tied onto the ends
and fitted to the head They are primitive
affairs. but quite handy, because they could
be SO easily dropped under the chin and
slowed out of sight.
Just as the footpsds had been landed by
McHale and Schillngs officers Smith and
Meyers Joined the group, and the prisoners
were questioned. Harris did most of the
talking. He attempted to brazen 1t out by
saying they had just been taking a walk
Then he claimed to have been visiting an
uncle, but his yarn incoherent. He
said he lived upper Jackson street but
wouldn't say where. Hill claimed to reside
ION the hill" but did not attempt TO To-
cate his domicile.
The badly wanted pair was marched down
to the Rondo station, where Detective Swee-
ney sized them up as Minneapolis thieves
In their pockets were found poker chips
marked Browns, and there is such a place
in the Mill City. They had no money worth
mentioning and very likely they have gam
bled away what they secured from Messrs.
Warner, Angel and Harper Monday night.
If they are the men who did the work Mon
day night.
Both prisoners are smooth shayen, though
in need Of the services of barber. They
are intelligent looking, and wise enough to
talk very little. Hill is apparently about
thirty to thirty-ive years old, and stands
fully six feet high. Harris is only OF medium
height but he is an athletic, determined
looking chap.
When they were locked up Hill undressed
ana lay down, but did not go to sleep. He
lay on his back with the bed clothes pulled
up under his chin, staring through the bars
al the hickering gas Jet. In the next cell
to him was an uneasy party who had evil
IDENTIFY been drinking so much that he was In
clined to be cranky when woke up. Across the
narrow aisle Harris had thrown himself on the
bed without removing even HIS coat or shoes.
He lay on his side. with his Derby hat partial
ly covering his face. When spoken to he was
"Gead to the world" and not word could
be gotten out Of him.
Lieut.. Pendy very much regretting
last night that they had not also caught the
third robber. He Is thought TO be the one
who welded the sandbag and billy" that
knocked out and badly injured J. r. Warner.
The gentlemen who we're held up and rob
bed Monday night will be asked to take
look at the two prisoners this morning. for
purposes Of Identification. Fortunately. the
masks can be put on. and thus rigged out the
men will not be able to escape Identification,
If they are really the ones wanted, and no
person who saw them last night seems to
have any doubt ON this point. 1t is hardly
likely that the men will be arraigned in court
today. as they may be prevailed upon to
tell who the third man is.