The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-11

Chief of Police Pratt and the officers
| of the force are nearly at their wits
ends in an effort to capture the two
highwaymen who are standing people
up wherever they happen to meet them.
Three holdups had been reported since
Saturday night, and last evening
a fourth occurred. In this in
stance the highwayman evidently had
high regard for evening dress. for
the fact that the victim was so CARRIED
prompted them to let him go without
taking the 30 cents car fare which he
carried in his inside pocket.
The holdup occurred a few minutes
before o'clock, on A street, just above
First. The victim was r. V. Decker,
the head usher at the Salt Lake the
atre, who lives at 274 A street.
Mr.. Decker had just left home to go
to the theatre, where Loie Fuller was
to appear He was nearing First street
at a point shaded from the street
lights, and consequently very dark.
Mr.. Decker's mind was busy ruminat-
ing over the big audience he expected
to be called on to seat, and he did not
see anyone till suddenly two men
stepped from behind the trees and
stuck a couple of ugly-looking pistols in
a stern command to throw up your
hands,"
COVERED WITH A GUN.
Mr.. Decker complied with alacrity,
and while one of the footpads kept him
covered, the other proceeded to go
through him. He felt in the overcoat
pockets and found nothing. Then he
unbuttoned the coat and throwing it
back revealed white vest and evening
dress. Showing his hand into the inside
pocket of the overcoat, the highway
man drew out lot of silk badges
Chose worn by the ushers) and looking
at them, remarked to his companion:
"Oh, this ducks going to a dance, he
amt got any money" He showed the
badges back in the pocket and ordered
Mr.. Decker to ''mosey." And Mr..
Decker did mosey as fast as his legs
could carry him, to police headquarters
to report.
Chief Pratt Immediately dispatched
Detectives Sheets and Janney to that
quarter of the city and called in Officers
Hilton, Roberts and Wire and sent
them on a like mission in the hope of
bagging the rascals for the holdup oc-
curing so early in the evening and the
footpads getting nothing for their
pains, he felt confident they would re-
peat the operation. The officers covered
tic NllOlc northeastern part OIL the
city and kept uD their vigil till late
hour, but found no trace of the high
waymen nor anyone who might be sus-
pcted of having the appearance of one.
DESCRIPTION TABLES.
Mr.. Decker owned to being rather
badly frightened but was not so great
ly fiuttered that he failed to note the
general appearance of the men. II
was too dark to see their features but
they tally according 10 the limited
description he was able La give. Win
that given of the HO men who did
the previous jobs. One, Mr.. Ijecker
said, was of medium height anG Inc
other somewhat taller. Both wore
1vercoats with broad collars, turned up
around their faces and had on .,lcuch
lats pulled down over their eyes
The early hour at which the holdup
occurred, is evidence of the reckless
character of the men AMI because C it,
Chief Pratt is especially anxious &c rid
ne community of than and tbs MIN
ace thy are to it.
slr. Decker now declares he Will al
ways wear an evening suit when going
'ut after night, if it's to a prize fight.
NOBODY SAFE.
During the search made by Detec-
ives Sheets and Janney. an incident
which illustrates the danger
my person may be in who appears on
he street at night when such opera
ions are going on and everyone ee1-
)ects TO be held UP. They came sud
ienly upon a man in a dark place,
leither seeing him nor he them, till
hey We're close together. When the
nan saw the big detectives, like a
lash he pulled a gun and Detective
Sheets said that if he or Janney had
made a move or said a word, the man
would have shot.
a FALSE ALARM.
A report came to headquarters after
that a grocer keeping a store
/ the corner of First and l streets, had
cen held I'D while closing his store,
nd robbed of a considerable amount
t money. 1t was learned, when a
ierald reporter visited the place that
he store building was vacant and had
cen for some time. 1t is evident the
eport was hoax unless the holdup
ccurred at some other place.