The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-24
A WOMAN HELD UP.
Three Footpads Took Miss Wrenn's
POckelbo0k and Gloves.
They Were Promptly Captured and
Held for Trial.

There was a genuine ana unique holu-
up In tho Second police district near mid
night yesterday. It's specially unique fea-
lures were that the party held up was
a woman and also that tho three men con-
cerncd in the affair were all captured ana
the property taken from the woman hcld
up was found in the possession OF one Oh
the men. All three were positively lden-
titled by Lizzie Wren, the party robbed as
the oncs who had captured her.
IL wns about ll3O p. IN. tnat cries OF
"help', "help', murder, and police
sang out on the night air I'm that lonesome
spot at the corner of Oriental ana Adj
miral streets. The cries were heard by
Officer Il. III. Galligan, whose very quiet
first half OF the night was rapidly draw
ing TO close. He made sure OF the dlrec-
tion from which the cries came and then
he hustled for the lonesome section OF -Ad-
miral street referred TO and on arriving
there found Lizzie Wren, a resident OF the
district, thoroughly overcome by fright
noar the Oriental mill. After few
moments in reply TO questions by the
officer she said that as she was going
along Admiral street near where she Then
was she was held-up by three men who
took her away from tho road SO as 10
escape detection from the motor
man or conductor on an electric car, that
occasionally passes the old mill, To pine
grove and there assaulted and robbed her.
She said that the property taken from her
consisted OF pair of gloves and pocket
book
The only houses near the spot where
tho robbery took place as Miss Wren
claims, are several feet above the street on
an embankment and few foot travellers
go by the place after 9:3D o'clock in the
evening. This part of the police district
might appear to offer excellent opportu-
mites for kindergarten instruction in the
now popular fad of hold-ups. 1t is how
ever, dangerous to practice here as last
nights scholars found out TO their
sorrow There are grounds here that
seem particularly well arranged for SUM
mer sports only, and III the electrics did
not pass the scene of last nights affair
once In a while and the police of the. dis
trict were not wide awake the place
would offer uncommon inducements for
highway robbers.
When Officer Galligan heard the story
of the woman he started to look over the
neighboring fields and the groves. He
did this quick for he wanted TO send In
an alarm TO the Second station, for the
capture of the robbers was of more inn
portance than individual glory. His
sharp eyes discovered in one of the fields
a man that seemed to answer the descrip-
tion of the assailant of Miss Wren so ho
captured him and took him back for
identification. The woman said THAT S
one of them, and the fellow gave the name
OF John Clark. He said his companions
had gone To tho center of the district !;
well, about this time the officer sent in
word TO Lieutenant Murray at the Second
station OF the occurrence and also good
descriptions of the men.
1t was a care of all hands out in double
quick order Sergeant Hartnett and
Lieutenant Murray with Officers Doe,
Bates, Galligan and Patrol Driver A. j.
Crowell were sent to different parts of
the district. All the men on regular duty
at the different beats were notified and
one of the most exciting half-hours in the
recent history Of the police district was
inaugurated.
1t was a short time before Officers
| Bates and Doe and Patrol Driver Crowell
whose lines of exploration were near to-
gether compared notes and laid "a clever
| trap TO catch two suspicious characters.
They captured them and took them to the
Second station where the men were iden-
titled by Miss Wren as the two men who
with Clark assaulted and robbed her.
The men gave the names of John Nc
Clure and James Mckcnna and in the
possession of the latter were found the
gloves and pocketbook that had been taken
from Miss Wren. The men were locked
up and another case of "could not pass
the trocha" was entered on the police
blottor.
In the Sixth district court this morn
| ing the men were arraigned on charge
| of larceny from the person. They pleaded
not guilty and were held Gntil Friday,
April for trial.