Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-14
KANSAS CITY FOoTPADS BREAK
THEIR OWN RECORD.
STRIP A MAN ALMOST NAKED.
LEAVE HIM IN THE SNOW IN UNDER
CLOTHES AND SOCKS.
Three Hiahwaymcn Rob G. w. Gam.
mon of SIS and Then Compel
Him 10 Give Up His Cloth
ing Down to Even
His Shoes.

George W. tIallllnOn IN me ssdllld re l'ill-
road yards at Nineteenth and Liberty
streets last night and robbed him in the
latest approved fashion. They took every
thing he had. except his underclothes,
socks and hat. 1t WAS cold night. too.
the wind piercing and the ground snow
covered. The police are puzzled To under
stand why the robbers didn't do "A complete
job of it, Here is what Cannon lost:
one overcoat.
one waistcodt and vest,
one pair of trousers.
ono pair of shoes,
Twcnty-eiEht dollars in money.
To offset this. Mr.. Cannon saved:
One new suit of underwear,
one pair of woolen socks.
One hat. almost good as new; and
His life.
He ought to he thankful for that" NUT
tered one old copper, after hearing the
story of Gammon's experience.
The way is long and the shadows are
thick and black in that portion of the town
where Cannon met with his experience.
lnteracnS railroad tracks spread like an
lilly woven web over the district, and a
stranger trudginE through it with Ian
tern in one hand takes his life in the other
after niEhtfall. Big, numbering box cars
come booming out Of the darkness and
fiery headed switch engines pant and roar
as they skurry hithcr and thither through
the night. IL is an ideal spot for crimes
playground after dusk. But Cannon didn't
know this. because he had just come TO
town from Topeka.
Cannon, who is n farmer from Blue
Springs. Mo, and was en- route home, got
off the train in the railroad yards and
started across the interviewer tracks to
his friend. O'Donneil. who keeps a saloon
at Seventeenth and Genesee streets. which
Is hard by. Cannon was trudging along
dodginis box cars and feeling as comforta-
BILE as ii is possible in Il new Melton over
coat. spick and span suit of black worst
ed. new pair of shoes and three silver
dollars to Jingle - his trousers pocket, 20
say nothing of So in crisp green bills
tucked snugly away in his inside vest
pocket. He was thinking of steamnS
hot Tom and Jerry he intended having with
his friend O'Donnell when a big and srutf
voice came booming out of the darkness:
Hold up your hands. pardner; here's
where you pay tribute.
IL was Il fierce voice that pierced the
night air, and when shadowy outline with
n shadowy revolver in Il shadowy hand
glided into his presence. TO enforce the COM
nanu, 6a1nfnOn slid MS nslnuS up INTO the
air above his head. Out Of the same dark
Eess two more phantom-like forms. larger.
taller, came gliding as reinforcements to
the possessor Of the large voice.
Search him. commanded the first shad-
owy form.
One of the taller men sidled up to Gam
mon and went through his pockets as deftly
as he could have. done 1t himself. Nothing
escaped the nimbe fingers of the rogue not
eNsn the criSD bills in the inside
pocket.
When the men had searched Cannon.
one of the smaller ones said:
''Jim that's good overcoat de guys got.
1t would suit you. He's got on purity good
'toGs, too"
hold of Gammon's overcoat and pulled it
off. Cannon begged the men not TO un-
dress him in the cold night.
Tell with you." answered the big mar.
You make a break an I'll blow yer brains
When one of the small men attempted to
remove Gammons coat and vest, ne planted
big fist ON his jaw This tckled the
ether robbers. hut they went to their pal'S
rescue and held Cannon while his coat
vest and shirt were removed. He was then
,ompelled to seat himself the snowy
ground while his trousers and shoes We're
prllcd OF
cral times during the robbery. hut was
each time stopped with a gruff warning
from the tall man TO be stili or lie would
blow his brains oVt.
After Cannon had been all but strippod
stark naked. the highwaymen quickly with
drew into the darkness. and up 10 a late
hour the police had heard nothing further
of them.
Chill wind souGhed through the yards
and il priclcd like needles through Gam
mons underwear. For few moments the
latest victim Of the Kansas City rohbcr
band stood pecring through the darkness
strainng his eyes 10 catch a glimpse of the
men whom he had recently enriched. Then
he Strcaked II across the yards to switch
light, calling aS he ran. Several railroad
men We're collected about the lamp and
when Cannon hurst into view his strange
attire aroused thoughts of mad houses and
rogoctful keepers.
I'VE been robbed" painted Cannon
took clothes. ney-shoes-evcrything
See 'emp"
They're NOT here" said one of the rail-
road men. Cannon WAS pretty excited hut
after he had cooled down mcntally-he re-
lated the circumstances Of his meeting; with
the robbers The railroad men Skirmsho,l
around and got a pair OF rubber oyorShoes
and a worn and fraycd oVcrcoat for Gam
mon. who continued on his journey to
o'Donuclls saloon. whore he was fitted out
with suit of clothes after which he called
Z upon the police 10 tell his story. lie could
give hut fair description of the highway
mon. however.
IL. st, hot