The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-07
A GENUINE HOLD-UP.
Mr.. Webb Had a Thrilling Exper-
ience With a F0Opad.
Was Fired at When He Refused TO De-
liver up His Money.

joseph Webb who kecps grocery
store at Morgan's Mills, a small village
about five miles from this city, in the
town of Johnston had thrilling expert
ence last night, when he was held up by
u highwayInan and barely escaped death.
The robbcr shot at him twice. and Webb
Is alive today because of his courage and
unwillingness To he unccremoniously re-
lieved of his money.
Groceryman Webb left his store, which
is located close to the bridge in the vii
lage, at 7:20 o'clock To go to his home
about 30 yards up the road on the oppo-
site side. The road is "a dark one, but
Mr.. Webb has been over il SO many times
that 10 Is as familiar rs the stock I'm his
store After getting u short distance he
became convinced that some one was fol-
lowing him, and he proceeded cautiously.
He had gone but a short distance further
on when he was startled by "a tall man
standing mt his side. He also felt the
cold muzzlo of IA pistol pressed against his
cheek. Tho man wore slouchcd hat and
his face was covered with cloth mask
which hung from his forehead down over
his face.
He demanded Mr.. webb's money but the
sturdy grocer was not SO easy as the high
wayman anticipated. The villager is strong
AMI robust and has "a large stock of cour-
age When the demand was made he hes
itatod and this did not suit the fellow who
expected 60 receive cash forthwith from u
terrified victim. The robber showed his
chagrin at the unexpected turn Of affairs
by jammng his pistol hard against the
face of the groceryman, and again calling
for his money without further delay.
Mr.. Webb declined to bo In hurry To
do as he was directed and showed fight.
He tossed his head To one side rs the
sharp report of the pistol disturbed the
Sfi nf m i'm
voluntary action saved his life for the
bullet passed just beyond his head. The
powder, however, burned his cheek. Dir.
Webb was carrying lantern and he
swung IL at his assailant This was an
other fortunate movement for it knocked
the robbers hand just as he fired the sec
ond time and the bullet again went wide
over his head.
The highwayman then seized the Lam
tern and threw 10 to ono side of the road
Following this action the robbcr turned
and ran down the road and disappeared i'm
the darkness going in the direction OF the
Plainfleld pike. Mr.. Webb went home
and Immediately communicated with
Town Sergeant Holbrook The facts i'm
the case were known 10 the Johnston
police about an hour after the attempted
robbery and this gave the higwayman
plenty of time To get away from the scene
of his daring exploit
When the town sergeant saw Mr. Webb
the marks of the powder were plainly seen
on his face. The only clue to the pcrpe-
traitors of this daring work was furnished
10y n man named Harrington who was
driving over the road Il few min Ites after
the time the hold-up was reported He
passed n buggy with two men and the
horse was being driven rapidly.
The robbcr expected TO get considerable
money from Mr. Webb as he does n good
business and is i'm the habit of carrying
cash on his person, but the courage of the
intended victim prevented murder being
committed.