The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-30
AT THREE PISTOLS MUzzLEs.
j. S. CHRISTIE HELD UP ON THE
AUGUSTA ROAD.

Three Negroes With Drawn Pistols
Deprived Their Victim of Ills
Money, Hat and shOes-His Coat
Was Too Heavy, and They Didn't
Take That-A Description of the
Robbers Given the POIice-Detec-
tives Were Out on the Louisville
Road at the Time Looking for the
Men who Robbed j. f. Matthews.
Highway robberies are becoming alto
gether too frequent upon the roads lead
ing to Savannah. The improvement of
the highways leading to the city, in fact,
seems, to have developed the business of
highway robbery. In the last several
months there have been nearly a dozen
such robberies.
The case of James f. Matthews Of New
Jersey, who was robbed on the Louisville
road, short distance from the city
Thursday night, was reported in yester-
days Morning News.
Another equally daring highway rob-
berry was reported at tine police barracks
last night. John 8. Christie, white man
residing at No. $40 William street, arriv-
ed at the barracks about $3.50 O'Clock and
reported that he had been held up and
robbed on the Augusta road between the 5
and emile posts. The robbery occur
red about dusk. Christie said he was go
ing along the road in a wagon when three
negroes sprang out of the bushes with
drawn pistols one coming up on either
side the wagon and one in the rear Chris
tie had a pistol he said, but had not
time to draw it. The negroes made him
hand out ST. pair of shoes, and a straw
hat, and helped themselves to some groce-
ries which he had in the wagon. One of
them made him take off his coat and
hand that over also The negro tried the
coat on and remarking that it was too
heavy for this weather, pulled it off and
tossed it back. The leader also took his
pistol and emptying the cartridges handed
it back, telling Christie now you can
shoot snakes with it." Christie was de-
tanned some time until the negroes had
satisfied themselves that they had secur-
ed everything of value he had. They then
allowed him to proceed to the city.
After reaching the city Christie went
at once to the police barracks, and re-
ported to Chief McDermott. The length
of time that he was detained by the negro
gave him an opportunity to take good
note of the robbers, and description OF
each one of the gang was furnished the
police. Had the robbery occurred in the
city these descriptions would have been
kept secret, for a time at least, While
the detectives made search for the parties.
The robbery having occurred several
miles from the city, however and it be-
ing likely that similar attempts will be
made by the same gang Chief McDermott
decided TO give out the descriptions In
the hope that the robbers may be recoS-
nized by storekeepers and other in that
section of the county, and apprehended
or information given that will lead to their
arrest. The descriptions, as given by
Christie, are as follows:
No. l. Heavy set, black, weighing about
IT'S pounds, about 80 years of age, feet
inches high.
No. 2. Bright mulatto, small mustache,
about 20 years old Probably has Chris
ties straw hat. He wore at the time an
old black hat full of holes.
No g. Bright mulatto, 5 feet inches
high, about % years old, clean face, slim
build. He appears to be the leader OF the
gang.
1t was rather queer that while Mr..
Christie was reporting this case Of high
way robbery, the detectives were out on
the Louisville road, in the hopes of ap-
pretending the men who robbed Matthews
Thursday night. There being always
number of country people returning home
from the city SATURDAY UlSnlS, BOOu
opportunity is offered the robbers to get
in their work, and the detectives thought
If robbery should be attempted In the
same neighborhood as that on Thursday
night, they would be on hand. They went
out on their bicycles and patrolled the
Louisville road in citizens clothes for sew
eral hours. 1t was a complete waterhaul,
however and they returned to the city
at midnight, tired and disguised, and de-
claring their disbelief of all stories of
highway robbers. When they arrived at
the barracks they were confronted with
the story of a robbery on the Augusta
road.
The police jurisdiction only extends two
miles from the city limits, and the detec-
tives have enough to attend to inside the
city without looking up cases in the coun-
ty.
This shows the need of county DO
lice" said Chief McDermott in speaking
of the matter. "There should be ten or
fifteen men patrolling the county roads
leading from the city. The police have
all they can attend TO inside the city
without going out in the county It
would be WELL though, for the next legis-
lature to give the city force the right to
make arrests anywhere within the coun.
ty. The question of our lack of author
ity to send detachments of police out in.
to the county for special purposes is
bound to come up sooner or later, and YET
some times 1t is very desirable to do So
Another hindrance to police work in the
county was brought out very plainly by
the robbery last night. There is not a
telephone or a telegraph office between
Savannah and Guyton by which informa-
ton could be given Of the robbery The
telephone at Pooler has been taken out
and there is neither telegraph nor A
telephone office at Monteith. Chief Nc
Dermott felt satisfied that the negroes
who robbed Mr. Christie had gone toward
Monteith. but there was no way to ger
information to that place last night. Par
ties going out on the roads leading from
the city, especially to the west, would do
well TO 60 heeled for the rohhers