The times., 1897-03-14
HELD UP THE CAB DRIVER
Unsuccessful Attempt of Two
Men to Rob. James Jacobs.
LURED TO A LONELY PLACE
Ordered at the Point of a Pistol
to Surrender His Money-Strug-
gled With His Assailants, Who
Escaped-Police Have Small
Clew to Work Upon.

An apparently carefully planned attempt
at murder and robbery was made on James
C. Jacobs, q cab driver, on Fourteenth
street, between l and K streets southeast,
about $50 O'Clock last night Jacobs lives
az No. 227 Fourteenth street southwest
He has been employed as cab driver in
this city since 1879, having for some time
past been in the service of the Rapid
Transit Messenger Company.
Jacobs was in front of the company's
office on Pennsylvania avenue last night
about $40 O'Clock, when a well-dressed
man approached him and asked what the
fare Tould be TO the corner of Fourteenth
and X streets southeast Jacobs replied
that the price would be 81, and the
stranger, throwing a paper package that
he was carrying under his arm into the
cab, jumped in after it and told the cabbe
to drive TO the place designated.
On arriving at the corner of Fourteenth
and l streets, the man pointed out to the
driver house on the west side of Four
| teenth street and told Jacobs to stop. He
| did 50 and his fare ran up high terrace
| on which the house rests and disappeared
| within, while the driver waited.
The house in question is an old-fash-
J ioncd two-story and attic brick flair, with
| out doors or windows. There was no light
| in evidence, and as there were but two
| houses in the block and no street lamps
| for several blocks in either direction, tie
| place was an unusually lonely one.
When the cab driver was on the point
| of dcserting the scene without his money
| his fare returned to the front OF the struc-
ture and called him to come up on the ter
race and receive his pay. Jacobs climbed
the terrace with some difficulty, stumbling
and nearl yfalling several times in thecourse
OF his ascent on account of the darkness a nd
| the muddy condition of the ground, and
| finally stood before the man, who de
| manded:
How much do | owe you?''
zone dollar replied the cabbie.
~ thought you said % cents?" returned
the other.
You know I couldn't carry You that
distance for that" replied Jacobs.
But it took only a short time-onl.
twenty minutes by my watch. I looked
at it just as we turned in from the Ave
! nue.
"But I don't charge according to the
time,' protested the driver.
AT this juncture strongly-built man
with the lower part OF his face concealed
10y white cloth, rushed upon the coupl,
and with a revolver aimed at the heaC
of Jacobs, demanded his money.
Jacobs, trembling with fear, responded
All right. Don't shoot me for GO cents
without waiting for the cab diver Il
comply with his demand the man seizct
him by the throat and a desperate strug
gle ensued.
Jacobs managed TO clutch the revolver
Willie with the other hand he graspcS
his assafant by the throat. The men fell
and during the struggle the pistol Wen
off, without striking either OF them.
Atthe report of the weapon the would-b
robbers darted away, their speed ac
celerated by the presence OF q passin
wagon on Penns ylyania avenue. One o
the men made straight down Fourteent
street, toward the river, while the othe
turned into K street, both succeeding i
making their escape.
Jacobs jumped to his feet and yeile
"Murderl'' at the top OF his voice II
then jumped upon his box and drove hi
horse furiously to the Fifth precinct sts
ton, corner of Fifth and E streets soutt
east, where he related the circumstance
After hearing his story the sergeant 1
charge directed him to detective hea(
quarters, where Jacobs repeated the tai
of his adventure.
In the absence Of the detectives, Serg
Perry told Jacobs to return at ocloc
this morning, when the detectives wi
be present. The police say there is n
reason to discredit the statements
Jacobs as to the occurrence, and will tal
immediate steps to apprehend his assai
ants
1t is thought that the men were a.
auanted with the movements Of Jacoi
during the past few days, and had see
him display a roll of bills ON various 0
casions, the plan being to allure the driv'
e to the place in question and there to s
D cure his money. This roll Of none
y amounting TO $35, together with about c
! cents in change, Jacobs had on his pers,
: last night, but his assailants failed to S
cure it on account of their flight.
The only Clew to the men is the packa,
a carried by Jacobs fare, which the latte
t for some unknown reason, left in the ca
This package contained two ordinaI
o bran sacks, somewhat soiled with US