The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-25

Wheeling has dealt with bold high
waymen from a point of view in which
distance lent enehantment to the pro-
ceedings. Readers OF the daily press
have glanced over their favorite morn
ing paper and through half a column of
Associated Press dispatches telling of
the daring deeds of desperadoes of the
far west, where the highwayman is
supposed to find climate and other con-
ditions agreeable to his health and vo-
cation. Bat that Wheeling should have
an experience with the nervy road
agent Just at her back door is most as
tonlshing, but is true nevertheless,
On the National road. east of the city,
between Altenheim and the old Thomp-
son homestead, there Is narrow place
in the road that is an ideal spot for a
true blue western hoId-up, and five TN
known men showed great discrimIna-
ton In picking the spot for their opera
lions in the art of highway robbery last
night
About $40 o'clock, Mr.. John Brill, an
employe at the establishment OF Greer
& Laing, was passing this spot, being
In surrey and accompanied by his
family. Suddenly the horse was
brought to standstill with great ylo-
lence and several men emerged from
the darkness and with revolvers point
ed at Mr.. Brill told him to throw up his
hands and hand over his money and
yaluables. The gentleman lost no time
in complying with the demand. The
ladies in the party We're frightened and
screamed so loudly that a buggy COM
Ing toward town. containing Messrs.
Gala Mitchell and Win Donaldson, was
stopped by the former. who thought
that an accident had taken place. Just
as his horse was stopped. two men
sprang forward and one of them said:
Throw up your hands"
The argument that accompanies the
cold and glItterIng barrel OF a revolver
is difficult to resist. and the young men
in the buggy complied with the demand
with alacrlty.
Hand over all you've got and give It
quick" was the next remark OF Mr..
Robber. and again the young men found
themselves in position where declin-
alton was both fmpoifttc and unwise.
Mr. Mitchell handed over gold watch
worth Sl25 and pocketbook containing
papers OF value only to the owner The
robber grabbed his watch and chain,
but Mr.. Mitchell was able to wrest a
diamond charm from the chain while
the fellow wasn't looking. He also
"held out" to the extent of several dol
lars in money From Mr.. Donaldson
the robbers got some money, but he.
too, slipped some money into another
pocket. From Mr., Brill they got q gold
watch and some money.
Mr.. Mitchell telephoned to Chief Ben
nett from Altenhelm, telling him OF the
daring robbery, and that official tele-
phoned to Sheriff Richards, at Wheel
ing park. The latter official at once or
ganlzed posse and started In pursuit
Of the hlghwaymen. At late hour
last night no trace Of their whereabouts
had been brought to light. Chief Ben
net nosted his men at the several en-
frances to the city. with instructions
to arrest all persons upon suspicion
might fall
As soon as Sheriff Richards was noti-
fed he secured team and, accompan-
led by City Collector Hall and Circuit
Clerk Henning, started for the scene of
the hold-ups. This was about nine
O'Clock, and in q very few minutes he
was on the spot. He made enquiries as
to the appearance OF the men and at
once organized posse and started men
in different directions in pursuit OF the
robbers, but up to midnight no arrests
were reported.
Later Il was learned that w. j. Cook,
the manager of the Wheeling Corfu
eating Company had narrow escape
from the highwaymen Just east OF
where Mitchell was held up. The men
made an effort to stop his team but
Mr.. Cook dashed his horses and got
away.
There we're many exaggerated Tunors
regarding the affair, some of which
were blood curdling one was to the
effect that Brill had been beaten and
was found lying unconscious In the
road, another that Gala Mitchell had
been shot and was dying, but Of course
these proved Incorrect.
The residents along the pike report
having noticed four desperate looking
characters in the vicinity OF the hold ups
during the afternoon, and the description
given tatties with that given by the Vic
tins. AS the 10 o'clock motor was COM
Ing In carriage was seen standing Just
east uf Thompson's with two men at the
horses heads and one talking to the &C.
cupants of the vehicle. but as no further
robberles have been reported II Is not
probable that this was hold UP.