The evening times., 1897-03-10
LAWYER 20. NILES ROBBED /
Three Hundred Dollars and His
Gold Watch Taken.
KNOCK OUT DROPS GIVEN HIM
Met Two Glib-Tongued Strangers on
Pennsylvania Avenue and Went
to Several Saloons With Them.
They Took Him Away in a, Cab and
Dropped Him Near His Home.

Edward G. Niles, the young lawyer, was
the victim last night of that murderous
class of highwaymen, who use Knockout
drops Of deadly chloral to accomplish their
purpose. When the attorney recovered
consciousness after swallowing the potion
he found that the crooks had robbed him or
nearly $500 and his gold watch.
About 4 o'clock this morning Mr.. Niles
was able to report the case to the First
precinct station and police headquarters
and detectives at once started out to find
the crooks, who are believed to be pro-
fessionals. who have remained here since
the inauguration.
The circumstances surrounding this case
mark 1t as one of the most daring rob-
berries OF the kind ever perpetrated here
Some time between 10 and IL O'Clock
last night Mr.. Niles met two well-dressed
and fluent strangers ON the Avenue, near
Twelfth street. They appeared TO be what
are known as ''good feIlows,'' and told
the lawyer witty stories. which made him
good-natured. lie listened to their jokes,
and laughed ut them. Finally Mr.. Niles
invited the strangers to have a drink
with him, and they adjourned to nearby
saloon.
There the attorney made the fatal mis-
take or exposing his roll OF money contain
ing something like $500. From that mo
ment he was a marked man The three
men visited several other places, and fl
nelIy hired a cab which Mr.. Niles says
was driven by man named Kelly.
After driving about the central part OF
the city for awhile one OF the crooks sug-
gested that they go To DeAtley' 3 saloon on
Pennsylvania avenue, between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets northwest. There
the lawyer was treated by one Of the men
to a drink The other stranger in the
meantime appeared to be studying the
pictures on the wall. He finally turned
to Mr. Niles after his drink had been placed
on the bar and called his attention to one
of the pictures with remark aboutit he-
ing pretty. The attorney turned to look II
the picture, and as he did so the other crook
quickly drew from his pocket small vial,
containing the "knock-out'' drops, and
poured a small quantity OF the choral into
Mr. Niles liquor.
The three men then drank to each others
health, and an instant later the lawyer
commenced to fell a dizziness In his head,
and glaze came before his eyes The two
crooks hustled him into the cab and they
drove away.
This is all Lawyer Niles remembers until
he found himself stretched out on de-
serted commons near his home, No. 1873
Massachusetts avenue northeast He
scrambled to his feet in daZed condition,
and made his way to police headquarters,
and then to the Twelfth street police sta
ton, where he reported the robbery and
gave as good description as he could OF
the thieves.
The men evidently went through his
pockets after he became unconscious in the
cab and got his roll OF $500 andgold watch.
Mr. Niles offices are rooms Nos "a, 26,
and 2S, Gunton building, No. 472-s Louis
lana avenue, and today he was unwell as
O result OF last nights drugging
1t is the purpose of the police II the
knockout drops men are captured, to
charge them with two serious offenses,
botn of which carry a penitentiary SEN
tence- highway robbery or larceny from
the person, and assault with intent to
kill Under a recent decision the latter
charge can he sustained as it has been
proven by expert medical testimony that
the chIoral used for the drops is deadly
poison liable to produce death or serious
injury to the victim.
Detectives were assigned TO the case
today by Inspector HolIinberger.