The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-20
noLD-UP In A DRUG STORE.
THE SOLITABr CLERK MENACED
WITH a REYOLVER.

willie ne strugElcs with One THIEF the other
Ioots the lash Drawor-Left on the Floor
More Than re Took-The Thieves Rire Their
Pistols Repeatedly ns They Run Away.
A tall man and a short one entered the drug
store on the southwest corner Of Madison and
Pike streets last night shortly after 10 o'clock.
Tho tall man drew q revolver on the clerk,
Harry Davidson, who was behind tho counter.
and, putting tho weapon against his face. said:
Pass over that stun" meaning tho money in
the cash drawer.
Not on your life" said Davidson, as no
lodged clear of tho muEzle of the revolver and
hit the tall man on the nose with his left fist.
Tho nose blcd n little.
The short man, who was near tho main door.
which cuts across tho corner Of the store, now
ran forward. Davidson saw something black in
his hand and started for tho Pike street side
door shouting for help. The tall man ran along
tho other side Of the counter, keeping pace with
Davidson until tho two mot around the end of
II, and then the two men grappled.
The tall man forced Davidson back into the
corner OF the room against the window show.
case stand, gripping the clerk by the throat as
he did so. The marks of the mans fingers are
on Davidson's neck yet.
Mrs. Morris Shapiro of 50 Pike street, who
kceps a STAND In front OF a saloon in Pike street
opposite the drug store, saw tho two men strug-
Cling In the store Just as two little girls opened
the door and started TO walk in. Then there were
screams Of Help and "Murder!'' to be heard,
for the tall man had not succeeded in shutting
of Davidson's wind. The girls gave one look,
and turning. fed away, crying and screaming.
There were not very many in the streets at
that time. but tho fow that were turned toward
the drug store. Mrs. Shapiro saw n man come
out Of tho Pike street entrance just then. fol.
lowed by two more. the rear one crying stop
theft" as loud as he could bawl.
When the tall man grappled with Davidson.
the short ono went around the counter, stepping
over the legs Of tho struggling men, and. going
straight to the cash drawer. he smashed the
drawer lock with q jimmy. Taking the drawer
out. he grabbed at the money in sight. He was
nervous, though, and let the drawer fall. and
bills and silver went in every direction.
Tho opening OF the door BY the two girls
frightened the thieves. Tho short man said
"Runi" to his pal. and the two went flying out
the door. turned down Pike street. and the crowd
that was gathering followed after.
Three minutes before Policeman Morris of the
Madison street police had passed the drug store.
and he was at Division street when he saw the
crowd rush down Pike street. Policeman Miller
had been ut Pike and Madison streets just before
Morris was, and at the time of the robbery was
near Market street. Both men heard the cries
of the crowd and started on the run for the
scene Of commotion.
The two thieves, who were Joined by a pal
somewhere. nobody knows where, were now
running down Pike street, while Davidson stood
in front Of the drug store yelling. not daring to
leave 1t for fear of more robbers.
As Mrs. Sullivan. who keeps q fruit and candy
stand at Henry and Pike streets. was looking to
see what was the matter. there was a shot right
under her as it seemed and the three men came
around the corner directly after. They almost
knocked her down as they ran past. They then
ran through Monroe street shooting Mt every
at the ground.
AlarGc man who was coming up tho left side
inG his arms out, started to grab one Of them.
The one he grabhed who seemed to be the
, volSsr i nSsor tbe large TO M mans s;u fnee. nn Sp ,6s la a re,
man tumbled over n railing backward down n
basement flight OF stairs.
The large man was not seen again by Mrs.
Sullivan and his name was not learned, After
that. nobody, knows what became OF the fugi-
policemen on Cherry. Henry. Water and
Gross street posts began to arrive. There
q roundsman 6ustling in all directions on
thai, part of Henry street Just a little 100 late.
was telling four others at tho drug sUore what
had happened when the roundsman got to the
Goesez Bakst, the proprietor of the drug store,
lives at 46 Pike street, and he heard tho row
whi,S n h,s his md 5oo~; sc. ne , came eI TO 6 tns store tor a %ma
behind the counter. The thieves had loft $50 in
check for $5O.75 away and had stolen about $50.
The thieves had had no time TO rob Davidson.
They left their jimmy. behind them.
A few months ago the drug store at Madison
and Market streets was robbed in tho same dar.
ing manner as this one.
The thieves that time got about SID from the
clerk. The general description OF the two men,
as given by the victims, tallies close enough to
make it appear that the same pair did both Jobs.
Davidson said he would know the thieves
were he TO see them. He said the tall one was
about % years Of age and had light hair and a
sandy mustacho. The other man was a good
deal stouter, smooth shaven. and of darker
complexion.