The herald., 1897-09-10
| HIGHWAYMEN
Two Daring Robbers Safe
in Jail
A TELLTALE GOLD NUGGET
PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR CAPTURE
A TELLTALE GOLD NUGGET
Gill Young and Will Hoffman Are the
Men Who Brutally Beat and
Robbed Tom Lattery

| The two highwaymen who entered the
office Of the Eagle livery stables on
Broadway after midnight on the 22d of
last month and bound, gagged, beat over
the head and afterward robbed old Tom
Lattery, the night watchman, have been
arrested and are safely locked in the city
JAIL The highwaymen turn out to be
Gill Young and Will Hoffman, two for
mer employees at the stable.
| The victim, who is commonly known as
Old Tom, was most cruelty treated by
the robbers. They secured SIG in money
from him and small gold nugget which
he has carried for many years as a sort
of mascot. While they were going
through him he recognized the two men,
and they threatened to murder him If
he ever told on them.
The credit of the capture Is due to
Detectives Hawley and Auble, who have
traced every movement of the robhcrs
on the night in question. They n
known for some time who the guilty
parties were, yet certain obstacles were
thrown in their way which caused them
to feel that they were not justified in
arresting the men. This was nothing
more nor less than the refusal on the
part Of Old Tom himself to testify
against the robbers, whom he had recog-
nized on the night when they had en-
tered the office. At that time they had
threatened to cut his throat if he ever
mentioned their names, and he was so
intimidated that he has all along per-
sistently refused to tell what he knew.
The morning after the robbery had been
reported at police headquarters Detec-
tive Hawley was sent to investigate 1t.
He found Old Tom SO much frightened
on account Of the threats which had
been made that he could get little out
of him. The detective went quietly at
work, however, and now the whole story
has come out.
Old Tom is employed around the table
during the daytime and sleeps in the
office at night, where he answers tele-
phone calls and attends to whatever
business may come up. At the time the
robbery occurred Gill Young and Will
Hoffman worked around the place also.
On this particular night they were
around the stable until quite late in COM
pany with two men whom they called
Scotty and Teddy. They all finally left
together and went to a First street sa-
loon, where they did some drinking.
Some time between the hours Of one
and two Old Tom was awakened by
hearing footsteps at the office door. He
recognized Hoffman, who came in and
began putting out the lights. which
were always left burning. He was fol-
lowed by Young. Tom raised up in bed
and asked the men what they were
doing. Hoffman replied by saying,
"Shut up, you - -, or I'll cut
your throat" He then raised an iron
bar which he carried in his hand and
struck the old man two blows over the
head with it. No resistance was offered
and both men began going through his
pockets. His front pocket was cut out
but nothing found there. Then the rear
one was treated likewise and contained
SIG in money, which the robbers prob
ably knew had been paid only few days
before, and a gold nugget which he al
ways carried. His watch was also
taken, but after being examined was
handed back.
When the robbers had finished their
work, which they did very deliberately,
they tied Old Tom 8 hands together, and
after again threatening to kill him If he
ever told who they were, walked out
of the door and soon broke into run
Their victim followed them and called
for the police. Night Watchman Wat
son heard his cries and hurried around
to see what was the matter.
Ibid you see two men running down
the street as you came up?" asked Tom
The officer replied that he had not, and
that was about all he could get out of
him It that time. The next morning the
officer reported the matter to the po-
lice.
The morning after the robbery Young
and Hoffman appeared at the stable for
work as usual When he saw them he
said to them, "You are the men who
robbed me last night" One Of the
men made bluff at hitting him and
then he said, II know that you're
a bigger man than I am, but just the
same you are the fellows who did It,"
The detectives knew that the men had
the nugget which had been taken from
Old Tom and decided to try to get it,
az 1t would be an article easy of identi-
fcation and prove valuable evidence.
To this end they told Lattery to try to
get it back. He agreed to do this, and
one evening while in the presence Of
Young and Hoffman remarked, Il wish
that had that nugget back. found it
in Montana when I was boy and would
give SO for it,"
"Well, I'll get it for you for $1o."
Young answered.
This ended the conversation at this
time, but few nights later Tom again
brought up the subject. well, I've got
the nugget" Young said, land I'll let
you have it for $1O." He then took the
piece Of gold out of his pocket and
showed it. AS soon as he did so Tom
said, "Well, I won't pay you that for IL
now. If you don't give 1t to me I'll peach
on you for robbing me that night.
III you do, I'll kill you sure" young
answered. Finally 1t was decided 10
transfer the nugget for IS. and this
amount was paid for it. The nugget was
turned over to the detective and then
they felt that they had secured all the
evidence necessary. as Lattery himself
had recovered his backbone and was
ready to testify. On "Wednesday night
they decided to pull their men and ar
rested them while they were drinking IN
q First street saloon The two charact-
ers, Teddy and Scotty. were with them
g.