The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-06
COnbOy Says He Was At
- tackled by FOOtpadS.
Highwaymen Took Money and
Checks from Him.
Victim Says He at First Thought 1t
Was Practical Joke.

A well known gentleman who lives at
the North End OF the city was OH Mount
Pleasant late last night and he was in
structed by policeman not TO go home
by the way of Atwells avenue for there
was tough gang TO be encountered at a
certain part of that highway. He said
that Luke IL. Conbo, collector for Kelly
Brothers, brewers, had been held up by
highwaymen and robbed Of 800 The
case had been reported To the police OF the
Sixth station.
According TO Conboy's story he was re-
turning 20 his home at the corner of
Atwells avenue and Joslin street. He
had left Mount Pleasant car at the cor
ner OF Academy and Atwells avenues and
walked toward his home. Within 10 feet
of his front door two men stepped in
front Of him and said, "hands up. He
saw the cleaning barrels Of two rcyolvers
and then obeyed the command. The
robbers went through his pockets and
took money and checks TO the value of
Sl05 They looked at his watch and de-
cided it would bc dangerous to take that.
When they had taken all they wanted
Conboy was ordered TO walk away from
his home and as the strong argument of
two pistols still threatened, he did as he
was told and while he was walking away
the robbers disappeared.
Conboy told the police that he looked
upon the proceeding as practical joke,
but the determined air of the men and the
big pistols quickly convinced him other
wise. The robbers found his valuables
in his trousers pocket after searching
other parts of his clothing. They exam
ined nearly everything he had and only
took the money and checks. ConbOy said
he was in fear of his life and did not
utter word while he was under the level
of the revolvers, aimed directly at his
body. The examination of all he had i'm
his possession was assisted by the glare
of a nearby electric light
Use him well as long as he don't make
fuss, y said one of the men.
He noticed that one of the rcvolvers was
one of the largest he had ever seen, while
the other was of the regulation size
one robber was about five feet eight inches
in height, of muscular build. His coat
collar was turned up and his derby hat
was pulled down low on his face. The
fellow who searched his pocekts was
about five feet six inches in height and
weighed about 140 pounds. His slouched
hat was pulled over his face and the collar
of what appeared to DE sweater was
raised up over his chin. Very little OF
either of the mems faces was exposed and
although the light from the electric lamps
was strong the shadow of the trees pre-
vented him from getting good look at
Identifying characteristics of his assail-
ants.
After Conboy obeyed the command to
walk away from his home, the two men
turned and ran down Joslin street. Curl
ously enough il happened that Mrs Con
boy was returning 10 her home at this
time by way of Joslin street and she saw
three men running, two of them being to-
gether on the east side of the street The
running men were also noticed by an
other woman and she asked Mrs. Conboy
what was the matterY As the men turned
into Amherst street she thought they were
in a hurry TO give the firemen at the fire
station notification OF fire.
ConbOy and his wife reached their home
at about the same moment and when she
heard what had befallen her husband she
told about the three men she had seen
running Conboy then won't To the Sixth
police station and reported the case He
was accompanied by Mr.. Scott, neigh
Dor. On their way to the station mt the
corner Of Atwells avenue they found an
account book and some bills, which had
been taken from Conboy Lieutenant
Dary the officer i'm command at the station
during the night received the report and
sent for Detective Cannon TO aid i'm the
search for the robbers. Thus far they have
been unable TO find any trace of the takers
of Conboy's cash. Conboy is of the
opinion that the two men knew him and
were aware that he had the money in his
possession. He thinks he could identify
one of them and states that both seemed
familiar figures to him. He also thinks
the two men are living not very remote
from the neighborhood where the robbery
was committed.