The Elbert County tribune., 1898-10-27
BOLD ROBBERY
Two Masked Men Entered Kings Store Last Night
and Looted 1t of r1oney and
Vaiuabes


the county was committed in
Elbert. Two masked highway
men entered Kings store in the
glare of half-dozen bright lamps
and looted the establishment of
cash and watches. j. B. King
and E. W. Mo alton, ranchman.
living three miles south of town,
were the only persons in the store
at the time. MIR. King stood be-
hind showcase writing, while
Mr.. Moulton stood leaning against
a counter about two-thirds of the
way back in the store. The room
is not large, being only 16x24
feet. A big Rochester lamp
hangs in the center and was
burning brightly; half-dozen
other lamps were distributed
around the room on counters and
showcases and all burning, SO the
place was brilliantly lighted.
Suddenly commotion and big
noise was heard at the front door;
it was quickly opened and two
masked men-one a tall and the
other n short man - hur1edly
walked to the center of the room
.one pointing revolver at
Moulton and the other one at
King and as they entered, one
said, "lIold up your hands!" Mr..
Moulton quickly elevated his
hands, but Mr.. King took four or
five steps around the end of the
counter and faced the hold-ups,
supposing the whole affair to be a
joke by some of the town or
country boys. He was quickly
undeceived. In the bright light
he stood not six feet from the tall
desperate, looking into the muzzle
of a No. 45 revolver that glistened
in the cool hand of the hold-up.
"Hand out your money here, y
was quickly demanded by the
highwayman in a voice which he
attempted to disguise. A look at
the revolver which was held me-
nancingly near his face, the mask
worn by the hold-up and the
demand forbade any
argument, and with the remark 81
haven't much money tonight; j
Just remitted to the bank, he
walked around the counter, pulled
out the cash drawer, lifted the till
and walked around and sat it
down on the counter, the revolver
pointed at him at every step. As
the till was set down he remarked
"There's all the money I've got
every cent" The till contained
about $25.00 in silver. Still
holding the revolver in his right
hand and pointing it at King with
his left hand the robber reached
over and scooped the dollars out of
the dollar box and dropped them
into his coat pocket. Then he
scooped out the half dollars and
they jingIed as they fell into the
same pocket. The quarter box
was well filled with quarters
contained $1,000 In
quarters. These, too, were scoop
ed ont by his long fingers and
slowed away in the same capacious
pocket. The dimes and nickles
quickly followed.
When the silver had disappeared
the demand came with a wave OF
the revolver, "Open up that safe. y
The safe stood in plain view and
was not locked. ''All right,
said Mr.. King, "but you will have
to give me the key to the cashbox
in the till there" pointing to the
till the hold-up had just emptied.
The robber picked up little bunch
of drawer keys that lay in the
penny box and said, SIS that III
s.No," was the reply, ''that little
KEY in the dollar box there, further
over" The robber handed him the
key. Mr.. King hurredly walked
to the safe, swung open the door,
put in the key and unlocked the
little iron door that protected the
cash drawer to the safe. Taking
out the cash drawer he carried 1t
to the robber and set it down on
the other cash drawer with the
remarks: esThere is everything
I've got; l just remitted to the
bank. There's check for S44 ,
YOU can have it if you want 1t. "
The bold-up with his left finger
and thumb lifted the check to see
if there were any bills under 1t,
but did not offer to take the
check. The door to the safe stood
vide open. The little robber then
passed Mr.. Moulton, walked to
the safe, pulled out big red
pocket book that was in plain view
and hurredly looked through ITS
contents Of notes and papers, but
not finding anything of value be
returned it to its place. Rcsum,
ing his station, he again pointed
the gun at Moulton. The big