The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ELMER MANSFIELD, a PAINTER, HAD
A CONSCIENCE THAT HURT.
Had Been Holding Up Women at
Night-SuIFenders Himself at
Police Headquarters.

IT am the highwayman you are hunting,
Mr. Quigley; I've been holding up women
on the North Side.'' Police Superintendent
Quigley whirled about in his chair and
gazed straight into the face of the man who
addressed him. The superintendent has been
thinking much OF highwaymen lately, and
he was startled. A young man of slight
build stood at the chiefs desk in his private
cffce awkwardly twirling his hat in his
hand.
sit down." said Quigley, motioning the
man to a chair. I've heard about you in
the last hour. So you are highwayman,
are you?" and the chief looked curiously at
his strange caller. The chief has seen very
few highv aymen lately and he gazed upon
this one as Prize. The incident took place
about 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. A
half hour before, at the corner of Washing
ton and Pennsylvania streets, young man
with mild voice and nervous way about
him had approached Green Hageman, the
towering guardian of the peace who stands
there all day long assisting women and chill
dren across the busy thoroughfare. The
man who approached Hageman made the
blunt statement that he was wanted for a
number of "hold-ups'' that have recently
occurred on the North Side. The big police
man was quite taken off his feet and re-
quested the man to kindly wait until he
could telephone to police headquarters. The
man had given the name of Elmer Mans
field, and said he lived at No. 1914 Madison
street The patrolman, after talk with
the police superintendent informed Mans
field that his name was not known about
headquarters, but stated that Superintend-
ent Quigley would like to see him.
Mansfield, after leaving Hageman, went
directly to the police station and introduced
himself with the somewhat startling words
quoted above.
Whom have you been holding up?" in
quired Superintendent Quigley, after recov-
ering from his establishment.
"Oh, I've held UP several women in the
last week." replied Mansfield, and ne pro-
ceeded to give a list of his crimes. With
the exception of one case, the ,superintend-
ent was familiar with the instances named
by Mansfield The superintendent also re-
marked the fact that the description of the
robber given by bis victims tailed exactly
with the man who sat before him. Last
Saturday night about 1890 o'clock Miss
street, started from her home to attend
choir practice at Central-avenue Church.
A few blocks from her home she was ac-
costed by a man who abruptly thrust a
pistol in Ter face and demanded her
money.
TWO OF HIS VICTIMS.
81 have only 10 cents declared Miss
Budd, who had fortunately only provided
herself with car fare.
well, give me that" ordered the high
wayman and the young womans trembling
fingers sought her reticule. She produced
the dime and the robber took it without
word and disappeared. Miss Budd was
greatly frightened but succeeded in gain
ing tolerably fair view of the mans face.
This was one of the hold-ups confessed by
Mansfield He also declared himself guilty
of molesting Miss Grace Bigelow, who also
had an unpleasant experience with high
wayman on Saturday evening. This was a
few minutes after the affair on North Delu-
ware street. Miss Bigelow who lives in
the neighborhood of Ash street and Chris
tian avenue, started out 70. mail a letter
Near the corner of Ash and Eleventh streets
she was stopped by a small man wearing
a light stiff hat and she noticed he had a
light mustache. The man brought revol-
yer into view as he spoke and held 1t UNI
comfortably close to the young woman
features. o,- ;,
II haven't a cent" gasped the girl, al
most ready to drop from fright. The man
abruptly turned away and disappeared PEI in IN
the man who attempted this robbery Ear
ly yesterday afternoon Miss Enoch, living
audience with the police superintendent. She
told of O. thrilling experience she had with
a highwayman last Friday night while on
her way home from an entertainment. She
was accompanied by two women and two
little girls. She said they were approached
at the corner of Windsor street and Cliff
long long to disclose his motive He stepped
up to her and demanded her pocketbook
She struck at him with her umbrella, and
he lodged and started te run.
Al WOMAN CHASED HIM.
"Come on; let us catch this fellow" cried
Miss Enoch to her companions, with a
remarkable display of courage. She says
she started after the man, but her friends
declined to assist and she gave up the
chase. Miss Enoch is confident they could
have captured the fellow had the other la
dies shown proper amount of courage
She described their assa'lant to Superin-
tendent Quigley and the chief in talking
with Mansfield short time later, thought
he could detect something familiar in the
mans features. Mansfield frankly admits
he was the guilty person in this case The
only part of his story that struck the police
superintendent as suspicious was the asser-
ton on the part of Mansfield that he re-
Gently held UP two men near the corner of
Bellefontaine and Eleventh streets robbing
them of SIS. The police had not heard of
this robbery.
IT want to be charged with highway rob-
berry and locked up" pleaded Mansfield.
MY conscience is hurting me and l have
no peace. Every time | walk out l expect
TO feel the hand OF policeman on my
shoulder. The story l have told is true in
every particular. | Rave been drinking a
great deal lately, and that. is what drove
me to crime. When / am drinking l have
an uncomfortable desire to rob people, any
way to get money to buy more liquor ! be-
lieve IL l can get years sentence in prison
L can come out and be a man again.
Superintendent Quigley sent Mansfield
over to the Jail and had him locked up. On
the slate he is charged with highway rob-
berry. He has the appearance of a man who
has been drinking, but he was perfectly
sober yesterday when ne told his strange
his occupation as that of painter. To-day
the women Mansfield claims to have way
laid will be sent for to identify him if posi-
BILE. The police believe his story