The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-05
Tom Foster and William Pierce
Identified by a Victim.
THE STORY OF TWO HoLp-uPS.
j. y. Murphy. While on His Way
Home. Is Attacked ny Highway
men. Nho Rob Him. and Then
Erusafiy Beat Him Intii He Il
I3sensibfe-L- Carlson Has Sim
liar Exp~riepcr-DrnEGe Into

Two men who gave their names as
Thomas Foster and William Pierce are
prisoners az the city jail and there is
every reason TO believe that they are guilty
% az least one highway robbery. and prob
ably two. both Of which took place in this
city Thursday night
Both victims were badly beaten By the
highwaymea. Later oue OF the victims
appeared al police headquarters and posi-
lively identified the TWO men who had
been jailed as suspects as his assailants.
J. j. Murphy is an employe al Moran's
shlpbullding yard. Monday night he
started for his home which Is close 10
Mount Pleasant Cemetery. When within
q very short distance OF home ne was con-
fronted by four highxaymen. who demand
ed his money and other yaluables. Two
Of the highxaymen were armed. one with
j knife and the other with a pistol Muir
ply freely gave mp al he had. and thought
that the trouble would end there. but he
was mistaken. The men who had robbed
him evidently saw an excellent chance TO
get in a little practice useful In their pro-
feSSioa, and proceeded 70 take advantage
Of il. They knocked their victim down
and beat him and kicked him into insensi-
billy.
The affair took place between and
O'Clock, and the injured man remained
where his assailants had left him until
nearly midnight. when he was discovered
by a member Of HIS family who had been
sent out 20 search for him.
Murphy Was unable 20 give the police a
clear description Of any of the men. The
amount OF cash which he gave UP was $40.
He had nothing else OF value on his per-
son.
Another hCid-up occurred just a short
time after operations on Mr.. Murphy had
been concluded. l.. Carlson. a sailor.
while walking along Pike street, was
seized hy thfe. men and dragged into an
alley way. between Third ana Fourth
avenues. His pockets were fified 10 the
extent Of his pile. which was 81. and
he was also subjected to number of bru-
tai cuffs and kicks. which rendered him
helpless for a time. On recovering ne
went 10 police headquarters and told his
story. giving a fairly good description Of
the tough trio
Shortly after s O'Clock in the morning
Patr0imaR Stuart saw the prisoner
Pierce meaudering along Washington
street. lie concluded that the descTip-
ton Of one OF the highwaymen fitted him
pretty wei, 50 he made the arrest. About
ten minutes later pairoiman Barck put
Foster through the same process.
n search Of the prisoners al the police
station disclosed nothing Of any value
a. evidence against them. bat one of
Pierce's hands was bruised on the knuck-
IS. indicating that he had been using
his fists not long before.
Carlson called at the sA5iire station yes
ierday morning and picked the two prls-
cners out Of abous dozen. declaring
that they were two OF the THO who had
robbed anG abused him.
Pierce's desCr ip.icn. as given on the
police record book. shows him 20 he -
years ~ age FIVE feet nine inches high
-acd weighing 80 pounds; blue eyes and
brown halr.
Foster Is known 70 he police. having
been arrested several times on petty
charges He IL the same age as his
companion. lie is five feet four inches
high and weighs Us pounds. He Is an
Enghshmen and has been engaged i'm the
cauactty OF cook on dif1eren: vessels
The police believe they have the right
men and hope before they get through
with them to clear I'D one or two other