The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-21
DARING R~OBBERSABROAD
One Hfghwayman Caught by Police in
N Chase I'm which shots Were
Exchanged.

holding up in the same manner j. w. Had
ley, a druggist at 751 Indiana avenue, a man
giving the name of Charles Meyers. resi-
dence 26s South Seventeenth street. Column
bus, o.. was landed behind the police sta
ton bars. His partner, after firing three
shots at Patrolman Conklin and posing as
a mark for two shots fred by the policeman.
made his escape.
The holiness of the men was remarkable.
A few minutes before Z o'clock last evening
the two men entered Fritz's drug store.
Fritz was back of the prescription case
and peered out at the side of a curtain TO
see who had entered. He looked into the
barrel of a revolver held by the man ar
rested. The man with the revolver said:
w want to take an invoice of this place.
Fritz said he thought at first 1t was a
joke. but soon realized the men were In
earnest. He put up his hands and said "All
right" He stood there for several min
utes while the other robber went to the
cash register, rang up a D-cent sale AND
took from the drawer SIG. 10, leaving only
nineteen pennies. Meyers was still covering
Fritz with the revolver. Fritz was carefully
noting Meyers's appearance and dress. Mey-
ers said. Turn your face around the other
way" The druggist did so. After extract
ing the money from the cash register, the
men searched the druggists pockets, but
found nothing but keys, which were re-
turned. They then backed out Of the store
and ran west on Stevens street. Fritz Inn
mediately called up the police station and
gave a full description of the man who
poked the revolver into his face, and a fair
ly good description Of the other man. Henry
j. Heitkam, a butcher across the street,
witnessed the whole proceeding. but did not
realize until after the men had gone what
was going on. The robbery was we'll timed,
the streets being almost deserted.
APPEAR ON INDIANA AVENUE.
The detectives and patrolmen were imme-
diately notified, but nothing was heard of
the robbers until about 900, when a mes
sage to police headquarters gave informal
ton that ]. W. Hadley, another druggist,
at 757 Indiana avenue, had been held up
and one of the robbers arrested by PATROL
men Stoddard and Conklin. A few minutes
after 3 O'Clock, when not many people were
on the street and drug patrons were few, a
man entered Hadley's and bought a twenty
cent tooth brush. He went out, and about
three minutes later Mr.. Hadley was sit
ting in the rear Of the store near the stove,
reading. Some one entered, and he arose
and looked around a desk in the rear.
Within ten feet OF him was a man with a
revolver in his hand. He said something TO
Hadley, but the druggist could not remem-
Der what it was. Hadley began yelling and
calling for help and grabbed hold Of the
lapel of the robbers coat, tearing 1t slightly.
The man with the pistol tried TO stop the
yelling by beating Hadley over the head
with the weapon but was not successful.
Seeing that the mans cries would soon
bring help, he called to his partner, who
had come in, and started for the cash
drawer, Lets get out of this" They ran
from the place and started south on Bright
street. When they left the store both OF
them had reyolyers In their hands;
given at roll call Il message to deliver on
Indiana avenue, across the street from Had
iey's store. and had just called up from a
telephone box on West Walnut street. They
had been told Of the robbery on Virginia
avenu and hearing the calls for help. Stod-
d tS,n said lf, Come r, on p pa : me- rI ROBBERS f.r IN
diana avenue, and saw the two men rush
from Hadley's store. After crossing the
avenue the men separated, and the police
men followed suit. On the east side OF
Bright street was Stoddard. As one of the
men came towards him he saw in the moon
light the CLEAN of a pistol. Stoddard cried,
at the same time leveling his own gun,
Drop your gun or I'll Kill you." The adj
monition was not Needed until after its
repetition.
FIRED AT POLICEMAN.
The robber stopped and Stoddard held
him at the point of his pistol until Conk-
lin, who had been engaged with the other
man on the west side of the street. came
to his assistance and put the ''nippers' on
the prisoner. The man with whom Conklin
had to deal was a more desperate and de-
termined character, and when he had APP
preached within about twenty feet of the
policeman fired three shots at him In quick
succession. The first shot was wild, but
the second bullet passed close enough to
Conklin's head TO cause him to dodge after
Ii was all over. The third shot was also
wide of the mark. Conklin, while running,
was endeavoring to get his pistol from his
the man had passed him. when he gave
chase and fired two shots at the fleeing
criminal The robber was much faster than
Conklin and disappeared on Walnut street.
Conklin, seeing that he could not overtake
the man, returned to assist Stoddard. Two
of the shots fired by the rcbber struck the
eral members of the family who had gone
TO sleep. The shots attracted a large crowd.
including about a hundred women and when
the patrol wagon arrived there was great
excitement in the neighborhood.
Hadley was busy telling how 1t happened.
Behind his left ear was a large welt. from
WHICH the DlOOQ HONeu freely, WHERE liz
man under arrest had struck him with the
revolver. Nothing was taken. the men be-
ing frightened out before they had accom-
plished their object. 1t was learned later
the two men had been in a saloon on the
corner for a short time and the man ar
rested had stopped inside while the other
one went out. 1t was thought he was the
one who purchased the tooth brush, having
gone into the place i'm order to learn the
location of the cash drawer. Hadley
said he could give no description of
the nl1rchaSpr 4Of the tooth brlSh. haV-
ing paid but little attention to him, and
hardly saw the man who went behind the
counter. having been fully engaged with
the other man.
DESCRIPTION OF MEYERS.
At headquarters the man was taken in
charge by Captain Kruger, who endeavored
TO learn something of the pal who had es-
capped. The man gave his name as Charles
Meyers. and said he lived at No. 2es South
Seventeenth street. Columbus. O. He said
he had been here but two days. and Thurs
day night met the man who was with him.
Together they rented a room south Of the
depot. and last night when they started out
he claimed. the other man handed him a re-
volver. saying. Take this: perhaps you'll
need it," He admitted having held up John
p. Fritz and Hadley, but claimed his part
nor DHna b. - =