The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22
Young Men Who Had
Tried a Hold-Up
APE NOW ARRESTED
Confess to Allen the
Intended Victim.

A holdup that favored of the wild
police a week ago.
Since that time Inspectors O'Day and
Stone have been at work on the case
and yesterday arrested a trio Of young
men who, by their own confession,
deliberately planned to hold up and
rob an old man.
The men are Herbert E. Hurd, IS,
Irving G. Stratton, IS, and Archibald
r. Davis, II years old. They are
charged with assault, with attempt to
rob.
The alleged assault took place last
Saturday night, when the young men
secreted themselves in the barn of
| Erastus w. Allen, II Clifton street
where they waited for the owner to put
IN an appearance when an unsuccess-
ful attempt was made to get his
money.
Hurd who figures as the leader of the
gang, was formerly employed by Mr..
Allen, and well acquainted with his
habits, and the fact that he usually
carries quite sum of money about his
person As was his custom after
closing the store Saturday night. Mr.
Allen went home and, taking a pail of
water in one hand and lantern in the
other, started for the barn to care for
his horse. The barn door was open a
rev inches, but this was not noticed
at the time.
He had no sooner got inside the
pudding, however. than he realized that
something was wrong. There was a
sudden rush by the juvenile Dick Tur-
pms. and while one of the number
tried to throw a horse blanket over
his head to s4ifie his cries for aid and
prevent his recognizing his assailants.
the others attempted to bind his arms
with ropes
MI. Allen was too much for his as
sallants, however, and succeeded in
throwing the blanket off. at the same
time calling for help. The young men
TOOK fright and fed going in different
directions.
Inc matter was reported TO the police
the day following and Inspectors O'Day
and Stone detailed on the case Mr..
Allen was unable to identify the men
on account of the darkness, neither
could ne give much of a description of
them The only thing left behind in
the shape of a clue was a rubber evil
IDENTIFY dropped by one of the would-be
ihighwaymen.
Inside the toe of the rubber was
f'SSN "a PeiPSl Ou HIGH WAS an
inscription that led up to the arrest
of the young men, The inspectors
worked steadily on the case during the
week and yesterday felt justified in
making the arrests Hurd was taken
on Pearl street and the others at the
places where they are employed.
In their confession the young men
admit the affair was carefully
planned, the only apparent reason be-
ing that they wanted money.
They also say that they met Friday
night, when the details OF the affair
were worked out and again Saturday
noon, when it was decided to rendez-
Vous at the barn early in the evening.
The building was entered from the
rear and the young men lay in con-
cealment until they heard Mr.. Allen
come into the barn
The rope with which they intended
to bind their prisoner was found in
the barn and had been used TO hitch
a horse, left standing on the barn
floor. Hurd knew OF this rope and
soon after getting inside the rope was
taken down and cut into lengths suit
able for binding the victim
The plan miscarried, however. and
now the young men are sorry.