The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-05
Cashier Of the Street Car Company
Sandbagged,
HIGHwAYMAN SECURED $4,000.
Money Was Drawn to Meet the Semi
Monthly Pay Roll.
UNLuCKY MAN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
There IL No Ciew to the Perpctrator
Mr.. MacGrcEor's Statement
(, of the Affnir.

of the Anutr.
Yesterday morning at 1890 O'Clock
there occurred on Franklin street
short distance east OF the postofhce. one
OF the most daring robberies that has ever
been committed in Houston.
Assistant Treasurer and Cashier f. NJ.
Champion of tho Houston Electric Street
Railway company was knocked down and
robbed of $4,000 in currency which he had
but short time before drawn from the
Planters and Mechanics bank. with which
TO meet the semi monthly pay roll OF
employees of that company.
The spot where the sandbagging oc-
Cured is one of the most prominent in
the city, being aversed by scores OF
people hourly, and there Is hardly mo-
ment of time but that some one is passing.
The business houses and postofnce that
surround the place are being entered and
left by constant stream of people dur
ing all hours of the day yet there can
not be found a single person who wit
messed the crime.
Mr.. Champion went to the bank about
10 o'clock with check for $4,000, on
which he drew the money. There were
Eve packages. two OF them containing
$1,000 each in denominations of $50 bills,
one package of $500 in $40 bills, two
packages of $500 in 50 bills. This Mr..
Champion placed in his inside vest pocket
but did not button the vest.
From the bank he went down Franklin
avenue to the postofhce, where he at
tended to some business and left by the
north entrance OF the building, going
east Only few steps from this en-
trance and opposite small building used
as a paint chop Is where he claims TO
have been assaulted and robbed. He
saw no one. but states that something
suddenly tell upon the top of his head
which stunned him.
Realizing that he was being robbed, he
grabbed the outside of his vest and tried
10 save the money but only succeeded in
retaining portion of one package of 81
bills--$115.
After regainlng consciousness he stag
gered to his feet and made his way down
the street to Caroline ard met II. c. Nose
hart, who went to his assistance From
here he was taken TO Spchr's saloon on
Congress avenue, where he waited until
the police were notified that a man needed
attention.
Officer King arrived and conveyed him
to the police station, where upon arrival
he pulled the bills he had saved from his
pocket and threw them on a bench. ex-
claiming, THAT is all they left mel"
He was asked a few questions by Off
GERS present and before he could be pre-
vented drew 3s-caliber pistol from his
pocket, placed it to his head. when Clerk
Forrest quickly knocked the weapon from
his hand
Superintendent Ellis was telephoned for
and upon his arrival at the police station
approached Champion and asked him what
the trouble was. His reply was Il have
been robbed, but for Gods sake, don't
tell my wife"
There are marks to be found on Mr.
Champions head: two cuts ON the fore.
head. which look as II they had been
made by sharp rather than a blunt in
strument. His injuries are not serlou.
and will not necessarily cause him any
inconvenience.
From the police station he was takei
to his home at 1901 Lamar street.
r. r. Trip and Joe schilling, employee.
of the Street Railway company wer,
standing at the north entrance OF tn,
postoffce when Champion came out ant
he spoke to them as he passed. They
however. did not see the assault. though
il was fully five minutes after Champion
passed before they left that corner.
Street car officers state that the proba
Die reason for Mr.. Champion going dow,
Franklin avenue was that he had
requisition for NJ ]. Barrett. the fore
man of the power house, which he wante,
TO deliver. Usually he went direct from
the bank to the company's office afte
drawing the money for pay rolls.
Post reporter saw Mr.. MacGregor las
night and asked him II there had been an,
further Developments in this matter
stating that 1t had been rumored that tw,
ladies In the Gibbs building had witnessed
the robbery To this Mr.. MacGregor sait
he had heard OF such rumor and hat
been up to see the ladies referred to- bu
would not make public any statemen
other than they had witnessed scufa,
between two men at the point wher,
Champion was sandbagged.
II have perfect confidence in Mr.. Cham,
pion." said Mr.. MaeGregor. "and beliey,
that he is strictly honest, and this, too
Is tho opinion Of all the company's ON,
GERS"
The officers are making thorough In.
yaStiRation. hut en FAR have No olo.., ..