The times., 1899-03-11
STEALING TO SAFETY
ON A Freight TRAIN
Two Alleged IIighwaymen
Caught by the Police.
Suspected of Having Perpetrated
the Thursday Night Grimes.
One Tried 10 Get Rid of Gold
Watch-Found in the Penn
sSlVnnIn Yards.

AS a heavy Pennsylvania freight train
pulled out OF the yards near Benning at II
o'clock last night two men stepped from
the shadows and made for an empty car
coupled close to the engine. They had been
seen several times during the evening
dodging here and there through the shad-
ows peculiar to train yard, and their ac-
tons had not failed TO excite the suspicious
OF Sergeant Harry and Policeman Sweet,
OF the Ninth precinct mounted squad. who
finally decided to arrest them if they at
tempted to make an escape on an outgoing
train. In lodging brakemen and railroad
policemen the suspects exposed themselves
10 view more frequently than was safe.
and IL was seen that they closely answered.
the description of the highwaymen who
held up and robbed two belated pedestrians
last Thursday night.
Just AS the last through freight of the
night was getting under way the men ran
alongside and attempted to board it. Ser
geant Harry and Policeman Sweet were
near at hand, and. unobseryed. taey slipped
up and seized their men just as they were
swinging from the ground to the bumpers.
The prisoners made slight resistance,
but were easily overpower5d and taken
to Carroll's Hotel in BenuinE- From
Il
cinct Police Station for the Tatroi wagon,
and the suspects were then brought into
the city and locked up for the night.
While waiting in the hotel for the pa
troll wagon the prisoner who afterward
gave the name of Riley vas permitted u
enter the layatory. where he tried 10
dispose of a gold watch by throwing 1t
down a sewer. Sergeant Harry caught
him at the trick, and tried to stop him,
h11F ha arrb al nj srnt nd
have been lost had it not been caught in
a catch-valye lower down IN the sewer.
The watch is supposed TO be the property
OF T. p. Hickman. of Cos II Street north
west, who was held up. beaten, and robbed
in II Street on Thursday night. He wi |
be given a chance in the Police Court to-
day 10 identify both his property and the
men who are suspected of having robbed
him.
At the stationhouse the prisoners gave
their names as James Riley and Henry C.
Gawler. Riley says he is twenty-six years
old and printer and his companion
claims TO be twenty-four and machinist
Io.h said their homes were in Phi a1elphia.
The prisoners wore oyercoats, and the
garment in possession of Gawler is sup
posed 10 be the property of Frank w.
Jones. of 1874 Florida Avenue. who was
held UP about two hours before Hickman,
oy The same pair Of highwaymen. In the
oyercOat was found a pair of gloves, which
answered the description Of those reported
by Mr.. Jones 10 have been in a pocket
Of the garment Of which he was robbed
The crimes Of which Riley and Gawler
are suspected were remarkably bold and
successful. The first occurerd near Thir-
teenth Street and Florida Avenue about
1880 Thursday night. and the victim was
Frank w. Jones'. He was set upon and
robbed by TWO men within hailing distance
of his home. The thieves went through
his pockets and, finding nothing of value,
ruthlezs!y diyested their victim OF his
overcoat and fed
The robbers made good use of their feet
and next appeared in II Street, between
Ninth and Tenth, northwest. This time
T. p Hickman was their victim and he
suffered worse than Mr.. Jones and was
badly beaten by the highwaymen. who took
his gold hunting case watch and 81 in cash,
overlooking, however. a considerable sum
Of money which their victim carried in an
inside pocket.
The prisoners refuse to make any state
ment. They Will be arraigned in court
his morning. Messrs. Jones and Hickman
nave been notified 10 appear and identify
the men as their assaiiants if possible.
II the prisoners are identified by their
supposed victims this morning as the
police are confident they viii be, the cap
ture will be recorded as a clever one. and
great credit is due Sergeant Harry and
Policeman Sweet for efiecting it.