The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-21
A BOLD HOTEL ROBBERY
Lone Hlshwayman Holds Up The Clerk and
Defes Employees
AND MAKES HIS ESCAPE ON A HORSE
Got Away with the Strong Bos
which Contained Diamonds,
Money and Bank Checks.

Kansas City, Mo-, May 20.--A lone high
wayman entered the corridor OF the Coates
hotel. one OF the leading hostelries here,
at 1880 O'Clock tonight and after forcing
the strong box 81 the cigar stand escaped
The box contained diamonds valued at
$1,000, $3.50 in gold, currency and silver
and checks to the amount OF 500. He
held the night clerk and another en-
ploye OF the hotel off at the point Of a
revolver and escaped on a horse that he
had tied to the curbing.
AT the time of the hold-up. which proved
enc of the most daring ever perpetrated
In Kansas CITY, a Times reporter james
Sullivan, and Colonel Fred ". Fleming
OF the Missouri National Guard were
seated In one end OF the lobby, Night
Clerk william Gossatt stood behind the
registering desk; Night Watchman Charles
H. Meeker was pacing TO and FRO in the
center oil the floor and j. w. Garyey, a
guest. and Key Clerk keiieher were near
by. sherman Clark. CLERK OF the stand, a
short distance away, was waiting ON a
customer, who was probably the robbers
confederate.
kelieher was the first to notice the ROB-
Der as he entered the LOBBY.
Damn YOU" exclaimed the visitor, as
kelleher faced him, you act as If you
were going 10 DO something" The robber
as he spoke thrust the muzzle of a re-
volver in Kelleher's face, then stepped
behind the counter, picked up the strok-
Ing box and turned to 80.
Clerk Clark saw him at this moment.
hold on" he cried. what 90 you
want?''
you. don't you move" commanded the
man behind the gun, as he pointed his
weslon at clark's head. III you do I'll
get YOU" He backed out Of the door with
his face turned to the lobby and, with
revolver leVelled, disappeared.
so daring was the robbery committed,
IL was minute almost before Kelleher
or Clark could mako an outcry. The
Waterman awoke from his reverie to ses
the confederate disappear through another
entrance. The alarm aroused Sullivan and
Fleming, who, until the robber had made
on on his horse, were in ignorance OF the
drama that had been en.Ntcd within fifty
feet of where they stood
Just before the robDery occurred Kel;e-
her had placed twelve pieces of diamond
1eweiry, consisting Of rings, pins and
studs, valued IN the aggregate al S12Ou
about $3.50 IN money and some cheeks Ia
the box, preparatory to taking 1t 10 the
hotel safe The confederate attracted his
attention mornentarly at the other end OF
the counter and after the ro1ber had per-
formed his work. which consumed but the
fraction OF a minute both were In the
street making or, Might Clerk Gossett
claims that he knows the ro0ber we'll The
robber Ks described as being 80 years of
age, about six feet ia height and we'll
dressed
According to Clerk Gossett the man had
lived at the hotel for a week, He had on
enc occasion taken the clerk out for a drive
and had generally been considered good
fellow The Coates house IS one OF the
three leading hotels IN the city and Is SIT
uated at Tenth ald Broadway in the
heart of the downtown district