The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-18
Dennehy and Peterson Relate
Their Experiences to Crowds
of Thirsty Inquircrs.
ROBBERS STILL At LARGE.
Methods of Operation Adopted by
the Youthful Highwaymen Is
Unique in Criminal
Annals.

Neither the police nor their FIVE victims
have been able to find the faintest clew
TO the Identity Of the three 'ice-box hold
UP men, who made two daring and sue
cessful raids on North Nineteenth street
Friday night. Ali day yesterday Peterson's
saloon. on Sullivan avenue. and Denehy's.
at O'Fallon street, we're besieged by crowds
of curious men and boys. who bought beer
and asked questions without let-up.
When a representative of The Republic
dropped into Peterson's late In the after
noon to ask II there were any develop
ments. the senior Peterson was wrapped in
n cloud of cigar smoke and an air OF utter
WEAKNESS.
II can tell nothing more. All the day I
have talked about no other thing; upd 1
am fifteen to go to bed already" was his
reply TO the reporters greeting. How did
l feel in the ice box? How should I know
/ had not the time to feel; l was all ex-
element. First 1 see was a big pistol right
before my face! Hands up says the young
fellow Will the gun. and up goes my hands.
Take what you want I says. hut be
careful about that gum Then he laughed
a little and made one Of the others close
the door. Next he goes behind the bar ana
takes all the cash. As he comes out he
picks up a box of cigars. Then he walks
TO the ice box, pulls the door open ana
looks In.
"'Step In here! he says, pointing the
gun right between my eyes
mo I says. that won't do
step In he says. and be - quick
about it,"
Just as I was stepping in be called for
my pocketbook. and that was forty more
dollars gone. But what do l care Tor IL
all when | see that gun? One little bullet
In the arm would cost more than twice
what they got: SO I am satisfied
Gould / identify them. you say! Now
how should know? l was all excitement.
l know they was kids yet. not more than
IL or Is. and that's all l know. IL the po-
lice get 'em, all right. II not. all righ''
too. This money is better gone than me-
or my son, and l amt worrying about H..
Mr.. Peterson Is 81 years old and weighs
go pounds. 1t was his avoirdupois. thrown
violently against the door OF the Ice ooN'
that caused the latch to yield. The pris-
oners breathed iced air for only a few min
utes. and none of them Is worse Physically
for the experience. The other victims were
Peterson, Jr., and two customers known AT
the saloon as VIII and Tom. The total
haul Of the hold-up men amounted to more
than 500.
Jerre Dennehy. the O'Fallon street VIC
tim, doesn't know whether he made or LOST
money by the hold-up. He was so busy
handing out drinks all day yesterday that
his usually fluent tongue hadn't much
chance. So he let the crowd do the TANK
ing, while he attended to business; ana
there hadn't been such business on that
corner for many a day.
Some members of the crowd were In
cIined to chaf Dennehy for submitting TO
the thugs without some show OF fight. His
inyar,able reply was: The Sheriff is look
Ing for all the brave men in town; maybe
you'd better Join the posse" That usually
had the desired effect. and provoked an
other round Of drinks.
When The Republic man dropped in. Dem
nehy was losing money while trying to ex-
plain to Matte Sheehan. his old-tine friend
and counselor. how 4 all happened. Oeane-
ny would sooner have had the robbers come
In again than Matte. and he was anxious
to keep Sheehan from circulating exayser-
ated stories of the occurrence throughout
the neighborhood.
at was all over so quick" said Dennehy,
II don't know how II happened. Win ,hey
fust KEN in | thought they was Just )mers.
an l nuvver looked up, TIL one o the lads
seq up with your hands, Me hands wint
up so high 1 barked the skin on me
cross-eyed lookin' from wan scala yag to
the other. Aich O. the pistols was bigger
thar the other, an l got so dizzy lookln'
into the deep muzzles of EN- l closed me
eyes TO keep from fallin' down"
THE only thing JURY Is kickin' about"
interrupted Matte, rs because he had TO
put In a couple o. more tons Of ice this
mornin' In the ice box than any other day.
He don't'mind IOsin' the SIS any more than
he would his right leg. but he hates to
cough up SO much money to the iceman.
He was sweatin' so hard while he was
locked up, thinkin' the customers that come
in an couldn't get waited on, I'D go across
the street an patron!ze the Dutchman, that
he melted all the ice in the box. That beer
amt cold yet. Jury. Put a head on that
glass from the new kag. 1 bleeve you got
a chunk OF alumni in the ice-box, instead
of ice. tryin' to make up for what you lost
last night"
"'Tis a lie. Matte" said Dennehy. Now.
look-a here. II you had three big cannon,
as they calls 'em. showed into yer face
whin We was expectin' to take in money in
stead of sheliin' II out, Is II sweatin' We
think ye'd be? Divil a bit Nv lather was
OF me, / promise ye. The cold chills was
gallivantin' up an down me spine. an I
was that cold whin I got In the ice box I
thought the chunk Nv ice that was pressin'
up akin me neck was q red coal"
Didn't you save nothin' from the wreck
at all. Jurry?' asked Sheehan.
- saved the $a5 l had in me inside pock-
WELL" said Sheehan. little as that is.
beer an charge Il up with the drinks the
stick-up men got"