The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-21
COATES HOUSE ROBBED
DARING HOLD-UP OF A KANSAS CITY
HOTEL BY ONE MAN.
Entered the Lobby Late Sunday Night,
Covered the Clerk with n Pistol,
and Escaped with His Booty.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May 2O-A lone
highwayman entered the corridor of the
Coates Hotel, one of the leading hotels
here, at 1880 o'clock tonight and forcing
the strong box of 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 employe Of the
hotel off at the. point of revolver and
escaped on horse that he had tied to the
curbing.
At the time of the hold-up. which proved
one of the most daring ever perpetrated in
Kansas City, Times reporter James Sulli-
van, and Colonel Fred w. Fleming, of the
Missouri National Guard, were seated in
one end of the lobby, Night Clerk William
Gossett stood behind the registering desk,
Night Watchman Charles l.. Meeker was
pacing to and fro In the center of the floor,
and ]. w. Garvey, a guest. and Key Clerk
Kelleher were near by. Sherman Clark.
clerk Of the stand. a. short distance away,
was waiting on customer, who was proba-
bly, the robbers confederate.
Kelleher was the first to notice the rob-
ber as he entered the lobby.
Damn you," exclaimed the visitor. as
Kelleher faced him, "act as If you were
going to do something"
The robber as he spoke thrust the muz-
zle of a revolver in Kelleher's face, then
stepped behind the counter. picked up the
strong box and turned to go.
Clerk Clark saw him at this moment.
Hold on," he cried, What do you want?"
"You - don't you move" commanded
the "man behind the gun" as he pointed
bis weapon at Clark's head. IF you do
I'll get you" He backed out of the door
with his face turned to the lobby, and with
revolver leveled, disappeared.
So daring was the robbery committed. 1t
was a minute almost before Kelleher or
Clark could make an outcry. The night
watchman awoke from his reverie to see
the confederate disappear through another
entrance. The alarm aroused Sullivan and
Fleming who until the robber had made
off on his horse, were in ignorance of the
drama that had been enacted within fifty
feet of where they stood.
Just before the robbery occurred Kelleher
had placed twelve pieces of diamond jew
elry, consisting of rings. pins and studs.
valued in the aggregate at $1,000; about
$-oO In money anu some CHECKS IN the DOx,
preparatory to taking it to the hotel safe.
The confederate attracted his attention
momentarily at the other end Of the
counter, and after the robber had per-
formed his work, which consumed but the
fraction of a minute, both were in the
street making off.
Night Clerk Gossett claims that the rob-
bers name Is Fishback, and that he knows
him well.
The robber is described as being thirty
five years of age. six feet in height and
we'll dressed. According to Clerk Gossett,
the man had lived at the hotel for a week.
He had on one occasion taken the clerk
out for drive and had generally been con-
sidered ''good fellow" The Coates House
is one of the three leading hotels in the
city, and is situated at Tenth and Broad
way, in the heart of the downtown dis
trict.