The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-14
-Four Held Up Man in Truly Pro
fesSional Style on the Man
chester Road.
VICTIM THOUGHT 1T A JOKE.
Eumor Of the Situation Vanished
When He Had to Elevate His
Hands and Was Relieved
of Watch and Money.

Michael A!cCioshey, laborer. living o:
the Manchester road near Bartold's Grove.
in st Louis County, was held up and robbed
Thursday nigh: near his homo by four
boys. the oldest Of whom WIS not more
than If The deco was done in truly pro-
fsssional form, and, If the youngsters had
rot been bred IN a school Of robbery OF the
most approved sort. they had learned the
htghwayn.au'S art We'll from the literature
OF crime. -...
McrIoskey Rad been al a tavern in Mad
de,IvfiIe .snd was walking hoine along the
road Just east Of Maddenrille there is a
steep decliv.ty. At the bottom Of this a
thick growth Of willows is on each side of
the reed.
When he came opposite the willows he
heari a voice at his elbow and was ordered
10 hold Up his hands He turned and found
a b. revolver staring him IN the face. Be
hind the pistol YVES youth about five feet
tall;
q moment later three more boys came out
from under the willows, where they had
been concealed. one Of these had revolver
and covered McCioskey With 1t. The four
were clad in truly Jesse James style. A
black cloth covered the upper part of sach
face: a slouch hat threw shade over the
eyes; and th=ir clothes were dark IN color.
Got Money and Watch.
By this time lIcCleskey felt like Rip Van
Wink .yhen the curiOusly formed dwarfs.
with kegs. on their backs began TO appear
on all sides Of him. He first took the hands
MP command TO be a good joke, and said:
''Cet out Of here. kids: don't want any
monkey business" But the kids" though
they may have shown a little hesitation At
first. had warmed to the business The one
who had trst stopped him replied: Now,
zr-fI 4h4-o hat, do A- h.. n.,t.
last order there a sharp click as Of the
cooking of pistol. At this omnous sound
McClCSkey's hands went up.
The first speaker. who was evidently the
chief of the gang. then said: Med. go
troo, him.. The Ned indicated was the
!, smallest OF the four boys. and ore OF the
1.-TWO who apparently had no weaoon But
" De carried out the order and his ninble
! fingers reached into every one of McCios-
q silver watch. In rather a derrecatory
manner, he exhibited to the chief what
the least pleased. and he demanded sternIy
o. McCloskcy. us that all yer got?' The
victim replied Inoarnfully that it was, The
doughty chief made some remark about Nc
Closkey's being cheaD and announced to |
MS companions that "a and a silver watch |
were 'blarIed poor swag.
Posse Searched in Vain.
While this commentary on the paucity |
of McClosiley's belongings was going on, |
he was still standing with his hands In air |
At last the .. chef caught sisht OF him and
like gawky? Get cut o here. and git /
quick er I'll punctuate yer sophagus wild |
lead capsule
After this overpowering speech McClos- |
key was completely awed. and he obeyed /
the mandate t. ss, t Gpt ~ Fs ran and did
home and told the startling news OF the /
hoid-up TO his wife.
Mrs hcCloskey. though she was under
the impression that her better half had had
something to drink and trihe too much.
alarmed the neighborhood. Soon a posse of
l...atr
ing along the Manchester road. and In the
Des Peres River bottoms for the four bold. |
bad. highwaymen. They thrashed the coun- |
tryside until morning. but no robbers were |
found