Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-23
A BOLD ROBBERY.
Harold Johnson Attacked by
Foot Pads, Saturday Night,
And Relieved of Over $40 in Money
and Gold Watch.
Police Can Find No Clue to Identity
of Assistants.

No little excitement was occaSioned,
Saturday night, when it was learned
that Harold Johnson, son of DR.. john
son of this city, had been attacked by
foOtpads, roughly handled and. robbed
of a valuable watch and Sal 30 in cash.
In an interview, Sunday, Mr.. Johnson
told the following story:
II started out from the house about
$50 o'clock, telling only my mother the
purpose Of my Grand l had $4O12,
mostly in small change, with perhaps
Il few bills, which | was going to carry
down to Col. Henry G. Staples to pay
for the use of the Driving park for this
spring by the COny High school base
ball team. | crossed over Chapel street,
down Green to State, and thence to
JohnsOn's drug store, where | pur-
chased a few stamps. paying for them
out of my wallet. The money which /
was to deliver to Mr.. Staples was in
the side pocket Of my coat, tied up in
q common shot bag. 1t was pretty
heavy and weighted my pocket down
considerably. | was intending to catch
the o'clock car for Mr.. Staples resi-
dence, but missed it and so had to
walk"
In answer to a question he replied
that he noticed nobody that he would
suspect of being implicated in the rob
berry and said that he spoke to no one
about his crrand. He then continued
with his story:
Il proceeded down State street
passed the State House and was, as
nearly as | recollect, about half way
between the State House and the first
house beyond, on the right. 1t must
have been little after 0 o'clock; it was
pitch dark ana raining hard. l had my
umbrella tipped forward in warding of
| the rain. when all at once the umbrella
WIS tipped to one side and | received
| a heavy blow on the head; ut the same
moment | was tripped over the bank
| which was about two or three feet higl
at this point, upon the electric cal
| track. | was not rendered unconscious
| by the blow but regained my feet ant
! dealt my assailant blow which shat
| tered the umbrella into bits.
Il then realized that there were two
| men to deal with instead of one, and
| recognized that one was much larger
IN stature than the other. ! was ther
grabbed by the collar, but broke away
then one tripped me while the Othel
c.Ltched at my throat. / fell. / re-
| member that a large-szed man was
shutting off my wind, holding me dow
| with his knee, nearly crushing my
| chest IN. while the other was goint
through my pockets. They found m,
wallet and watch. This | can distinct
~ remember. but after that | was un
| conscious. When | regained conscious
ness the men were gone, also the ba.
Of money from my side pocket, my
watch and wallet containing $1.20.
Il experienced a sharp pain in thu
region Of my chest and my head fel
numb
He said he then went directly homt
and was attended by his father, DR.
Johnson. who after making a thoroug!
examination telephoned the police sta
ton the particulars. DR.. Johnson pro
nounced no bones broken but said tina
the cartridges Of three ribs had beer
torn from place, which was nearly al
| bad as a break. The doctor said Their
| was a large lump on his head, extend
| ing longitudinally but quite narrow, "a
| if a sand bag had been used in the as
| sault.
Mr.. johnson was resting as comfort
ably, yesterday, as could be expected
under the circumstances.
He is manager of the Cony Higl
school baseball team and as it is abou
the end of the season was paying VI
| bills preparatory to sending in a repor
| to the school
| The police have been unable to OBJ
| tain any clues upon which they car
successfully work, and Mr.. Johnson i
| unable to attach suspicion to anyone