Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-17
HOLD U POSTMASTER
Robbers at Quarry Compel H.
G. ROark to Hand Over ALI
His Cash.
SECURE MONEY AND ESCAPE
With a Gun Pressed to His Forehead
the Postmaster is Forced to Yield to
the Robbers Demands - They Lock
Him in, But He Escapes and Spreads
the AIarm-Search Organized.

With gun pressed to his forehead,
and demand to hand over all of the
cash belonging to the United States
government, Postmaster HI. c. Roark,
of Quarry, was held up by masked men
Saturday night and relieved of 5000.
The robbers escaped, altho a posse,
hastily summoned, searched for sew
eral hours in the hopes of effecting their
capture.
The robbery occurred at $50 o'clock.
The Quarry postoffice is located in the
old depot building of the Northwestern,
and Mr.. Roark was alone at the time.
He had just balanced up the days ac-
counts, and placed the receipts, $S0.50,
in his purse When all ready to go Mr.
Roark blew out the light and stepped
to the door, placing the key on the
outside. He had no sooner got the key
in the lock than, out from the dark
ness, one from either side, stepped
two men, Each grabbed him and
forced him backwards, into the post
office. Both were masked and one
held an ugly gun to MIR. Roark's fore
head, telling him to throw up his hands.
There was no alternative for the post
master, and up they went. The other
explained that they wanted his money,
and Immediately proceeded to get it.
They appeared to know where to find
it, too, for the robber went for the
pocketbook first, and then looked the
fr,s he
thing else on his person worth hav-
ing. When they had finished they
locked Mr.. Roark indoors, turning the
key on the outside, and hurriedly left.
There was a rear door to the building,
locked on the inside. Mr.. Roark i'm
mediately escaped and made for the
nearest store and, informing few
friends of the circumstance, at once
began a search. The posse was COM
posed of Mr.. Roark and his son, Will
liam, p. M. Stewart and son, James
Stewart, Lou Murtka, Joe Bolvine,
George Hostetter and Peter Walsh.
They were only ten minutes behind
the robbers, but they never caught
sight of them. The search lasted until
midnight. 1t is not known which way
the men went, but it is presumed they
worked west. AT any rate the pocket
book, with a $3.50 gold piece, left in
their hurry to get away. was found
about 100 yards west of the Office.
The robbery was reported shortly
after Its occurrence to the sheriff's
office here. The police were also noti-
fed, and a watch kept for characters
that might appear suspicious. Mr..
Roark did not have an opportunity to
see either of the men well, owing to the
darkness. consequently could give no
descriptions. He is not inclined, how
ever, to think that it was the work
of professionals, but rather some one
acquainted with local conditions. Sat
urday was pay day at the quarries and
usually there is considerable money
handled at the postoffice, as there is
no bank in the town. Employees of the
quarry company make their remit
fences in money orders, and oftimes
the postmaster handles as much as
$500 on days when the quarrymen are
paid. 1t is thought that the robbers
had an idea they would secure more
in making the assault on the post
master Saturday evening.