The Topeka state journal., 1902-09-13
HELD UP nine men
Lone Footpad on a Tour OF
Robbery.
Began by Stopping Two Men
Near Catholic Church.
SHOT AT FRANK LEWIS
First Robbed Him of q Small
Sum of Money.
Also Fired His Revolver at
Other Victims.
ONE MAN BLUFFS HIM.
ONE MAN BLUFFS HIM.
Fred C. Craddock Was Stopped
With His Wife.
When He Advanced the High
wayman Ran Away.

A sudden revival of the long neglect
ed hold-up business was started by
lone stranger about IL o'clock last
night He did not leave his card. or
even clue to his identity. but he made
an impression with all whom he met.
Within an hour and a half he held up
nine, persons, and fired at three of them
after failing to secure any booty. His
entire collection from the two who Der
mitted themselves to be robbed amount
ed to $3.50
This modern Jack Shepard began op-
erations at Eighth avenue and Jackson
street Mr.. r. /. Horton, a salesman,
who lives at 307 West Seventh street.
was going home. He intended to go
west to Van Buren on Eighth and turn
north. Just ahead of him walked an
other man, Mr.. William Burgess, an en-
ploye of the Edison Light company
The two pedestrians were about 20 feet
apart AS they passed in front of the
Church of the Assumption, man VINO
was coming east on the same side. and
toward tFem, stepped out in the park
ing directly in front of the church steps
and pointed a large revolver at Horton.
Throw up your hands," he COM
manded, assuming crouching position.
He then whirled on Burgess, who was
nearer, and said, as he took sight at
him with the big gun, which he rested
over his left wrist. 'Shell out. YOU"
Il have nothing to shell out" replied
Burgess. but you can have my watch
turned his gun on Burgess Horton
jumped back and ran around the corner
OF Jackson street. and yelled Police"
The diversion gave Burgess chance.
and he took it, sprinting hastily around
the west corner and into the light plant
He was pursued to the corner by the
would -be-robber, who fired shot from
his heavy revolver just as Burgess
rounded the corner The slot was from
a heavy calibre gun, and was heard to
the police station, three blocks away.
After shooting at Burgess the robber
disappeared. Burgess went into the
light plant and notified the police by
telephone. A number of officers hurried
to the scene of the shooting and began
to search the alleys in the neghborhood.
Officer Downie and q reporter who went
west to Harrison and turned north
through the alley got within two blocks
of the robber when he stopped Frank
Lewis, city ticket agent of the Union
Pacific. He displayed his artillery and
relieved the victim of 50 and his watch.
He then returned the watch and shot
at Mr.. Lewis. for no particular reason
unless it was to let the searchers know
that he was still doing business.
A few minutes later two boys ran into
the police station and reported that
they had been held up at Third and
Taylor street, but that the man did not
search them. Before he got around to
the boys Mr.. Highwayman shot at
man near the corner of Fourth and Van
Buren street. who took to his heels
when the elevator" commended him to
shell out"
The footpad then moved over to Third
and Harrison street, and help up George
Aye, son of ex-POliceman Aye He
struck the boy on the back of the hand
with his revolver and took what he had,
a small amount. less than a dollar
The highwayman then moved one
block to the corner of Fourth and Tay-
lor and sat down on a stone in the
finisher at Halls, was coming along
with his wife. They had been to a
party and were returning home, 40
Polk street Mrs. Craddock sew the
band. She jokingly remarked that they
were going to be held UP. Let him trv
it," answered her husband. And he did
try it, Jumping into the shadow of
tree he yelled, Throw up your hands,"
Craddock tried dangerous bluff. He
did not have a weapon of any kind, but
he made motion of drawing revolver
from his hip pocket and advanced or
deep chested profanity which had the
desired effect. The robber could not
stand for the swearing and hastily re-
tired Craddock took his wife to theii
home, only two blocks away and re-
turned with his revolver He could see
nothing of his friend, the robber, and
went to the police station, where he told
his story and gave an excellent panto-
mime illustration of the encounter, tax
ing the part of the footpad, and using
his order to hands up" then turning
around and showing how he ran a des-
perate bluff. and won.
The officers and reporters who had re-
turned from a fruitless search in the
vicinity of the first two hold ups. at
once started for the Rock Island Y, as
the movements of the highwayman
seemed to be working in that direction
Officer Downie and Detective Lucas
made a thorough search of the yards
and outgoing trains, and held up and
searched several unfortunates who
chanced to look like they might be the
man wanted. They all proved an alibi
without trouble when they were search
ed and examined.
The descriptions given by the several
parties leave no doubt about his being
the same man. His system of crouching
over SO that his face could not be seen
was the same in all cases. Also the
manner he rested his heavy revolver
across his wrist was the same. Young
Aye got the best look at him. and he
described him as a square shouldered
man, roughly dressed, who wore
heavy dark fnoustache and a SLOUGH hat
Each of the several men he held up will
go armed for time now Last night the
Arst lament heard from each victim in
turn was an artistic mixture of pro-
family relative to the fact that they had
1sft their guns at home.