Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-10-16
]. !. JAMES
HELD UP

Mr.. James, who had been down town,
was returning home. At point i'm
mediately in front of Raymond Keel
er's residence he met two men. He
took no particular notice of them
until they were directly abreast when
one of the two sprang upon him selz-
ing him by the bosom in a vise-like
grasp and at the same time leveling a
revolver IN his face. The highwayman
at the same moment hurled vile
epithet at the man in his grasp and
demanded:
Hand over all you re got -
Mr.. James says he was very badly
frightened He had on his person a
large sum of money and he realized
that he was ur against two robbers.
Yielding to a very natural impulse he
dropped his head upon his bosom to
escape the highwayman' aim, and
mastering all his strength broke away
from their grasp, at the same time cry
ing out, murder at the top of his
voice
Mr.. James says there were number
of people still upon the street, within
na11Ing uIsUauCp, nut nv----~-aaann-
ed to apprehend his peril. He thinks,
however, that his vigorous alarm saw
ed him, as the men made no effort to
continue the hold-up but walked up
East Market street while he fell back
towards Church street.
Thomas j. Price was standing in
front of his residence less than a square
from the scene of the holdup. He
heard Mr.. James cry out murder.
He was inclined to think it was some
boys playing at the spot, although
there was a tone Of desperation in the
voice that hardly indicated play. A
moment later the two men came walk
ing along. Mr.. Price asked them what
the trouble was down at the corner.
"Oh there is a crazy fellow down
there yelling murder" they replied as
they leisurely turned down Cedar
street A moment later Mr.. James
came along and told story which
cleared up the whole affair.
The two highwaymen by that time
had disappeared. The police by this
time had been sent for and Mr.. James
in order to keep on track of the rob
bers hurried down Cedar street. He
soon caught sight of them. In passing
the residence of John Vastine one of
them stumbled over the door step and
fell sprawling. He was crippled some
what by the accident and was unable
to make very good time, so that the
two parted company, one going in the
direction of the silk mill, and the 9th
er disappearing in the opposite direc
tion.
Officers Mincemoyer and Voris were
soon on the trail and distinguished
themselves not only by acts of person
al bravery but by rare sagacity i'll con-
Quoting the pursuit. so that they sue
ceeded in running down the highway
men, although the latter had over half
an hours start and had the darkness
of the night as a shield.
Below the Vastine residence OH Cedar
street they found one of the men ly
ing along the fence. He was quickly
taken into custody and handed over to
Constable Elijah Morgan by whom he
was taken to the lock up. The officers
continued their way to the Bessemer
Steel Plant, where they had reason to
believe a gang of tramps was encamp-
ed. They prosecuted diligent search
about the big plant exposed to consid
erable peril in the dark. Not finding
their men they retraced their steps to
East Market street where they encount-
cred three desperate looking charact-
ers, who moved off as the officers ap-
preached.
Hold onr' called out Officer Voris.
As the officer spoke one of the trio
made dash across the street, the
officer was too quick, however, and
while Chief Mincemoycr seized one of
the others Voris grasped the fellow
who was trying to get away. He seiz-
ed the latter by the arm and as he
held him firmly he felt something hard
concealed in his sleeve. An investiga
tion showed that it was a 36 6-shooter,
which the fellow had ready for emer-
gency. The officers by this time had
their hands full and the third man
made his escape.
The two arrested were handcuffed
and brought down town. The one
taken by Officer Voris was positively
identified by Mr.. James as the man
who drew the revolver upon him.
They were both placed in Jail.
The three men who were captured
Monday night by the police on suspic
ion of holding up U. Y. James, on
East Market street between Cedar and
Church streets, were given hearing
before Justice Oglesby Tuesday after
noon and were committed to the county
prison to await trial.
The hearing room was crowded and
many were unable to get i'll. The pris
oners were brought from the Jail by
Chief of Police MIncemoyer, Officer
Voris and Officer Young. They gave
their names as Andrew Lux, William
Green and Charles May and said their
homes were in Shenandoah.
The first witness was Seth Freeze,
who testified that he met Green on
East Market street Monday night, be.
tween nine and ten o'clock. Green
said he was a striking miner and ask
ed if Mr. Freeze could do anything for
him The latter replied that he would
see that Green got supper. They sat
on the steps of John Martins store
and Green put his hand i'll Mr..
Freezes pocket in an effort to get