Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-03
FLIGHT WITH A HOLDUP NAN
Butcher Litchford Has a Lively Time Just
at Closing Up Time.
EXCHANGES CASH FOR HAT AND REVOLVER
Litchford Fires Three shots and In
dIcations Are That the Robber
is wounded, Though He
Escapes.

Charles w. Letchford was held up and
robbed in his butcher shop at 6O7 South
Main street, by a lone highwayman shortly
after s o'clock last evening. The thief es-
capped with between $50 and $50, but left
his hat and revolver. The revolver was
secured by Letchford after a struggle with
the thug and with it Letchford fred three
shots at his assailant. He believes the
second shot took effect. The fellow after
the second shot implored Letchford not to
shoot again, as he was mortally wounded.
Letchford, thinking he had the fellow safe,
left his shop to get assistance. When he
returned he discovered the fellow had
made his escape with the money by break
ing out a rear window.
Letchford had counted up his cash for
the day, placing $50 in silver in a sack, and
was sitting in the middle room Of the
shop with the sack Of money on the bench
beside him when a mar with a handker-
chief over his face entered the front door.
Letchford thinking he was some friend who
was attending a masquerade dance in the
neighborhood opened the glass door into
the middle room, calling out to the fell
low: Hello, there" Letchford was soon
made aware that his visitor was no friend,
as 'he fellow walked straight into the
room and thrusting a revolver in Letch-
ford's face, ordered him to hold up his
hands, at the same time telling him he
wanted his money and wanted it quick.
Letchford protested and the fellow again
ordered him to hold up his hands.
II don't want to kill you, but II you don't
hand over your cash without more ado
l will have to-"
When the fellow said this Letchford
reached over and handed the man the sack
Of silver and a IS bill from his pocket.
Fight for Revolver.
The visitor then ordered Letchford to
go into the rear room and lie down, other
wise he would kill him. Lctchford again
protested, but when he felt the cold muz-
zle Of the gun against his face he de-
cided discretion was the better part of
valor, and went into the rear room. The
fellow, instead of leaving, followed Letch-
ford into the room, but as he passed
through the door, Letchford seized the re-
volver and succeeded in wrenchine it
from the grasp of the thug. AS quickly
as he could Letchford fred three shots
and then the revolver failed to work. At
the second shot the fellow staggered and
fell over the sausage bench, calling out;
For Cod sake, don't shoot any more,
You've killed me, anyhow"
L~etchford, thinking the fellow was NOR
tally wounded and behaving he had him
safe went to the front of his shop to get
assistance. II was two or three minutes
before anyone came and when Letchford re-
turned to the back room the man was not
to be found. The window into the alley
was found forced open, showing how he
had managed to get away Blood on the
floor and the window casing led Letcnford
to the belief that he had wounded his
assailant.
The police think 1t possible that tAe
thug Tented being und in the expecta-
ton that Letchford would cease shooting
and that he would then get a chance to
close in and regain possession of his gun
The thief, when he fell over on the
sausage bench. dropped his hat, a soft black
fedora. This and the gun are the only
clues the police have to work upon
Letchford described the fellow as being
slim and tall and dressed in a dark suit
1t is supposed that the man, after jumping
through the window, ran south to the rail
road yards.