The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-30
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
Boy EntiCed Into Wagon, and
Relieved of Gold Watch
and Money.
IN BROAD DAY LIGHT.

teen years, was robbed Of gold
watch and 81. so in money a short
distance below Bloomsbury little
after seven o'clock Tuesday morn
ing. The young man who had
been visiting at the home Of Mr..
and Mrs. Clinton Oil. Of West
Third street, was on his way to
Rupert, where he intended to catch
train for Milton to visit some
relatives. When at a point near
the double bridge two men and two
women seated in a spring wagon
passed along and invited him to
take ride. He accepted and
climbed into the wagon, taking a
seat in the rear. One of the men
m we'd back along sid, of him ard
proceeded to explore his pockets.
He took the watch first and hold.
ing it up so that the other three
could see it he said, "What do you
think, all the way from Buffalo and
with this" He then thrust his
hand down into another pocket and
took the money amounting to 81 so,
The boy was then forced off the
wagon and given two or three cuts
with the whip. He was told not to
follow on pain of being thrashed,
but desiring to regain possession Of
the articles, particularly the watch,
he ran after the wagon until Rupert
was reached. Here he told his
story to Alfred Thomas, an en-
ployee Of the marble works, and
together they went to justice of the
peace Mensch and had warrant
issued for the arrest OF the party.
The warrant was placed in the
hands of constable Harry Mensch.
He found the men at the home of
Chas. c. Eek in Montour tounship,
but the women probably anticipat-
ing what was coming had concealed
themselves some where about the
house. The men were taken before
Squire Mensch who, after hearing
the evidence, held them for court.
In default of $500 bail they were
sent to Jail. They gave their
names to the squire as Joseph
Rhone, of Wilkes Barre, and Will
lam Merdock, of Buffalo.
A few hours later the female con-
tingent of the outfit made their way
to Bloomsbury. They were seen
here and Immediately arrested. In
the issuing of the warrant, Squire
Mensch made it general so that the
hearing of the women could be had
before him or any other justice.
They were accordingly arraigned
before Squire Jacoby. One gave
her name as Maggie Coons, who
claimed that one of the men was
her husband, and the other Mrs.
Alice Smith. Both were pretty
much the worse for wear. In
answer to question of the squire
| what they were doing here the one
said they had moved to town the
night before from Berwick, and at
the time the robbery was supposed
to have been committed, were on
their way to c. c. Eck's, a relative,
to spend the day. Both disclaimed
any knowledge of the crime. They
knew the boy had gotten on the
wagon, but they didn't see him
get off and were not aware that
anything had been taken from him.
The boy repeated the story given
to Squire Mensch in the morning,
in which he implicated the women,
but in cross examination by the
defendants counsel, c. c.. Yetter,
he said he didn't charge the women
with anything. Attorney Yetter
asked for discharge, but Squire
Jacoby said the crime was serious
one, that the defendants were acces.
sories both before and after the fact
and that he would hold them for
court. AT this juncture the women
began to realize their situation and
broke into tears. Their violent
emotion moved the young man tc
such an extent that he changed his
testimony and said he didn't believe
they knew anything about it at all.
They were thereupon released.
Shortly after the hearing in
squire Mench's Office, c. c. Eek
appeared with the stolen watch.
He found 1t at his house and gave
it to the squire.
Upon inquiry we learned that the
team had been secured from Nit
chell's livery stable in Berwick al
eleven O'Clock Monday night under
pretence of going for buckle berries
on the Nescopeck mountain. In
stead they loaded up what goods
they had aud brought them to