The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-27
ROBBERS ATTACK CAR.
The Highwaymen Secure no Booty.
One Passenger Killed.

Los Angeles, March 22.-Three mask
ed robbers attempted to hold up a car
on The Los Angeles-Pacific electric line,
running between Los Angeles and Santa
Monica, about a mile west of the city
limits, last night, and a duel occurred
between c.. w. Henderson, one of the
The other two highwaymen began
shooting right and left through the
crowded car. One passenger was killed
and three wounded. The lead is II. a.
Griswold, of Mason, Iowa. The wound
ed are: J. c. Cunningham, of Los An
geles, shot through the left thigh.
thigh bone broken, serious; Ellis Pear
son, Of Sawtelle. shot through the left
leg; DR.. c. H. Bowles, of Los Angeles,
shot through life hand. 1t is believed
that one of the robbers was badly
wounded. Mr.. Griswold was a wealthy
citizen of Mason. Iowa. He came here
several months 6 with his mother for
the benefit of her health. The hold-up
occurred at the head of a deep cut. The
robbers had placed a steel rail, a large
bench n a cement barrel on the track.
Charles Curry, the motorman, saw
the obstruction when the car was sew
eral hundred yards from it, and at once
turned off the current and ran slowly
to the place. The moment the car
struck three men wearing masks over
their faces sprang from the weeds
a longside the track. n boarded the
front end of the car and the other two
the rear end. The first one commanded
the passengers to put their hands up
and when one of them did not comply
he fired a shot. Henderson then open
ed fire on the robbers. The rObber turn
ed his gun upon Henderson, but as he
did so he was seen to bend over n
cry out as if in pain. One Of his bull
lets struck Ellis Pearson in the left leg.
Henderson continued firing and the rob-
Der was seen to fall. The two robbers
who a entered the rear door COM
manded the passengers to put up their
hands and most of them did so. Be-
fore the robbers could search the pas
sengerS the shooting began on the out
side of the car. Then the other two
robbers began shooting right and left
among the passengers. Griswold was
seated about the middle of the car with
his back toward the robbers. At the
command Hands up!' he tried to hide
his watch n one of the robbers,
thinking he was about to draw a gun.
fired point blank at him.. The bullet
struck him in the back of the neck and
he fell over into the lap of his aged
mother, Who was at his side.
DR.. C. 3. BoWleS was near the front
Ioor or1 Of tho on~ppnrI of +ho rah-
bers he raised his hands. When he
had them in the air one of the bullets
from a robbers revolver struck his left
hand and shattered the bones. After
emptying their revolvers the robbers
packed out of the door, and sprang off
the car and disappeared. The car was
run rapidly to Sawtelle. the nearest
point where medical aid could be Sc
cured. Griswold expired before the car
had gone a mile. He die not speak af-
ter he was shot and when his body was
lifted from the car at Santa. Monica
his watch was found under him on the
seat. His mother vas covered with
blood and was almost insane with fright
and grief. Henderson, h had fired
at the robbers, Sprang from the car and
ran across a vineyard. He saw two Of
the robbers climb into a buggy n
drive toward this city. Officers were
sent to the scene, but no trace of the
robbers was found. Owing to the con-
fusion practically no description of the
men was secured. The general mana
ger of the company says they have Of
Tered a reward for the capture of the
men. The highwaymen secured moth
ing from the passengers. Inside the
ear were 80 or more passengers n
more than ten shots were fired. Bullets
were found imbeded in the woodwork
in nan places when the car reached
this city.