Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14
HELD UP A CASHIER
Charles Smith Robbed the
TreasuryCafe.
AN EXCITING CHASE
SHOT AT HIS PURSUERS AND
WOUNDED AN, OFFICER.
Threats Of Lynching Made - Prisoner
Held by Judge Scott for Hear
ing Next Week.

Charles Smith, nineteen-year-old col
ored boy, 1eld UP Philip E. Steuart the
cashier of the Treasury Cafe, at 14O9 G
street last night about $50 O'Clock, rob-
| bling him of $28. and shot two street-cross-
ing policemen who joined in chasing him.
The crowd that collected was an angry
one. and demands for lynchfng were made
by some. George w. Osburn, one of the
officers, received a compound fracture of
the left leg. and Is in the Emergency Hos
pital. C. M. Edwards, the other officer
escaped serious injury. A bullet from the
weapon of the colored man struck him al
most directly over the heart but only
broke the skin.
Smith was recently discharged from the
Treasury Cafe, where he was employed as
dishwasher He knew that it was the Gus
tom of the cashier to leave the cafe aft IT
all the walters and other help had departed
and was also aware that Steuart carried
the money away with him. 1t was about
$50 o'clock when Steuart was ready to
lock the front door to go home. Mr.. j. H.
Bowling. the proprietor, was not there at
the time. Steuart went to the kitchen to
see that the cook had securely fastened the
rear of the premises While he was there
he heard the front door opened. Returning
to the cafe. he was confronted by colored
man, who had made mask of a napkin.
The napkin Smith had taken from the lunch
room during the time of his employment
there, and had been using it handker-
chief. 1t proved good mask, but the COLI
ored highwayman was not able to disguise
his voice.
Pointing revolver at the cashier he
cried: Il want your money.
Steuart pushed the weapon aside. but
Smith was persistent, and the cashier was
forced to hand over to him the money. Put
ting the loot in his pocket Smith ran from
fho Mo frxvy rfr hoI,;
him Steuart followed. blowing a police
whistle.
An Exciting Chase.
His vigorous blowing attracted policemen
and others from all directions, and the fee
ing colored man had little chance of escap-
ing.
He ran north on 18th street and doubled
east on New York avenue. Crossing Police
man Osburn. stationed at 18th and G
streets. was the first to Join in the chase.
A number of pedestrians took part in the
pursuit Just before Smith reached the Ok
ford Hotel he turned and fred He missed
and fired again. 1t is fhoHght that he in
tended the bullet for the citizen members of
the pursuing party. but it struck Osburn in
the leg and he fell. He pluckily arose and
tried to resume the chase, but couldn't
stand. Officer Edwards. who was stationed
at 14th street and New York avenue, made
a dash for the colored-boY who ran into an
dIley III rear Oh the HOlel. lOliOWeu
him into the alley. when Smith fired again.
The bullet was prevented from doing injury
by striking against the note book and
copy of The Evening Star in Edwards
pocket. -7t
Smith had no more bullets in his weapon
and was unable to offer further resistance.
Threats of Lynching.
Kill him." end Lynchshim." shouted the
crowd. Several policemen in uniform had
ba inc and
of them, it is stated. took part in the rough
handling of the prisoner. The excited crowd
would undoubtedly have done him serious
harm had not the police surrounded the
prisoner and kept the crowd back. Smith
was hurried TO cell at the first precinct
station. where he was fully identified as the
robber of. Steuart and where he was reliev-
ed of the proceeds of the crime. which he
had been too much excited and frightened
to throw away. He was nervous and eX-
cited, and afraid he might be taken out
by the crowd and given further rough
tratment. He had received a few cuts and
bruises.
AT the hospital it was found that Os-
burns injury was considerable, and he Will
have to remain under treatment several
weeks at least Edwards was not much
hurt.
Commissioner Macfarland this morning
called Policeman Osburn and asked
after the condition of the injured officer
Mr. Macfarand offered his assistance in
case it was needed.
The prisoner taken to police head
quarters this morning and measured and
photographed for the gallery Before be-
ing taken there he admitted that he had
smashed the big plate glass window
at The Hub about three weeks ago and
stolen a rain coat and hat Precinct De-
tective Clifford Grant heard his confession.
The stolen articles were recovered.
Smith Arraigned and Held.
Smith was taken before Judge Scott Of
the United States branch of the Police
Court shortly after II o'clock this morn
ing and he was arraigned and given pre-
liminary hearing on charge of intent to
kill Crossing Policeman ~Osburn and high
way robbery. He was also arraigned on
a charge of housebreaking for breaking
into the show window of The Hub, at the
corner of 14th street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest, October 90 last. Smith
was not represented by counsel. and he
nervously answered not guilty to each
OF the charges. Hearing in the case of
HOUSEKEEPING was postponed until Tues
day of next week.
Cashier Steuart testified that he was
standing in the of the cafe near the
door leading into the kitchen when Smith
entered last night
HE started behind the counter and I
asked him where he was going, the wit
ness testified. land without making any
reply he came back to where 1 was stand
ing and showed revolver up in my face
and demanded money. / told him that 1
had none, and with that brushed the re-
volver aside. but he pointed 1t in my face
again and demanded the money, whereupon
l gave him the paper money.
HE said that was not all the money, but
l told him that it was, but he insisted that
there was more, SO gave him the silver
money" -
Steuart s,aid that Smith then ran out of
the place and down the street, he following
behind, blowing police " histle. Policeman
Osburn answered the cali and gave chase.
but Smith turned around and fired two
shots at the officer the second one causing
him TO fall to the Sidewalk.
Policeman Edwards also, gave testimony.
stating that he heard two, pistol shots and
saw man fall down, when the second shot
was fired. He said that Smith fired at
him. the bullet striking him on the left side.
short distance below the. heart, penetrat-
ing his clothes. The force of the leaden
missile. he said. was broken by hitting
against a copy of The Star which he had
folded up in his inside coat pocket
Prosecutor Ralph Given asked Judge
Scott to fix the bond at 1900 each in the
case of assault and highway robbery.
Il think, the court said, "that 1t would
bq better to raise Fl O06 and. ko If